Second Edition Great Britain

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 65, 13 October 1916, Page 6

Second Edition Great Britain

MASSEY-WARD LUNCHEON MR/BONAR LAW’S TRIBUTE TO, > REW ZEALAND. SERVICE^OF TJiE OVERSEAS. I - '• l/i ■■■- ■■ ■ ■■■ ■»« rTHE *fMPl|?E'fc BULL-DOC ffr* ■■ t /[."spirit; ''r—— ' Australian; an JN.'jj. : Cable Association. , (Received 11.15 a.m.)- . lf.il': ‘Lqmlody October 12. Lord .Bi’a&aey, Lodil Islington, Lord. Plunkejj, jthe Duke, of ; Devonshire, Lord of .Oldham, all the four Higjr,Commissioners and AgentsGoneral, ’feu-"’ Dr. Newman, and many members of the House ‘of Commons were present at the luncheon when Mr Bonar Law, in welcoming the Hon, W. F. Massey (Premier of New Zealand) and Sir Joseph Ward, paid tribute to the splendid Services’ which both ' had rendered., to .the Empire. The services rendered by the Overseas could not- bd'exagerated..- It was not only a question v of moral support, as they had sent somewhere about threeof. a million troops, bia uiiditjjßrs w.er.c not the chief character - iStid- 'They'‘had also placed assets of kind ai? the*. Motherland s clis'posal. The war had taught England that in our dealings with the Dominions it waff not merely a question of profit and loss, but whatever would add strength to the Empire. New Zealand had played her part. In proportion to her population, she had sent and still keeps up her strength not inferior to other Dominions, and up to now without compulsion.- Theyknew what she had done at Gallipoli. —(Cheers.) It was not merely that she baptism of fire but with their Australian comrades they had proved themselves as good as any troops in history. What had been done,’would be handed, down in

history. ■ Referring to Britain’s- unprepaiedness Mr Bonar Lavy said she had started badly as she had done in every war. When the history of the present war comes to bo written, the marvel worth! rHoyfthßLf'fty. pvhich the Empire had organised itself. She had more than equalled the enemy m war material and always boat them for .quality and, meifc.|ygT'ho was not in sight, hut the title had turned, and the rsenlt was not in doubt.

NO SACRIFICES IN VAIN. MR MASSEY IN REPLY. (Received 12.50 p.m.) <Mv 41<>nfu.: Law , concluded by quoting the words used at the Anzae Service in the Abbey: “We arc resblY(?(i‘ y sons' ~"nd brothers shall not have laid down their lives in vain.” ” > Mr Massey, in -reply, • said the events of the war had proved to the world and their enemies that the citizens of the Empire wore intenselj loyal, and prove it by the most severe tests. He and Sir J W h M¥ d lia /k^ late grievances. They realised that those entrusted with Imperial affairs hilities ever p\acetf on tile shoulders of British statesmen; therefore, the proper thing for all was to present a determined and - united front to ■ the enemy. Then, after the war the} could ' settle, any, differences they might have for the mutual benefit of the community.- '.They had a solemn duty to civilisation and posterity to see that the. Woodshed was not shed in* vain. Germany’s inhuman methods had not entitled them to any consideration'. We must go on until the, enpmy, was crushed and broken '■ and' until ‘ he ’ acknowledges defeat. Britain was not a decadent nation as the Central Powers deluded themselves into believing.' There were many important matters for postwar consideration. Our industry, energy, and ability must be encouraged as they never were before, and every deserving man must be given a chance to share the good things of lifu After the war something more than , mere ties of bipod, kinship, and tradition was assuredly required to unite the Empire. Any new ties muse leave the Dominion's free to manage their own affairs, The ties must be capable of meeting tire changing conditions of the’various parts of the Empire. We had taken up the burden of the Empire and intended to carry it, believing it was the right thing. So with wise and statesmanlike management, the units of the Empire will stand loyal to the ideals of Empire; That must appeal to the most unimaginative. They were fullyagfeed on the findings of the Paris Conference, and the sooner we were prepared to meet the German economic contest the better. He was sure the- present generation in New Zealand would not purchase ' any enemy^goods;'obtainable; within the Empire. It may not he possible to have free trade-.in the. Empire, hut it would ho' possible to give preference to each other a<id also open the door to our Allies’.

SIR JOSEPH WARD’S SPEE3H. Sir- Joseph. W4rd . said he had toil cdiifidehcd' ih oUr ‘ determination to win. The Overseas hy their enormous sacrifices and their willingness to give the last man and the last sibling had the right to look forward m the future to a nlace at the council table and to require that the outlying units be merged with advantage and be ready to take their pa: t aid nave

a say before the Empire became involved in war. New Zoalapd, strongly approved of the decision’ of the Imperial Government to take the Dominions' into consultation' when peace was declared. When the terms were discussed, there were many questions affecting the Dominions, and it was only right that countries contiguous to the possessions captured from Germany should have a voice in their desposition.

. Sir Joseph Ward congratulated Britain on what had been done to develop trade. The policy of New Zealand after the war would be to unpost! fifty per cent, duty -on enemy importations* .and they were prepared to increase it to one hundred per cent if necessary. He paid a tribute to the Navy’s work in protecting the, trade routes. The Navy had, saved us. The resources of the Empire had been strained to the utmost. But the great sacrifices demanded were made without? a murmur.. The war had steadied the public life of New Zealand, and strengthened the National character. The raising of a ten million loan in New Zealand was a testimony of confidence in the country and of faith in the ultimate issue of the war. It had brought the ideal of a consolidated Empire much nearer, and he believed that as soon as practicable, it would be inaugurated.