WELCOME TO MR. MASSEY

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 15639, 5 October 1921, Page 6

WELCOME TO MR. MASSEY

iper Press Association.) WELLINGTON, this day. At the luncheon to Mr. Massey; Sir Francis Bell, in proposing Mr. Massey's health, said it was as follow members of Parliament they had met. to greet a great Parliamentarian. Mr. Masseys personal popularity was such as they could all join in wishing him well, and that popularity had increased as the years went on. It was. now nearly 30 years since lie lirit came into Parliament. Speaking without any party or political relationT lie thought they all laid reason to be proud of tlio place Mr. Massey had made for himself and the Dominion at the Imperial Conference. Mr. Wilford. ns leader of the Opposition, welcomed Mr Massey back as envoy of tlio Dominion, in doing so making it tlear that there was no difference' between the Liberals and Reform when it came to matters of loyalty and (lie welfare of the Empire. Personally he was per'ec’lv satisfied that Mr. Massey had worthily upheld our interests at the Imperial Conference, and he was perfectly prepared to accept the-decisions gome to by Mr. Massey as a result of hearing the deliberations and counsel of the keenest minds of the Empire. Mr Massey was loodlv cheered on rising to replv. He said that his first duty lav to Parliament. lie therefore did not intend to touch upon the great Imperial duestions discussed at, the conference. He would' give an account of his stewardship later on, when lie wp’dd be pleased to discuss even the smallest detail if the House deyred. He evyressed satisfaction at the manner in whi h the public affairs of the Dominion had been carried on in bis absence. He loked with confidence to the future. Pessimism, was ne'er nnv "nod. to an indi-idual or a nation, and if the people only fa-cd their difficulties cheerfully and courageonsl v there was not- the slightest doubt that ere long the Dominion could be brought 1 nek as liearlv as possible to normal conditions. Speaking d.F hisi experiences in Britain, he de-Jared that bis reception everywhere was most cordial, because he wont as and was regarded as the representative of a Dominion which was universally regarded as second to none in lovaltv to the Throne and fidelity to the Empire. Everywhere lie went bo preached “unity of the Envire.” That was the message he carried from New Zealand. and he was pleased to find that sentiment so readilv responded to by the people of the Old Country. He strongly appealed for the encouragement and propagation of this sentiment, which would enable the Empire to speak with one undivided voice. At the conclusion of liis speech Mi' Masscv was accorded a. great ovation.