The Manawatu Herald. SATURDAY, NOVEMB. 25. 1916. “SOLID AS A ROCK,"

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 1642, 25 November 1916, Page 2

The Manawatu Herald. SATURDAY, NOVEMB. 25. 1916. “SOLID AS A ROCK,"

TX replying to the toast of the Xational (iovernnien), at the dinner to the delegates of the Dominion Chambers of Commerce at •Wellington this w«ek, the lion. W. 11. Harries said he had to thank the chairman for the kind words he had said about the National Government, which had been the subject of frequent adverse comment. It had pal on greater taxation and borrowed more money and commandeered meat and wool and butler. That was what it was pul there to do, because if was absolutely necessary that there should he a strong Government having only one object- (he successful conclusion ot the war. It was not an easy thing to do to form such a Government, but it was now as solid a* a rock, and he believed (he future historian would say that it had done good work’. The Government had set an example which no party Government could have set. It had been said that the imperial Government, took more from New Zealand than IVom other countries, h„| we ought, to he proud that the Imperial Government could and did place such dependence on the Dominion and on the National Government. Other countries might yet liud it necessary (u form such a Government As t„ local differences, lie eonsider«d (hiit if the contending parties decided to fonu it united front difficulties would melt a.way. if W e thought only of war and mutters reto the win- we could render greater service to the Umpire lh im • ,n .' other Empire Dominion under Dm sun. He thanked the Chambers «t Commerce and the commercial men m general |or helping the Govta nment to arrive at a successful f eliHifult problems solve’Jt 1 hleSeV Pl '° l,leUls to there mdtHo ■, • , c <l ll,l| ted Government existence when that time came.

He was satisfied (lint when {lie history of (lie war eamc to he written the part played by New Zealand would lie eharaeierised as one of the greatest parts played by any part of the British Empire.