DECISIVE VICTORY

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 25, 24 October 1918, Page 8

DECISIVE VICTORY

WAR SPEECHES BY MINISTERS

MR. MASSEY AND SIR JOSEPH WARD

The Prime Minister (Right Hon. W. F. Massey) and the Minister of Finance (Sir Joseph Ward) were the guests ot the New Zealand Club at. luncheon yesterday. The chair was taken by Mr. W. B." Spencer, who congratulated the Mm: isters on their safe return to New Zealand after performing important work in the Mother Country.

Mr. Massey, who was received with applause, said that he and Sir Joseph Ward appreciated the heartiness of tho welcome extended to them on their return to New Zealand. Jle referred to the change that had tivken place in the war situation. Earlier in the year the outlook had been far from »cod. But it was very pood to-day. Germany was beaten, and he was qinite sure the Allied authorities were not going to grant an armistice that would merely give tho Germans time to recuperate. There would be no penle until a complete victory had been won by the Allies in the field or until Germany surrendered herself as Bulgaria had already done. The Allies must have- a decisive victory, and Gernmny must be compelled to make the fullest possible reparation. Full reparation was impossible, but the fullest possible reparation must be made and adequate guarantees must be given for future good ibehaviour. It must not be forgotten, when reports of German revolution were abroad, that the Germans people were the best disciplined nation on earth. They had prepared for the w.nr and planned for the war. They ' had intended to destroy the British Empire. They had reckoned on the disruption of 'the British Empire in the face of danger. They might have learned their lesson now, but the Allies could not afford to count upon a change of mind' in Germany. The enemy must give adequate guarantees. Sir. Massey mentioned that the British Dominions, which had been regarded by the Germans as negligible, had put 1,000,000 men into, the field. India had provided' 1,000,000 men. The coloured races of the British Empire had rallied to the Allied cause without hesitation. Germany could get no support of that kind from her coloured subjects. The shameful record of German colonisation in Africa and elsewhere was an adequate reason why the German colonies should never be returned. (Applause.) At the present time there was not a German eoliUer on British 'territory except as a prisoner. There was not a German ship on the seas, and the submarines, lurking under the sea, had been thwarted in their effort to wreck the Allies' sea communications. The submarines were still sinking passenger ships and murdering innocent men, women, and children. For that, the Germans must pay when the terms of pence.were settled. But the submarines had won no victory.

The Prime Minister paid a tribute to the mercantile marine, and predicted that New Zenlnders were going to be a maritime nation. The opening of the Pamuna Canal was going to linvo an enormous influence on the development of the countries of the South Pacific. Sixteen knot steamers, using the Panama Canal, could take passengers from Wellington to London in thirty days, and lie looked forward to the building of those steamers. In conclusion, Mr, Miissey said that he and Sir Joseph Ward had been engaged in London in taking part in Imperial business of a very important character. It had been their privilege to assist in what he believed would prove a very successful attempt to give the overseas Dominions that representation in Imperial affairs to which they were, entitled. He had enjoyed his trip, and had found the sen. a restful place in spite of tlio submarines. But he did not want to make any further trip abroad in the near future unless it was in connection with the peace negotiations.