THE PRIME MINISTER

Southland Times, Issue 19293, 11 July 1924, Page 5

THE PRIME MINISTER

TWELVE YEARS IN OFFICE FELICITATIONS FROM PARLIAMENT LAST OF PRE-WAR PREMIERS. (Our Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, July 18. I hope we shall drop our Party differences, certainly our personal differences, and that whatever our record may be in the future, we shall do something that will tend to promote the welfare of the people we represent. The Prime Minister, on the occasion of the announcement of his Ministry in the House of Representatives on July 10, 1912, made this statement in reply to the congratulations he received from all parties in the House. Telegrams of congratulation were pouring in at the rate of a hundred an hour. Mr Massey had three thusand of them at the time. He was talking to-day on his twelfth anniversary as Prime Minister and although telegrams did not perhaps reach that rate, there were so many and from so varied sources and sections of the community as to convince Mr Massey that he enjoyes the confidence of the people of the Dominion as he did in 1912. The first Ministry formed by Mr Massey was:— Mr W. F. Massey: Prime Minister, Minister of Lands, Agriculture and Labour. Mr J. Alien: Minister of Finance, Defence and Education. Mr W. H. Herries: Minister of Railways and Native Affairs. Mr A. L. Herdman: Attorney-General and Minister of Justice. Mr W. Fraser: Minister of Works and Mines. Mr F. M. B. Fisher: Minister of Customs and Marine. Mr R. H. Rhodes: Postmaster-General. Mr H. D. Bell: Minister of Internal Affairs. Dr. M. Pomare: Minister representing the Native race. Among the members still in the House who congratulated Mr Massey on the floor of the House on that occasion are: Mr A. W. Veitch (Wanganui), Hon. J. A. Hanan (Invercargill), Hon. W. Nosworthy, Mr A. Harris (Waitemata), and Mr H. Atmore (Nelson). Much water has run under the bridge since then, to use a quotation often used by the Prime Minister. Hundreds of measures on the Statute Book bear testimony to the activities of the Prime Minister. He is looked up to, honoured and respected wherever he goes. There is no part of the Great British Empire in which he would not be a honoured guest. He is deservedly regarded as one of the most trusty statesmen of the Empire, a man of wide experience. He has sat often at the Council Board of the Empire, where his opinions have been received with marked respect. He gained great honours and appreciation for his work at the Peace Conference, the King and the French President both bestowing honours on him to mark their gratitude for the part he played in the war. As the Leader of the* New Zealnd people, it may truly be said of him that he has never spared himself but has been throughout, and remains to-day, an example to his fellow citizens of New Zealand of the truth of his slogan “The royal road to success lies through hard work.” His ripened judgment and his sound common sense have made him New Zealand’s greatest public asset to-day. CONGRATULATIONS. FROM THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. (Per United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, July 10. The Legislative Council this afternoon passed resolutions congratulating the Prime Minister upon the twelfth anniversary of his entry to office and expressing appreciation of the services of Sir Francis Bell, who has completed eleven years as Leader of the Council BY REFORM MEMBERS. MOTION OF APPRECIATION. WELLINGTON, July 10. During the dinner adjournment to-night members of the Reform Party assembled and passed the following motion: That the members of the Reform Party in Parliament, desire to convey to the Right Hon. W. F. Massey their hearty congratulations on this, the twelfth anniversary of the day on which he took the office of Prime Minister of New Zealand, and to express their entire confidence in him as their leader.