MR MASSEY

Southland Times, Issue 19125, 18 December 1923, Page 5

MR MASSEY

LAST DAYS IN ENGLAND. RETURNING VIA CANADA. (By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) LONDON, December 16. Hon. .F. Massey had an enthusiastic welcome at Wolverhampton, where he was the guest of the Chamber of Commerce. He visited leading motor factories and ironworks, the employees giving him an ovation. Speaking at a dinner in the evening, he emphasised the necessity of Britain granting Preference to the dominions.

Mr Massey visited Smithfield with Mr Forsyth, the manager of the New Zealand Meat Board, and met a number of the principal importers and stallholders. Several of the latter mentioned that the luxury prices prevailing for New Zealand lamb made its sale difficult. A large buyer of ?eef said it would pay New Zealand to engage Argentine experts to give instrucaon as to killing and dressing beef. The general manager of the Hotel Cecil, >n behalf of the staff, from the page boys upward, presented Mr Massey, for his wife, with an enormous Christmas decorated with the Union Jack and New Zealand flag. He said Mr Massey was one of the most popular guests who had ever stayed at the hotel, and had endeared himself to all.

Mr Massey sails in the Aquitania on the 18th. He visits Quebec, Toronto and Ottawa, and while in Canada consults Mr Mackenzie King (the Dominion Premier* on commercial matters affecting both dominions.

The London District Institute of Journalists, at its largely attended annual dinner, passed a resolution expressing the regret of members and guests at Mr Massey’s inability to be present and sent him respectful and cordial greetings, offered sincere good wishes for his health and long continuance of his great services to New Zealand, the Empire and the world. Misa Stella Murray, a New Zealand contralto, was among the contributors to a notable programme and scored an enthusiastic encore.

The Daily Chronicle, which previously severely criticised Mr Massey’s reference to Imperial Preferences in his speeches prior to the elections, in the course of a leader saya that, “Mr Massey’s speech at Wolverhampton (which was on similar lines), was very acceptable and made one feel that it was intended for the political heads. Whitaker s Almanac, 1924, contains a special two-page article on New Zealand by Mr Massey.