RECEPTION TO MR. MASSEY

Dominion, Volume 15, Issue 14, 11 October 1921, Page 6

RECEPTION TO MR. MASSEY

WELLINGTON’S WELCOME TO DAY’S PROBLEMS DISCUSSED IMPERIAL PREFERENCE AND IMMIGRATION A civic reception to the Prime Minister (Rt. Hon. W. F. Massey) wa s held in the Concert Chamber of the Town Hall at noon yesterday Considering the somewhat inconvenient hour, there was a good attendance, and Mr. Massey was enthusiastically welcomed. Among those present were Ministers of the Crown, members of Parliament, and members of the City Council. Mrs. Massey was indisposed, and so could not be present. The Mayor (Mr. R. A. Wright, M.P.), arrayed in his robes of office, delivered a striking eulogy of the Prime Minister’s statesmanlike qualities. Speaking for the people of Wellington, Mr. Wrigiit said that they were delighted. to have Mr. Massey back in good health. Mr. Massey, ho was convinced, had much good work still to do for the people of New Zealand. (Applause.) Hi, Massey was a man always prepared, and never taken unawhres in emergency. He possessed tho bulldog energy characteristic of tho British people. After the 1905 election his party had returned to Parliament somewhat shuttered, but Mr. Massey had fought on, and as the reward of his persistence had won the place he held to-day. At Home, Mr. Massey was regarded os a man of principle, of broad vision and determination. In ail his work ho brought to bear sound common-sense. The speaker fancied that Mr. Massey was the onlyone of the Prime Ministers at the recent conference who was not a lawyer; yet he had held his own with all the legal talent. Mr. Massey believed firmly in It strong British Empire to see that justice was meted out to small nations, and generally to serve the human race. It was wonderful that ho should have come back unspoiled after receiving all the honours that had been bestowed upon him at Home, where ho had been presented with the freedom of half-a-ecore of municipalities and doctorates of two universities. Not only by Britain, however, had New Zealand’s representative been honoured; for Mr. Massey had been created by France Grand Officer of Hie Legion of Honour. At the conference bis motto had Been ‘unity of Empire,' and he had given valuable assistance to the other statesmen in solving Empire problems. Ho had represented New Zealand’s views in discussions on the forthcoming disarmament conference, and New Zealand's interests in that conference, the speaker believed, were thoroughly safeguarded. (Applause.) Mr. Wright paid a Tribute to Mrs. Massey, also saying that she had been a true helpmeet and a tower of strength to her husband. Wellington was proud to see Mr. Massey present. He held a warm place in the affections of all the citizens, who realised that he hud worthily upheld the honour of this country abroad. Councillor C. J. B. Norwood spoke on behalf of tho city councillors. The honours conferred upon Air. Alassey, he said, were honours conferred on the splendid little country- that Air. Afassey represented. The Prime Afinister had brought New Zealand into greater prominence than ever before. Owing to the wideness of vision and keen foresight of vbe Prime Minister, New Zealand had played in the late conference a part of striking success. The'people of Wellington were grateful for the splendid service* he had performed and were pleased v<> see him in the best of health, ready to pilot the coqntry through its present difficulties. PRIME MINISTER’S REPLY. Air. Alassey was loudly cheered before he commenced his speecu. He expressed his thanks lor the very'complimentary things that had been said about him, and particularly- lor the reference to Air*. Massey, who, lie hoped, would soon be restored to Health. He thanked citizen, present, and said he regretted that the amount of business ho had to undertake had made it necessary tor the reception to be held at such an inconvenient hour. It was nSt tho fault of the Mayor that tho reception had nut been held at a better time. ■ Thu recent Imperial Conterence, Air. Massey said, was undoubtedly the most important of all the Imperial conferences that had been held. It was the first conference at which tho representatives of the oversea Dominions had inken part in the government of tho Empire, and had had a direct say in tho management of Empire affairs. J hoy had had on this occasion to deal with and do their share in what might bo called the foreign policy of the Empire. It was admit Icd after the war that the time had come when tho Dominions must, be considered as partners rather than as dependencies. That was the position today.

MORE FREQUENT CONFERENCES. He could not forget that when ho was leaving New Zealand, meeting.; had been called in Wellington and elsewhere to give him a ‘‘send-oft, and at each and all of those meetings the point had been emphasised that he must stand, as the representative of tlie eidhusiastically loyal people of New Zealand, for a strong and united Empire. His v«ry best efforts had gone in that direction, and aloim with others ho believed they had been” successful. If such conferences were to possess the importance, theyshould possess, then some arrangement would hove to be made whereby they would'be held frequently-not less than once a year. He did no! flunk a conference could bo held next year, but he was simply- expressing tho opinion that in the future it would be necessary- for the statesmen of the Empire to come together at least once a year. FAVOURABLE COMPARISONS. Tic had conic back to what he realised was exceedingly important business 111 this countrv. He believed that Parliament now had the most important business before it that had come up tor luany years past. One could not nave honestly expected that New Zealand would have escaped what had been called tho aftermath of tlie war. ’t was quite impossible, then, that other countries were suffering depression 'nat New Zealand should have escaped. 1 he depression that this country was experiencing, however, war. not to be compared with that which more important countries—from tho point of view of population—were suffering. He had seen Britain, the United States, and Canada, and he llinn-lit Now Zealanders ought to .congratulate themselves on the fact that their lines were cast in such a comparatively pleasant, country, ns New Zealand undoubtedly was. They had problems in front of I hem —financial problems. The financial arrangements ho had been able to make in England had already boon referred to. Anvono who followed financial matters would have noticed with great satisfaction ihe amount that: had been received for tho supplementary V>nn he had arranged for in order to pay the expanses of the larger loan and the country

have the Inf ter in its mt form. Tho loan was .£386,000, and wlvn d wa' placed on tho market it realised £99 ss. (Applause.) Those were, tho very best terms on which a Dominion loan had been placed for many- years He was not at all certain that I these terms were not equal to those the I “British Government had received for loans it had placed on the market during the last few months. It spoke well for the position that Now Zealand occupied in comparison with other countries on the London market. He did not wish to go back for money just yet. He did not think it would be wise to do so, and he did not think, either, that it would be necessary, except in a small wav. There was one little matter for which monev would bo needed and he proposed to'get the amount in London; but ho would not go into that question at tho moment. NEED FOR ECONOMY. New Zealand’s national income had fallen. No Government could control that The drop in the price of wool had been one of the principal causes of tfie present difficulty. He believed that, as compared with then prices realised foi the previous five years, the P rlco ° f wool had suffered a fall <>* In anv case, the prices had dropped so ser'ously that there was not a pastoralist in New. Zealand able to show -a balance on the right side for the lari: season. That sort of thing must affect the whole population. Other armies produced in New Zeaand had alro fallen in price. Consequently as he had said, the national income had decreased When the income of a firm or of an individual fell, the only business-hke thing to do was to regulate the ex pemHture accordingly. (App.ause} That was one of the problems of the pre "He^dTnot think it would be a very serious difficulty, but the country, must bring its expenditure within its income and at the same time lessen the load of taxation where it was impeding development and interfering with trade and commerce. If the Government was able to do something m this direction before the end of the present session, and he hoped it would, it would havg done good work for the country. A head of the Government, however, he wished to say that the assistance of every individual citizens of the country would be wanted if the p “^ r be carried through successfully, wnen it had been carried through lie was sure Hey would be able to say the Tight thing 'had been 'done, and that Ithe country was entering on another very long period of prosperity. The country was so good that it would not remain financially depressed for long; but the sooner the public finances were ina saL isfacbory state the better it would bo for all-SELF-SUPPORTING EMPIRE. At the recent conference the subject of inter-Empire trade had been discussed. He wL very strongly- impressed with the idea that the people of .the Empire could exhibit their loyalty, patriotism and unselfishness.in connection in’ operation Imperial 0 preference. *lf their have to do far more to assist one another than they had done up to tho present time. lhe Empire was capable of producing everything that was necessary for the comfort and the sustenance of mankind. there were, however, great vacant spaces, capable of carrying ten times their present population New Zealand itself in time could carry at least ten times the population it had to-day and it would be a very good thing if it had another hallmillion of settlers for town or country, just about as good as the units ot tie present population were. Australia and Canada had a population of about two to the square mile. It was absurd tha should bo allowed to continue. AV hat the Empire should do was to make itself self-supporting. He did not mean bv that that trade with other couutnes should be eliminated, but that the countries within tho Empire should institute Imperial preference. Preference was being given now, but not to the extent that it should be. He did not tho stage would ever be reached at which there would be free trade between the various parts of tho Empire, but those countries should get much nearer to it than they were at present. EMIGRATION FROM BRITAIN. A great movement of population was taking place in Britain. The opinion had been expressed to him many times during his stay in Britain that the country contained more people -than it could carry. Openings were needed for tho surplus people in British countries overseas. Eor fifty years or more there had been a stream of emigrants going from Britain, and it was unfortunate that a large proportion of these jieople, drawn from the most energetic and enterprising sections of tho population, had gone to foreign countries. It would have been much better if those emigrants had been induced, as tho emigrants of to-day were being induced, to stay .within tlie Empire. Al any thousands of British peoplo had come to New Zealand within recent months, and he thought ho was right in saying that they were n good class of people, who would do well for themselves and for the- country of their adoption. They- would assist New Zealand to carry the tremendous liabilities that necessarily had been built up during the war years. The British Government had been paying the passages of ex-service men. It was not likely to bo. able to continue this system v«-ry long. That had been indicated to the New Zealand authorities. But the British Government proposed to continue to send out ex-service men to a certain extent, and it had a. scheme for giving assistance to deserving settlers by- way of loan, tn enable them to establish themselves in new countries. BETTER SEA COMMUNICATIONS. The problems of Imperial migration suggested the need for the improvement of" the sea. communications of the Empire, continued the Primo Alinister. There was plenty of room for improvement. He was not going to find fault with (ho ships that, were carrying New Zealand’s produce and passengers at the present time. They had served the Dominion well. He did not believe that much improvement could lie effected at present, because tho available money was more urgently needed for other purposes. But the time must ' come—and it need not be very- long delayed—when a thirty-day steamer service for passengers and mails would be established between New Zealand and Britain. The establishment of a service would verymuch facilitate arrangements in connection with future meetings of the Imperial Conference, or whatever the gatherings of Prime Ministers might be called. If these conferences were to be held every year, and he believed that they ought 'to be held every year, the Prime Alinisters of Australia and New Zealand could not be expected to attend regular: lv if attendance meant six months’ absence from their own countries. His recent visit to Lfindon had been conducted with as much economy- of time ns ixissible, but it had taken five months and a half. If a thirty-days steamer service were in existence, he could attend a conference in London and be back in three months. That would bo a comparatively simple matter. The Prime Minister made some important references to development of aviation, the Washington conference, and other matters, which are reported elsewhere. He was very heartily applauded al the close of his speech. Tho gathering closed with the National Anthem.