MINISTERS' RETURN FROM ENGLAND.

Colonist, Volume LX, Issue 14893, 16 October 1918, Page 1 (Supplement)

MINISTERS' RETURN FROM ENGLAND.

MR MASSEY AND SIR JOSEPH

WARD

THE PREMIER-INTERVIEWED. •

[Omtbd Press Association.]

Auckland, Oct. 12. Mr Massey and Sir Joseph Ward arrived by the Niagara from Vancouver to-day after thoir visit to London on Imperial business. They are both well. Mr Massey, interviewed, said that if there was any difficulty with regard to the retention of South Pacific islands taken from Germany, it would arise at the peace conference but Australia and New Zeriktnd woula be able to show good caw so for the retention of the islands. .Re deprecated any suggestion that New Zealand should slacken its war eiirorts because America was now engaged in the conflict. He had endeavoured, and he thought not unsuo* cessfnHy, to secure a sufficient supply of ships, but he could not guarantee that the supply would be equs}l : to that of last year." Ministry rof Shipping would do its best, and understood tbo importance of ships for the Nf>v/ Zealand trade. While having confidence in the Shipping Ministry, he was not satisfied with the other departments ,in Britain that were handling otir products, and it might be necessary to set up a special committee to go into the I whole question.