PRIME MINISTER WELCOMED

Otago Witness, Issue 3526, 11 October 1921, Page 19

PRIME MINISTER WELCOMED

PARLIAMENTARY LUNCHEON. GREETINGS FROM COLLEAGUES. (Fbom Oob Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, October 5. Members of the Legislative Council and the House of Representatives gave to the Prime Minister a very hearty welcome at a luncheon given by members of t-ho Cabinet to-day. Sir Francis Bell presided, and was supported by the Speaker of the House (Sir Frederick Lang), the Speaker of the Legislative Council (the Hon. "YV. C. F. Carneross), Mr T. M. Wilfora (Leader of the Opposition), and members of the Cabinet. The only guests were members of the Legislature. In proposing the health of the Prime Minister Sir Francis Bell said that as fellow-members and comrades in Parliament some of those present who happened also to be Ministers had asked the gathering to meet Mr Massey and to greet a great parliamentarian. Mr Massey had a personality and a popularity which all of them, whatever their political predilections, could recognise, and there was not a man among them who could not unreservedly join in welcoming him. His personal popularity had increased with years, now nearly 30 in number, that he bad served in Parliament. All parties had united in sending Mr Massey to England, and it- was the habit in New Zealand when a man went abroad to represent the dominion for all parties to support him while he was away, “and, speaking quite apart from any personal or political relationship with Mr Massey,” proceeded Sir Francis Bell, ”1 think I may say that we are all proud of the place which he gained for himself and for New Zealand in the councils of the Empire.” There was no man whom Parliament would miss from his place more than Mr Massey, and none whom Parliament was more pleased to have among them again. Members hoped that he would for many years to come hold his place in the House, on whichever side tie might sit. lie asked the gathering to drink to the ‘‘Member for Franklin,” which they did with enthusiasm. Supporting the toast, the Leader of the Opposition (Mr T. M. M'ilford) said that, on behalf of the Liberal Party, he wished to join in welcoming back our envoy and ambassador. He said ‘‘ours” because there was no line of demarcation which could be drawn between Liberal and Reform in the point of loyalty or desire to be represented at the councils of the Empire. They could always combine, and would always combine, when Empire affairs had to be considered. He joined with Sir Francis Bell in stating that there was no doubt whatever that the Prime Minister had represented the dominion at the Imperial Conference in a worthy manner. The Prime Minister thanked the Minister and members for the very cordial reception that they had given him. 11c was fully aware that there was no party feeling in New Zealand as far as Imperial affairs were concerned. He had been strengthened and cheered at the sittings of the Imperial Conference, when very important questions were being considered, by the knowledge that the people of New Zealand were behind him in the discharge of his share of the vast responsibilities. Mr Massey said that he did not intend to deal in any detail that clay with the many highly important matters that had engaged his attention in Great Britain. He would be discussing these matters fully in the House in the near future. He wished to say first how much he appreciated the splendid services that- had been rendered fo the dominion during his absence by Sir Francis 8011, the Hon. I). IT. Guthrie, and other members of the Ministry. The chief business of the present session of Parliament would be to face the troubles of the time, and to so arrange matters that: the dominion’s expenditure would be kept within the revenue. When that had been achieved it would be possible to reduce the taxation of those who were overburdened at. the present time. That would be the principal task of the session, whether it finished this side of Christmas or the other side. He was not going to express an opinion as to the duration of the session. He could say that there was a certain amount of work to be done, and that. Parliament would remain in session until the work was done. Turning to the work of the Imperial Conference, Mr Massey said that he intended to taxe the members of the House into his fullest confidence when the opportunity came. He might be able then to say even more than he could say now, since events were moving quickly, and he might soon be in a position to make a somewhat, important pronouncement. He was thinking of the- Disarmament Conference. which was to meet m Y\ ashington at no distant date. He had nothing to say on the point at present, but he wanted to tell members that this matter was not escaping the attention of the Now Zealand Government. 1 he bond between Great Britain and New Zealand had been strengthened, the bond was of sentiment, and he believed that Governments and peoples ought to lose no opportunity of encouraging and developing that sentiment. I he keynote of the recent Imperial Conference hail been a united people and a united Empire. The decisions of the conference meant that- 1 n the future, if there was any occasion for discussion with* a foreign country, the united Empire would speak. lie wished well to the Washington Conference, and he honed that the statesmen who met at that gathering would be able to reach some satisfactory conclusions that would be of benefit to the nations concerned. Ho hoped that would bo the case, but all the same the British Empire and the British Government for the time being would carry heavy responsibilities, and New Zealand' must not forget that they had become connected with the British Government. The Governments of the Empire had been linked this year in a way that liad never been achieved before. The dominions of the Empire had been dependencies even when their Ministers were associated with British Ministers in the War Cabinet; but now the I’rimo Ministers of the Empire had heen called together, and, whether they called themselves a conference, a council, or an executive, the fact was that they had done the work of a Cabinet because the people of each State of the Empire were behind their representatives. “Don’t let anyone think for one moment that anything was done at- the recent conference in London to interfere with the autonomy of the British dominions,” said Mr Massey. “There has not been the very slightest interference. Perhaps it will be said that the dominions havo been committed to a certain extent. We have done nothing of the sort. I know that money w ill be re

quired from the dominions in the future, 'there are lots of matters that involve the expenditure of money, even in peace time. All these questions of inter-imperial communications, inter-imperial trade, immigration, and so forth require money. Even the when there is a question of money the when there is a question of money; but people to deal with the expenditure, even for Empire purposes, will be the representatives of the people or the Parliaments of the dominions concerned. 1 am sure after what happened in the recent war, when thousands of millions of pounds were required, that our people will bo able to arrive at definite financial arrangements as between the States of the Empire without much _ trouble. No Parliament has been committed. The Parliaments will continue to manage the affairs of the countries they represent, arrange their own finance, and make their own laws, hut always remembering that l hey are citizens of the Empire and subjects of the King.” Mr Massey mentioned the question of German reparation. He said that this was a very important matter to all the dominions. If the arrangements that had been made turned out well, as was expected, substantial benefits would be gained. He was well aware that after some time had elapsed all sorts of suggestions would be made and all sorts of propaganda sc-t on foot to secure the variation of the arrangements. He had realised the power of propaganda more fully than ever before after observing what had occurred recently, but) he was not going to forget the experiences of the war. All the money in Germany would not pay for the life of one of New Zealand’s soldiers. The lost lives could not be recovered, but ho hoped that the arrangements made in good faith for the payment of reparation would be carried out, and that the money clue to New Zealand would be paid in due course. A warm tribute to the work done by Sir Francis Bell a-s Acting Prime Minister during Mr Massey’s absence was paid Ly the lion. D. li. Guthrie, who said that a deep debt of gratitude was owed him not only by the Cabinet, but. by Parliament and the people. Everyone felt t.hat the right matt had occupied the position during the trying and difficult period in which Sir Francis Bell had been acting. Sir Francis Bell said that what had nerved him to pull through the last, few months had been the extraordinarily kind eommunica-ions he had received not only from his own party, bur from everywhere. Onp thing about which .he was particulaily pleased was that the position should have lecn held by a member of the Upper House. It would do them all good to realise that Parliament consisted of two Houses. It did the House of Representatives good sometimes to understand that the two Houses were so existent.