NEW ZEALAND'S' PART

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 31, 31 October 1918, Page 7

NEW ZEALAND'S' PART

; IN THE GREAT WAR SPEECH BY THE PRIME . MINISTER SHIPPING AND POST-WAR-PROBLIKS The Prime Minister (Tit. Hon. W. F. alassev) was received with cheers on rising to .deliver an.opening' address at ilic annual conference- of the Association «f New Zealand Chambers of Commercein the Wellington Chamber of Commerce yesterday morning. The Prime Minister had much to say of live interest at this, .bno of the most; important,' timo in tho uar-time history of the Dominion. In returning thanks for the welcome ■voiced by the president (Mr. James Macintosh) Mr. Massey said that he. desired to congratulate the citizens of tho British Empire npou the change which had ■taken place during tho last few months, ami moro particularly in the last few weeks, in tho military outlook. But ihoy did not to we peace declared .-until a sense of responsibility for her crimes was brought home to Germany, : (App.lanse.) He also , desired to.congratiilato New Zealand on her war efforts; and in tho ,preat prosperity of the country at the present time. No doubt New Zealand had made sacrifices—many of her sons had made the supromp sacrifiqe; but commercially or financially he did not suppose' that the country was ever as prosperous as it was to-day. The reasons for. this prosperity wevo the exceedingly big production of the country and the very largo number of industrious nnd energetic.citizens who had done their best in tho matter of .production during the last three or four years. As an instance' Mr. Massey added that for the first nine months of this year imports Jiad totalled and. • exports .£22,407,410. This rate- would bo maintained if the ships were available, and Sf so it would mean that tho exports for the Tear would be in tho vicinity of >£3O,DOD,OfIOr-a .very good, record indeed. Then, too, it must be remembered that thero was dC15,000,000 worth of produce in cold storage in New Zealand awaiting shipment. The whole question was one of shipping. During the threo- veate since tho Imperial Supplies Department liad been in existence it had handled not less than £71,000,000 worth- of produce. Of course, the-Imperial Government had bought the majority of our produce— four-fifths .'of it; and it was paid for directly it became the property' of the Imperial Government. That also was n factor in the prosperity of the country, ■ Referring to n:3 recent visit to the Old Country, Mr. Massey'said he, had come back full of sincere admiration for those at tho head of tho Government there; in fact, for Britain and Britisli citizens generally. Hβ was satisfied time the British Government was doing its I>est to do justice to the overseas domiiv ions; particularly New Zealand. Mr. Masfey pointed.-.out., that'then* would bo many post-war problems to be dealt with, and he felt sure that they would be successfully dealt with if they were tackled by the leaders of the Empire with the same energy and ability us had been the problems of the war. There was no doubt that tremendous disunities. would hava to bo.faced; and r» ~ Fponsibilitie? borno wliich no one would over have dreamed, before the war, thai Now Zealand could undertake. They must expect n fall in prices after the war. War prices must and would cease, although tho voliimo of trade would probably bo maintained.

Great Development Ahead, If New Zealand was to, carry her Jnirdens successfully, her octpiit and- her trade generally would havo to \w considerably increased, and a comprehensive policy of development would bo nocessury. .New Zealand could do it, and it would be something on a scalo never, before attempted *n this or any other country, fc'o many things here were capable of .development-tho :.iron,' the, coal, mines, nod, the water-power, etc., and.it should be done. Then',, also, there should be encouragement for tho right class of immigrants k> come to this country. if.nijy people in tho Old C'ountr" were looking forward to making their homes overseas at the conclusion of the war, and "hile he did not say that 8, person should not lje allowed to go to any country he <leeired, ho trusted that (lie old policy of allowing emigrants to go without let or hindrance to any part,of the world would lie modified. He hoped that .wherever they went they would remain under the British Flag. •. .

Shipping 1 and Trade, Reverting again'to the question of chipping, Mr., Massey incidontally mentioned the prospect of an early peacu. In doing eo, he said that it was an open secret that the plan 3 for -the demobilisation of the Army were so well forward that if the war wero to end to-morrow tho men could start to get away homo the next day; that is, if the ships were fivnilable. It was not generally known that at present there. were about 700 British ehips in the. North Atlantic* British ships were doing G5 per cent, of the carrying trade in that region. Shipbuilding was being energetically taken in hand, not only in Britain., but in other countries, even in China and Japan. A very rapid improvement in the position to be^expected.'but

ho was confident it would come in time. Turning anain to questions of trade, the Prime- Minister said thnt. Britain would probably ,be still New Zealand s principal mavk'ct, and there .was the possibility of big trade with America, but Hid possibility of (ho Islands- trade must not be lost sight of. Many of the islands in the I'ucific were Komg to be very important pieces m the years to come. There was Fiji, our nearest nei"hbour. When the timo came, why should New Zealand not supply her with her -oods and lake from her her tropical products!' But something more .should be done. He would not go so far as-to say thai Fiji should join us politically,' but. ho could see no reason why there should not be commercial reciprocity. Fiji was on the- direct lino to the Panama Canal, and that route was_ going to be tho principal one to Europe intho tnlure. Mr. Massey added that he adwv caled tho provision of faster ship?, when possible; ships to do.the journey to Britain in thirty days. He also added that already tho Government was taking- the necessary. steps in connection with the bi" development policy which he hail spoken, 'and which was bound to come.

An Imperial Resolution, Coining tigain to tho shipping problem, Mr. Massey said t;hat undoubtedly shipping was 'the key to the prosperity o the country. Even from an Imperial point of view; it was necessary that tho means of communication with Britain must "be improved. The Prime Minister, in this connection, road the followin" resolution carried at the Imperial War Conference on July 26,1918, and announceil now for the first time. Jhe resolution read:— (I)' That in order to maintain satisfactorily the connections, and at the Fame time encourage commercial and industrial; relations, between the dif- . ferent countries of the British Jsmpitfi, this Conference is of opinion that shipping on the principal routes, especially between.the heart ot the Empire and the overseas dominions, including India, should be brought under review by an Inter-Imperial Board, of which.tlje L'mted kingdom and the British Dominions and dependencies should.be represented.(2) That for this purpose an Imperial Investigation Board, representing the various parts of the Empire, be appointed, with power to inquire into and report on all matters connected with ocean freights and facilities, and on all matters connected with tho development and improvement of the sea communications between the different parts of the Empire, with special reference to the size ind type of ships and the capacities of hai-boiira; tho-board to include, in addition to representatives of the Governments concerned, persons with expert knowledge of the problems involved, including representatives of tho shipping and grading interests. On the board' it was proposed to be set up; Mr. Mafsey added, the New Zealand representative would probably be the, High Coinroiseioner at tho time or his second in command.

German Colonies in the Pacific. I'l-ft passing reference to the-German colonies, the Prime Minister said lie had been delighted to road Mr. Balfours statement the other day. All the more so.becaiiso Mr. Ualfour had spoken for his colleagues ■of the British Government. It was a statement of policy clearly and .definitely laid down. Wo in New Zealand had nothing to fear in regard to the German colonies from the British' Government. If there was anything to fear, and he hoped not, it would l>o from the Peace Conference, as many representatives to thai gathering would not perhaps look at the matter from the'point of view of the South Pacific. He sincerely hoped that everything would be all right. There was,- however, ono danger which existed, and" that was the danger of some form of dual conirol being established such as existed at present in the New Hebrides, controlled l>y Britain and France. Single control, by either nation, would. l>o much better there and everywhere else. The establishment of dual control in the South Pacific Islands would bo the most 6.erious mistake that could he imagined.

■The Prime Minister was loudly applauded at the conclusion of his.fjpeoch, 'and was accorded a very hearty vote of thanks.