BELGIAN ORDER.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16330, 20 January 1921, Page 2

BELGIAN ORDER.

CONFERRED ON MR MASSEY [Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON. January 19. The Prime .Minister Air Massey, an as formally invested with the Order of flic Crown of Belgium to-day. by M. Henri Segaert. Belgian Consul-General to Australasia. The decoration was conferred upon Mr Ma.ssev by the King of Belgium in recognition of the work done during the war by the Government and people of New Zealand, nud the direct help given Belgium by the people of the Dominion. The ceremony took place in the Cabinet room, among those present being r number of Ministers, members of Parliament, official* and public men. AT. Sctracrt. in making the investiture, said the Order ranked among the highest distinctions hi* King could bestow. and his couutrv knew it had never been better deserved than by the statesman, who. since th© first violation of Belgian- neutrality, had led his people to their aid. Never before m the annals of mankind had there" been such an outburst of sympathy and charity a* was shown by New Zealand to Belgium. His count rv would never forget it, and it was with the intention ot giving tangible, expression to this deep gratitude that th© King had sent him that day to invest Mr Massey with the title and dignity of Great Officer of the Order of the Crown. Mr Massey, replying, said he rece .' nised that the honour was a, compliment to the people of the Dominion as a whole. He alluded to the sentimental tie with Belgium, because in its soil were sleeping many of our boys. Later on. replving to the toast to his health Air Massey recalled that fateful Easter Sunday in 19)R. during the great German drive. wh©n Afr Lloyd George cabled out asking if Nov Zealand could send more troops and that night h© was able to reply that five thousand troop* were ready, and would sail in a few days Hr referred \vitl* pride To the wav in which th© Belgian troops had held the Germans at bay while the Allies sot readv, and he thanked the Consul-General for the distinction conferred on him.