NO HOLIDAY VISIT

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3120, 26 June 1917, Page 6

NO HOLIDAY VISIT

"HAIi'D AND CONTINUOUS DUTY." "T must confess to a feeling of surprise at hearing (lint oxcoption has been tiikuu to tho long absence from tho Dominion of tho Prime Minister and myself," enifl

Sir Joseph Ward. "Our intention was to luivo left England on the return jourliey in December, 1910. Such, "however, were tho conditions brought, about liy tho war and changes that were occurring in London day by day after our- arrival there that the original idea of ;vu early return had to be abandoned, and in deference to tho request of the newly-formed British Government under Mr. Lloyd George it was necessary for us to prolong our stay. It was considered desirable that Mr. Massey and myself should remain m England, and that representatives from absent oversea countries should be invited to take part in connection with vital matters affecting tlm war and tho Empire as a whole. Obviously our clear duty under the extraordinary circumstances was to remain at tho b'eart of the Empire and occupy seats in tho War Cabinet as well as attend the Imperial War Conference. There was nothing in the nature of a holiday about our visit. It was a case of hard and continuous duty under circumstances far from ordinary. Attending to important matters affecting tho products of New Zealand and tho prices to bo paid for them was in itself a difficult task, but was only one of the many matters that took up much time and the closest attention, so that the result would not be detrimental tu New Zealand."

DEPARTURE FOR WELLINGTON (By Telegraph—Special Reporter.) ■ Auckland, .Time 25. Mr. Massey and Sir Joseph Ward and party left by a. special train for Wellington at 10.30 to-night. Mr. Massey and his family are to stay at- Government House-for a fow daj's before returning to their qwn residence. His electors were anxious.to entertain Mr. Massey at a banquet as soon as possible, but this function has been postponed until Monday week.