NEW ZEALAND'S PREMIER

Waikato Times, Volume 94, Issue 14768, 6 October 1921, Page 5

NEW ZEALAND'S PREMIER

WELCOMED HOME ENTERTAINED BY LEGISLATURE. MUCH CORDIALITY SHOWN, By Telegraph.—Press Association. WELLINGTON. Wednesday. A complimentary luncheon was tendered to Mr Massey to-day by members of the Cabinet to mark his return from the Imperial Conference. Glowing Tributes. Sir Francis Bell, in proposing Mr Massey's health, said it was as fellow members of Parliament that they had met to greet the great Parliamentarian. Mr Massey's personal popularity was such as they could all join in wishing him well, and that popularity had increased as the years went on. It was now nearly 30 years since he first came into Parliament. Speaking without any party or political relation, he ibought they all had reason to be proud of the place Mr Massey"had made for himself and the Dominion at the Imperial ferenceHon. T. M. Wilford, as leader of the Opposition, welcomed Mr Massey back as the envoy of the Dominion, in doing so making it clear that there was no difference between Liberals and Reform when it came to matters of loyalty and -the welfare of the Empire. Personally he was perfectly satisfied that Mr Massey had worthily upheld our interests at the Imperial Conference, and he was perfectly prepared to accept the decisions come to by Mr Massey as a result of hearing the deliberations and counsel of the keenest minds of tbe Empire. Mr Wasaoy's Reply. Mr Massey was loudly cheered on rising to reply. He said his first duty lay to Parliament. He therefore did not intend to (ouch upon the great Imperial questions discussed at the conference- He would give an account of his stewardship later on, when h'c would he pleased to discuss even the smallest details if the House so desired. He expressed satisfaction at the manner in which the public affairs of the Dominion had been carried on in his absence and he looked with confidence to the future. Pessimism was never any good to the individual or the nation, and if the people only faced their difficulties cheerfully and courageously'there was not the slightest doubt that ere long the Dominion could be brought back nearly as possible to normal conditions. Speaking of his experiences in Britain, he declared that his reception everywhere was most cordial, because he went as and was regarded as the representative of the Dominion which was universally regarded as second to none in loyalty to the Throne and fidelity to the Empire. Everywhere he. went he preached the "unity of th" Empire." That was the message he carried from New Zealand, and he was pleased to find that the sentiment was so readily responded to by the people of the Old Country. He strongly appealed for the encouragement and propagation of this sentiment, which would enable the Empire to speak with one undivided voice. At the conclusion of his speech Mr Massey was accorded a great ovation.

A HALF-HOUR'S SPEECH. MANY TOPICS TOUCHED ON. THE £5,000,000 LOAN. (By Telegraph.—Special to Times.) WELLINGTON, Wednesday. The luncheon tendered to Mr Massey by Ministers was the most important event in the Parliamentary Buildings to-day. Mr Massey did not go deeply into the business of the Imperial Conference, but, in the course of a half-hour's speech, he covered a lot of ground in a very interesting way. Dominions Not Committed. "Do not let anyone think for one moment that anything was done at the recent conference in London to interfere with the autonomy of the British Dominions," said Mr Massey. "There has not been the very slightest interference. Perhaps it will be said that the Dominions have been committed to a certain extent. We have done nothing of the sort. I know that money will be required from the Dominion in future. There are lots of matters that involve the expenditure of money, even in peace time. All these questions of inter-Irnperial communications, inter-Imperial trade, immigration, and so forth, require money; even the League of Nations requires money, but when there is a question of money the people to deal with expenditure, even for Empire purposes, will be the representatives of the people in the Parliaments of the Dominions concerned-"

My Masscy mentioned the question of German reparation. If the arrangements that had been made turned out as well as was expected, substantial benefit would be gained. He was well aware that presently all sorts of suggestions would be made, and all sorts of propaganda set on foot to.secure a variation of the arrangements, but he was not going to forget the experiences of the war. All the money in Germany would not pay for the life of one of the New Zealand soldiers, but he hoped that the arrangements made in good faith for the payment, of reparation will be carried out, and that the money due to New Zealand would be paid in due course. He would give more information on that point in the House. Prospects for Produce. Mr Masscy wished that the outlook fur New Zealand produce was better. He did not wish to exaggerate, and he was ready to admit the market conditions were not as good as he would like them to be, but. he disagreed with those people who suggested that there was not going to be an improvement. The peoples of the world could not do without our wool. Present prices were not satisfactory, but he did not believe that this state, of affairs was going to last long, and he would give his reasons when the time came. He was glad to say that the producer? were continuing to obtain profitable prices. It was just that the hardest-working section of the community should obtain good returns. The £5,000,000 Loan. Mr Masscy mentioned the New Zealand loan. He said the financial people in London had done everything possible to make tilings easy for hirn, and he really had nut had any more difficulty in borrowing £5,000.000 in London than he would have had in buying a few pounds of sugar in New Zealand. The committee of the Stock Exchange met him at a little luncheon and discussed the arrangements with himWhen it. came to float a loan they told him they went, ahead and presently be was told that the New Zealand loan was perfectly safe. He regretted at. the time that he had been modest in his demands. New Zealand might have to go back to the London market,, but he did not want, lo go back yet. lie believed thai, more money would be available in London when the proper time oarrit to aak for li-