HIS TENTH YEAR

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 245, 11 July 1921, Page 4

HIS TENTH YEAR

MR. MASSEY CONGRATULATED NINE YEARS OF OFFICE COMPLETED The Right Hon. W. F. Massey entered upon his tenth year of office as Primo Minister of New Zealand yesterday. He became Prime Minister on July 10, 1912, and has remained at the head of tho Government of the Dominion since that time. The constitution of the Ministry during the period has varied a good *'al, the National Government being in office for part of the time. Air. Massey will require to retain office for a little more than four years yet before he holds the New Zealand record for occupation of the Premiership. Ihe late Air. Seddon took office on May 1, 1893, and remained tho head of the Government until he died on June 21, 1906, a period of 13 years and 51 days. Mr. Massey’s friends have no doubt about his ability to stay the distance, and some of them have already expressed their confidence in congratulatory mesSIX EOS. Five other members of the original Reform Ministry are members of the Government to-day. Two ot them S.r William Fraser and Sir William Hornes, arc not holding portfolios, but they remain members of .the Executive. Sir Francis Bell the Acting-Prime Minister, and tho Hon. Dr. Pomare, Minister representing the Native race, have .been in office continuously since 1912. Sir Heaton Rhodes, the Minister of Defence was an origin?! member of the Reform Ministry but he was out of office during the lite of the National Government, when he was engaged on important war work. Messages of congratulation that .have been sent to Mr. Massey include one from Cabinet and the members of the Reform Party. The cablegram assures him of the continued loyalty pf his colleagues in the Ministry and his supporter/in Parliament, and of his retention of the confidence of the. great majority of the people of New Zealftiid. A Press Association cablegram received from London this morning states that Air. Massey received many felicitations upon entering the tenth year of his Premiership. Mr. Lloyd George insisted on being photographed with Ml. Massey at D'owning Street.