OUR MINISTERS.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 16506, 6 August 1919, Page 4

OUR MINISTERS.

CIVIC RECEPTION. TENDERED IN AUCKLAND. For Pi ess Association. AUCKLAND,'August 0. Air. Massey and Sir Joseph AN aid were tendered a civic reception to-day. When Mr. Massey arose there was loud applause, mingled with hooting from a hostile section. Tho Deputy-Mayor thereupon appealed for order, at which the booing burst out afresh. Mr. Entrican then announced that lie would ask the police to remove further huorruptors. (Applause and uproar.)

Mr. Massey was then able to make himself heard. He thanked the citizens of Auckland tor their hearty welcome. Sir Joseph Ward and himself had just, returned from representing New Zealand at the rno-t momentous gathering the world had ever scon. "AVe have given our best in your interests.” ho declared, “and not unsuccessfully.” Tito Prime Minister spoke of the pleasure that ho and his colleagues 101 l in being back to share tho anxieties of tho people and to tin their level best to get conditions hack to normal. “Our anxieties have been lessoned by the coming of pence,” he continued, “but our responsibilities have not been lessened, and our first duty is to make this pence worthy of what it has cost, worthy of British citizenship, worthy of tho sacrifices made by our soldiers, and worthy of tho bravo men who died for us.” In conclusion. Air. Massey said ho had been working to put down tho enemies of Britain, and he would not stop now. He believed there were some enemies of the King and Empire in New Zealand, and, amid a good deni of no iso, ho indicated that he tvould give his attention to the disloyalists.

Sir Joseph AVard was also given a very cordial reception. Ho emphasised the importance of tho Peace Conference, and said that, _ although there were many varied opinions as to tho value of tho decisions of tho conference, a vnfit amount of valuable _ work had been done, especially considering flic different countries represented. In Now Zealand, as in all other countries in the world, groat after-war problems had arisen. We were now in a. different era. The conditions prevailing five years ago had gone for ever as a result of tho war, and tho time had arrived when all right-thinking people in the community should assist tho authorities in finding solutions for these post-war problems and in forming measures for tho development of tho country's resources, bo that the welfare of the whole community would ho assured. The people of New Zealand would surely have the common sense to recognise tho fact that tho problems needing attention were too urgent to permit of petty bickerings. New Zealand should go on from ono prosperous condition to another—a homo for free men and free women for generations to como.