BRITAIN’S TRIBUTES.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 May 1925, Page 8

BRITAIN’S TRIBUTES.

HIS GRIT AND COURAGE. FINE QUALITIES PRAISED A GREAT LEADER, By Telegraph.—Press Assn. —Copyright. Received May 11, 5.5 p.m. London, May 11. The Morning Post pay’s a tribute to Mr. Massey under the title “A Good Man and True.” The paper says; “All who knew him will mourn with New Zealand in the loss of her Prime Minister. He had the grit and courage of Protestant Derry 7 and the resourceful and loyal spirit tn New Zealand. He also had a firm faith in God and the Empire. His long term of office was the fruit not of mere political cleverness or power in the tricks of debate, but of the greater qualities of courage and integrity and the love and trust of his people.” ihe Daily Telegraph describes Mr. Massey as ’"the last of the war Premiers throughout the Empire. It is real gratification that such a gallant fighter died in harness.” Several newspapers recall the episode that a telegram containing an invitation to stand for Parliament reached Mr. Massey on the point of a pitchfork while he was hay-making. The Daily’ Chronicle instances Mr. Massey’s inflexible moral courage in his threat to resign unless large cruisers went to escort the New Zelaud transports as a protection against Von Spee. ULSTER’S LOSS. The Governor of Northern Ireland has telegraphed as follows to Sir James Allen: “Air. Massey’s death is a personal bereavement to us in the land of his birth and ancestry.” Sir James Craig (Premier of Northern Ireland), on behalf of the Government, sent the following message: —“The Empire has lost a renowned statesman and Imperialist, and Ulster one of her most distinguished sons.”

The Daily Telegraph says: “Mr. Massey’s fixed, immovable principles his unshakable determination to see trouble through and his readiness to throw in all were invaluable qualities in.. time of dange. Mr. Massey was an Imperialist through and through. We hope his «uccessor will be a statesman equal in courage and with devotion as fixed and ardent.” •Mr. T. P. O’Connor contributes a twocolumn obituary notice in the Daily Telegraph, in which he says: “Mr. Massey was born at Limavady, which represents the Ulster Orange temperament in its rigidest and dourest form. With a slight change in his life he might have occupied the place Sir James Craig has. He had the same resolute temper and the same 'stem, simple creed.” AN IMPERIAL LEADER. The Times, in a leader, says that New Zealand has lost a trusted national leader and the Empire a most loyal and devoted servant. One by one the statesmen who dominated the political stage in th.e Mother Country and the Dominions during the war years have retired into the background. Mr. Massey was the last, and perhaps he himself would have preferred that death, not defeat, should end a long and honourable career in office.

•New Zealand is a country of loyalties; if her people are loyal to the Empire they are also loyal to the men of their choice. Air. Massey, like his old opponent, Mr. Seddon, was Premier 13 years. It is a tribute to his power and leadership that the various attempts of the Opposition during the period of office seemed half-hearted and almost unreal. He was an imperial leader of the old school. Even after the war he had little sympathy with the political ideals of some of his brother Premiers in the British partnership. Herein, however, is reflected the opinions of the vast majority of his fellow-countrymen, for the restless doctrines of the past few years have taken longer to reach New Zealand than nations nearer the heart of the Empire.

The British people, knowing Air. Alassey for a bluff, kindly figure, receive the news of his death with the keenest regret, and will be the first to sympathise with Now Zealand in its great loss. Air. J. H. Thomas (Secretary for the Colonies in the Labour Ministry), in a message to the Australian Press Association, says: “The Empire as a whole will hear with profound regret of Air. Massey's death. He was one of its most distinguished statesmen; none who had the privilege and honour of knowing him could be otherwise than impressed by his sincerity and his single-minded desire to work for the good of the country.”

CANADA’S SYMPATHY. Received May 11, 10.5 p.m. Ottawa, May 11. Regret is expressed in Government circles at the death of Air. Alassey. A message of condolence has been cabled by the Premier (Mr. McKenzie King) to the acting-Premier.

CAPITAL IN MOURNING.

BODY TO LIE IN STATE. By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, May 11. Arrangements are being made for Mr. Massey’s body to lie in state in the main vestibule of the Parliament Buildings. There are signs of mourning everywhere in the city to-day. All the Government offices under the Public Service Commissioner, except those transacting urgent public business, are closed until after the funeral, which has been fixed for Thursday. Many businesses have closed and some are draped in mourning. Sir Charles and Lady Fergusson arrived from Auckland to-day. The Supreme Court adjourned, the schools and colleges on assembling were addressed by the headmasters, and the scholars dismissed for the day. The schools will also be closed on Thursday. An extraordinary Gazette notice was issued this morning notifying the death of the Prime Minister. All local body meetings in the city have been postponed till after the funeral. Hundreds of messages of condolence with Mrs. Massey are coming from all quarters to-day.