MEETING OF BUSINESS MEN.

Hokitika Guardian, 28 June 1918, Page 3

MEETING OF BUSINESS MEN.

Mil. MASSEY’S .VIEWS. [per PRESS ASSOCIATION. COPYRIGHT.] (Router’s Telegrams) (Received This Day at 9.15 a.m.) LONDON, June 27. Hon. W .F. Massey, addressing a meeting of business men convened bv the Imperial Commercial Association, congratulated the Association on. securing Mr F. M. B. Fisher as director. Mr Fisher hud dono splendid work in New Zealand and if ho returned he would be welcomed witli open arms. Lord Inchcape, who presided, presented Mr Massey with an illuminated address in recognition of New Zealand’s loyalty and patriotism.

Mr Massey added that ho did not think Imperial taxpayers need provide, a i shilling on New Zealand’s behalf, if the j Shipping Controller provided ships to j bring to England, the vast' supplies j awaiting shipment in New Zealand, j They had heard a great deal about Ger- ! man influence throughout tho. Empire : bofore the war. He did not want Gcr- | mans in the South Pacific Seas alter ; tho war. He hoped th c Germans would ' never bo allowed again to obtain raw f (materials, useable* for war purposes from British possessions. Were we going : to revert to the pre-war system whereby i the goods from the Dominions entered Britain on the same terms as those ; from .Germany? (Cries of No!)? He | stjeong favoured Imperial preference ! which would do more than anything to consolidate tho Empire. ' Sir E. Carson said he hoped that Go- . vernment would not nttSmpT to run a business war, or tho country would be doomed to a shortage of raw matoI rials, which Britain, the Dominions, and United States controlled. Until onr businesses were rebuilt, Gerrnrmv ’ should not be allowed any raw materials. No shins should bo built for any belligerent or neutral .until our own shipping wag restored to its pre-war position.