GOVERNOR-GENERAL

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIV, Issue 10284, 20 May 1919, Page 5

GOVERNOR-GENERAL

SPEECH AT THAMES.

Press Association,

AUCKLAND, May 19. Roplying to tho toast of his health at a dinner given at the Thames to the Governor-General and Countess of Liverpool on Saturday evening, His Excellency commented upon remarks that were being made in regard to tho pictracted stay in England of the Prime Minister and Sir Joseph Ward. He assured them that this was quite necessary in the interests of the Dominion. On the signing of the Armistice he received an urgent cablegram from Home to. send these gentlemen there as soon as possible, as they were required to be present at tho Conference on the Peace terms. As they did not leave at once, but remained until the conclusion of the session of Parliament, he received several other cablegrams urging them to come at once, so that it was quite evident that their presence at the Conference was necessary.

His Excellency also referred to the question of roads, and said he considered that all the main arterial roads should be controlled by larger bodies than they were at present, so that a more extensive scheme of road-making could be carried out and better main roads constructed and kept in order, which would tend .greatly to tho future development of the country.