THE PRIME MINISTER

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 166, 9 April 1921, Page 8

THE PRIME MINISTER

ENTHUSIASTIC RECEPTION AT HAWERA

PRESENTATION OF A FLAG

A TRIBUTE FROM FRANCE

The Prime MnusFer (Right Hon. ,W. F. Alassey) returned to Wellington yesterday after hia brief visit to the Patea electorate.' The reception \glven him by the people of the electorate, who ai'e ■taking the by-election contest very seriously, was a particularly cordial one. Air. Massey’s meeting at Waverley was opened at 5 -p.m., an awkward hour for a faming community, but the local hall wns filled, and the Prime Minister with . difficulty got away in time to keep his engagement in Hawera. The audience that awaited him there was the largest ever seen in the town. The Opera House was packed in all parts, including thb stage. People who could not gain, admission stood in the stairways

and outside the doors, while late comers

discussed the pfospeots of the by-elec-tion in the street. The Prime Minister was given an enthusiastic reception, • and was listened to with close attention. A few would-be interjectors were promptly ruled out of order by 1 the audience. The following resolution was carried without dissent at the close of the meeting :v-"In congratulating the Prime Minister on- his invitation to attend the very important Imperial Conference in Ixmdon this year, this meeting desires to place on record its high appreciation of the services rendered ■ to the Dominion and the Empire by Mr. Massey while occupying the responsible position of * head of the Reform Government. Furthermore, to express its continued confidence in the Prime Minister and his colleagues. This meeting also wishes Mr., Mrs., and Miss Massey bon voyage and a safe return to New Zealand.” .Yesterday morning, Mr. Massey took part in a picturesque ceremony at the Hawera District High School. Two ’•/ years ago the school sent a New Zealand Ensign to a French school at Boulogne. Mr. Massey happened to be in Britain when this flag arrived, and he travelled to Boulogne, and presented the flag on behalf of the Hawerti children. Famous French soldiers and representatives of the British Army, as well as of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force, took part 'in that ceremony. The French school, In its turn, sent a Freif'h flag to the Hawera school, and it was this flag that Mr. Massey formally htoded over yesterday. . The ceremony, necessarily, was briei. The assembled children saluted the Union Jack and recited the declaration of loyalty: "I love my King, I Jove my country, I love the Empire and the Empire's flag.” They sang the National Anthem with great vigour, and listened to the reading of the message accompanying the flag, ' r the same flag that has flown over Verdun—the flag of liberty, equality, and fraternity—to give a message from Uie hearts of the boys of France to the. hearts of the boys of New Zealand.” Then they sang “The Marseillaise,” anti cried in lusty unison

'Wive la France.” Mr. Massey, who was cheered loudly,, > said how glad he was to meet several hundred good specimens of young Taranaki. He reminded them that Hawera had what probably was a unique distinction among New Zealand towns in havig sent to the front two men who won the Victoria Cross. .FTft told the children something of what the women and children of France achieved in the years when every able-bodied Frenchman was Under arms, and the factories had to be 1 run. the soil tilled, and the harvest gathered by the people who remained at home. Mr. Massey left for the railway ' station amid a chorus of cheers.