MR. MASSEY IN CANADA.

Taranaki Daily News, 29 December 1923, Page 5

MR. MASSEY IN CANADA.

A SPLENDID RECEPTION. WORK OF THE CONFERENCE. PROMISES SHOULD BE KEPT. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright Received Dec. 28, 8.20 p.m. Ottawa, Dec. 27. Mr. W. F. Massey, when passing through Montreal en route to Toronto, expressed keen appreciation of Canada’s reception, which he said was not so much an honour to himself as a tribute to the people of New Zealand, who would greatly appreciate the compliment Commenting on the prospects of the results of the Imperial Conference Mr. Massey said: “I have no wish to interfere in domestic politics in Britain whatever, but whatever may be the outcome of the present situation I strongly hope the work and recommendations of the conference will not be jeopardised. It should be remembered that these Imperial Conferences in reality represent the Empire in council, and it seems unthinkable that there should be any going back upon promises made to the Dominions by the British Government. Any such happenings would be regrettable.” Mr. Massey, replying to a suggestion that some people were disturbed by the term Imperalism, said: “I am.an Imperialist, and I do not care who knows it.” At Toronto, Mr. Massey, addressing the Canadian Club, said the existence and prosperity of the Empire depended on adequate means of defence and inter-Imper-ial trade. “Our principal duty and business consists in keeping the Empire in existence,” he said. “We are all in it, and we can do it as consumers by choosing between goods made within the Empire and outside.” SPEECH AT MONTREAL. Ottawa, Dec. 27. Mr. Massey, interviewed on his arrival at Montreal, expressed the hope that the recommendations of the Imperial Conference would not be jeopardised by British political changes. “It seems unthinkable,” h? said, “that there should be any going back on the promises made by the British Government to the Dominions sitting as the Em- ! pire in council.” j New Zealand, Mr. Massey said, was anxi ious to foster inter-Dominion trade.