THE NEW ZEALAND MINISTERS

Otago Witness, Issue 3397, 23 April 1919, Page 25

THE NEW ZEALAND MINISTERS

ARRIVAL IN LONDON. (Fbom Our Own Coebbspohdbnt.) LONDON, January 24. In order to expedite their arrival in England Mr Maseey and Sir Joseph Ward, with their party, were transferred at Colon from the Remuera to the auxiliary cruiser Ophir. The change was not a particularly happy one. The weather crossing the Atlantic was exceptionally rotigh, and as a consequence the Ophir only reached Devonport on Sunday, a few days before the Remuera was due, although the latter vessel had gone up to Newport News. Moreover, the change was most uncomfortable as regards accommodation. The Ophir is not at all the fine liner which took the King and Queen round the world 18 years ago. The exigencies of war service called for the removal of all the luxurious passenger fittings, and of much of the bulkheads, cabins, and internal • fittings. The bathrooms of peaco days have almost all disappeared, and at least one member of the party had to wash in a kerosene tin. Nevertheless the experience was an enjoyable one, if only that it gave an insight into the uncomfortable conditions under which the watch has been kept in the North Sea and on the commercial routes by the British navy. A' special train brought the party from Plymouth to London, where they arrived on Sunday evening, and were received by a very largo gathering of New Zealanders. A guard of honour under the command of Lieutenant L. W. Andrews, V.C. (Wanganui) was provided by the infantry and mounted depots on Salisbury Plain and at Ewshot. and there was also a brass band provided by the N.Z.E.F. One of the earliest callers on Monday morning at the Savoy Hotel was Lieutenantcolonel L. C. S. Amery, the new Undersecretary for the Colonies, who had the rather unpleasant duty of explaining the action of the Peace Conference in granting New Zealand only one representative, whereas all tho other dominions have two. Mr Massey and Sir Joseph Ward made no secret of their annoyance' at the treatment which New Zealand has received in the unavoidable absence of her delegates. The two Ministers were to the Peace Conference, and it is hard to escape the belief that if it had been possible for them to arrive in time for the discussion tho matter would have been settled differently. Colonel Amery assured the Ministers that the British representatives had dono all in their power to have the two delegates allowed for New Zealand, but that the conference could not be persuaded. Sir Joseph Ward's first impulse was toreturn at once to New Zealand by way of" protest, but ho was afterwards persuaded to accompany Mr Massey to Paris, whei-e it is still hoped that the question will be reviewed and decided moro equitably. Mrs and Miss Massey, Lady Ward, Mr Pat Ward, and Miss Saunders (private secretary) will remain in London meanwhile, but it is possible that some of them will proceed to Paris later.