MR MASSEY IN BELFAST

Hokitika Guardian, 1 December 1923, Page 3

MR MASSEY IN BELFAST

All! MASSICV IN BKU-’AST AN K.VTIII”Sf ASTIO EKCKI’TION AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CA-ULE ASSOCIATION. LONDON. November 30. .Mr Massey was enthusiastira.ll,v welcomed in Belfast, to-day. Oil arrival he was driven out to .Stormont where he wtis the guest of Sir •lames Craig, „ Hie Duke Abercoru being one of tin' house party. AIT Alassey was entertained at luncheon by liie Chamber of Commerce, the |‘resident of which. Sir William Coates, paid a tribute to him as a great Imperialist to whose robust and practical energy New Zealand, the Umpire autl the Allies acre permanently indebted. Sir W:- Coates reviewed Mr Alassey’s life and referred enlogistieally to New Zealand’s war services. Air .Massey was accorded a wonderful ovation, Hie whole assemblage m the hall rising, waving and cheering, and singing, '‘For lie’s a Jolly Ciuotl Fellow.” The New Zealand Premier icvieued. in a characteristic manner, the position o| the Fmpire to-day and he claimed thill New Zealand was a part of the .Umpire where, maritime instincts weie strongest. They gloried in the Diet that they had a. sailor Txing, a sailor .I’rinee, and a. sailor (lovernoi'-Gonetal. Air Alassey urged that the measures proposed at the recent conferences for advancing (money to the Dominions should he continued and extended because therein he felt sure the means would lie found for rapidly diminishing tin unemployment. Air Alassey, continuing said that the British Umpire could produce eveiytiiing for the conduit and .sustenance o| mankind. It was their duty to see that the Ivinpire became entirely selfsupporting and to deal with its own citizens instead of going to foreign countries. The present fiscal policy was not free trade. It was not even lair trade. Tile only way to secure a return to prosperity was to do as other countries- were doing. Air Alassey praised the British post and the navy and urged the necessity for more rapid and cheaper cmiimuiiical unis. He paid a tribute to the work of the natiie nice in New Zealand and expressed the e.p.iiii'-ii that there were many opportunities for business between New Zealand and l l-ster. At the conclusion of the speech the scenes of enthusiasm were icpoaled. Sir •). Chnig, in proposing a vote of thanks referred to Air Alassey’s patiiotie, sensible, businesslike amt cncnurngmg address. He pleaded that- the Dominion might extend a little ptelereuee to Ulster’s goods. [n extending a welcome to Belfast. Sir A. Craig expressed le.e hope that if anything happened to him l lsler would tempt Alt' Alassey to become 1 ’rime .Minister of Northern Ireland. Alter the function. Air Alassey and Sir James Allen inspected the llax research department and dined privately at Stormount in the evening with Lord , Ahereorn and Sir -T. Craig.