MR. MASSEY AND SIR JOSEPH WARD

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2902, 14 October 1916, Page 9

MR. MASSEY AND SIR JOSEPH WARD

■ I LUNCHEON SPEECHES I LOYAL TO THE IDEALS OF EMPIRE By Telegraph-Press Association-CopyrigW'- ' ;"' London, October'l2. • Lord Brassey, Lord Islington, "Lord - Pluuket, the Duke of Devonshire, Lord •• Emmott, the High Commissioners'and Agents-General, Sir James Carroll, Dr. ' A. K. Newman, Mr. E. C. Ozanne (Attorney-General for Guernsey), and many members of the House-of Commons attended' the luncheon 1 given- in honour of Mr. Massey and Sir Joseph (Yard by tho Empire Parliamentary As- ' soeiatiou at the HoMee of Commons.. : Mr. Bonar Law (Secretary of State for the Colonies) presided/:and id wel- '"■ coming • Mr: Massey and Sir Joseph I Ward paid a tribute to the splendid [services both had rendered the.Empire. . Tho services by the overseas Dominion's could not be exaggerated. It was not only a; question of moral support—the Dominions had sent somewhere about three-quarters of a million of troops, but numbers were not the chief characteristic—they had also placed assets of every kind at the disposal of.- the Motherland. War had taught England thatin our dealings with the Dominions it is not merely a question of profit and . loss, but whatever would add to their strength would add to the strength of the Empire.. -. ' New Zealand Played Her Part, New Zealand played her part. "In proportion to her population she had 6cntaud keeps'up a strength not inferior to tho other Dominions, and up to now without compulsion.' Thej ' knew what she had done at Gallipoli." ' (Cheers.) The New Zealanders did not \ merely receive their baptism of fire, but • /, with their Australian comrades, proved themselves as good as any troops in history. What they had done would bo ■ handed down in history. Referring to Britain's unpreparedness, Mr. Bonar Law said she started . badly, as she had done in every war, i but when history, 'comes to_ be.' written the marvel will be the way in which the Empire organised itself. She more than*

equalled her- enemies in -war material, and always beat them in the quality of men. The' end was not in sight, but'the tide had turned* and the result was not in doubt.

Mr. Boniir Law concluded by quoting the words used at the Anzac service in Westminster Abbey : "We are resolved that our sons and brothers/shall not have laid down their lives in vain."

Mr. Masssy's SpeecTi, Mr. Massey, in replying, said the events of the war proved to the .world and our enemies that the citizens of the Empire were intensely loyal, and were prepared to prove it by the severest tests. Ho and Sir Joseph Ward had not come to ventilate grievances. They realised that those entrusted with Imperial affairs were carrying the heaviest responsibility ever placed on the shoulders of British statesmen.' Therefore the proper thing for all was to present a determined and united front to the enemy, then after the war they could settle any differences they might have for the mutual benefit of the community. • We had a solemn duty ;'to civilisation and posterity to see that the blood shed, had not been shed in vain. The inhuman methods of Germany were not entitled to any consideration. .Ws must go on until the enemy was crushed 'and. broken .and acknowledged defeat, Britain was not decadent, as the nations of the Central Powers- haddeluded themselves into believing. ' There_ were mahy important matters for consideration after the war. Our industry, energy, and ability must bo encouraged as never before. Every deserving man must be given a chance to share the good things of life after the war. Something more than mere ties of blood, kinship, and tradition was assuredly required to unite the Empire;, but any new ties must leave the Dominions free to manage their own affairs. The ties must bo capable of meeting changing conditions in various parts of She Empire. We havo taken up the burden of Empire and intend to carry it, believing it is the right thing.. So with wise, statesmanlike management the units of Empire will stand loyal to the ideals of Empire. This must appeal to the most unimaginative.: He-fully agreed with the findings of the Paris Conference. The sooner they were prepared to meet the German m economic contest the better. He was sure tha present generation of New Zealanders would not purchase any enemy goods obtainable within the Empire. It may not be possible to have a Freetrade Empire, but it is possible to give preference to each other, : arid also, an .open door to our, Allies.. . '* -•

Sir Joseph Ward's Speech, Sir Joseph Ward said-'he bad full confidence m our determination to win. , The-overseas Dominions by their enor- ' mous, sacrifices and willingness to give their-last man and'-shilling-had a right .to look forward in the future to a place . at the Council tables and to require that , the outlying units, which had •emerged into positions of advantage, ■ and were- readv to take their part, should have a say before tlio Empire wa6 involved in war. New' Zealand' strongly approved the decision the - Imperial Government to take the Dominions into consultation when peace was declared. When the terms were being discussed there would be rnanv questions affecting the Dominions, and it was only right that the countries contiguous to the possessions captured from Germany should have a voice in their disposition. He congratulated Great, Britain on what ]iad..hpen done to develop the trade policy. New Zealand after the war would impose a- 50, per cent, duty on enemy importations,) • and was prepared to increase it to 100 per cent, if necessary,.. .:Sir. Joseph paid a tribute to the work of the Navy, in protecting the trade routes, lhe Navy had-saved us. The resources of tho Empire had been strained to the utmost, but tho groat sacrifices demanded had been made without a murnuir The war had steadied public lite in New Zealand and strengthened the national 'character. Tho raising of a ten million loan in New Zealand was testimony of the confidence m the country's cause, and faith in the ultimate issue. The war had brought the ideal of a consolidated Empire much nearer, and he believed it would soon ■ be practical and inaugurated.