OUR LEADERS IN AUCKLAND.

Taihape Daily Times, 9 August 1919, Page 5

OUR LEADERS IN AUCKLAND.

SOME V-IGNETTES. Among many of’ the things. Wise and othc:".\‘ise, voiced by Mr M3880)’ and Sir J_ G. Vvard after their arrival ir. Auckland on Tuesday last, We Clip the following:—THE SEARCH FOR A 7SEA_L_ ROMANTIC STORY DENIED. The story pf the seal affixed to the Peace Treaty, as part of the signature on New Zealand’s behalf, told by the P.rime Minister, the Rt. Hon. W. F. Massey, varies .considera~bly from the account cabled by the Australian correspondent, Mr Keith Murdoch.

The latter stated that Mr Massey, after searching Paris, finally discovered, in a pawnshop, a heavy ancient seal, bearing the letters N_Z., and affixed an impression of it to the. treaty. Ivlr Massey on’ the contrary, says that having been warned only two days before the ceremony that a personal, and not the official Government, seal would be required, sent out to obtain one bearing the letter M. Instead, the ‘seal used, which did carry letters N.Z., was obtained,‘ not in a pawnshop, but in ‘an ordinary business house, where such things are normally stocked. The Prime Minister also inferred that the descriptionof the article as a “heavy ancient seal” was a literary flourish, not borne out by fact. ‘

ART OF QUICK RETORT. LEADERS IN GOOL FORM," The knack of making happy retortis to interjectors is an art which ne"€'ner Mr Massey nor Sir Joseph. Ward lost on their absence in Britain and France. This was conclusively proved at the civic reception accorded them in the Town Hall yesterday afternoon, ‘wheii it was necess‘§_Ll:;§;»_fqre _eaclL"i‘>_'f

thexgx to administer "dii‘e""o“r’ "ma gentie 1-_ebu:kes to some noisy young men, particularly to a little groiqg gétheregh in a" corner of the top g;*‘3.llé;=‘l“_V‘/"‘. E‘ 0 Early in his speech the ‘Prime Minister -Eurbanely informed the rowdy element «that: “all-’ thew noise» they might make would not disturb him "in the slightest." ‘A little ]a'ter“an ‘incautioous man in anothm part. of the hall ienrofl when Mr Massey was extolling the 100,000 men who had gone to the war from New Zealanii. “'l‘.-heif man never went,’,’ snapped the Prime Minister, pointing the finger of scorn in the direction whence _had come the“booh.” ,

“What part did you plziy ii. the War?” Sir Joseph Ward was asked by a sarcastic. individual in the body of the hall.’ “About the same part that you did,” came the prompt reply. “I am quite sure that the questioner, in his own opinion, stopped the War_” Towards the close of his speech Sir Joseph said: “Theimanb ivho roars out ‘booh’ at the top of, his .voice is not the man who is going to get this country out of trouble. He‘w‘ill fin—d‘him‘self submerged and practically choked by his own boohing._” ‘

The, sallies of tlietwo leaders were greatly ‘appreciated ‘by thegreat majority of "fire"-‘.-huge audience.~~- Each was loudly applauded; and-the laughter was all ‘at ;the'expen’se of the inter—. jectors. . ‘ = CONSCRYIPTION DOOMED. GERMANY’S REDUCED ARMY. The effect of the peace treaty upon conscription was discussed by ‘Sir Joseph Ward. He expressed the opinion that the military‘ spirit which had hithefrto existed in Continental countries had received its death-blow by one of the conditions to which Germany had agreed. He referred to the reduction of her armed forces first to 200,000 and later to 100,000 men. This meant the complete abolition of human conscription in a nation that at the beginning of the war was the best organised and the most‘ fully equipped fighting people in the world. This was the fore—l-unner of the abolition of conscription in all countries, and of the-disappearance of the other elements which for 40 years 01' more Dl‘iol‘ ‘Co 19'1‘.4 enahlerl Germany {lto build up her great war machine, It Was hardly possible that the country would have inculcated under peace conditions a- warlike spirit similar to that of the youths under the old regime, who were trained in all the arts Of War. The generation now growing J 11) Woulrl in 25 years from now be in a ,A_difi:er.:-m: 'B‘ClLlo=p-'hm'c -from that which their predecessors lived in.

SHIPPING STRIKE. ’ ; NEW PROPOSAL FOR SETTLEMEET. ' MELBOURNE, Aug‘_ 8.. It is understoodwtliat representatives of the Seanlen’s ’Uuion and -the Disputes Committee ffresented to the Gov: ernment definite proposals for a. settlement of the strike. Details are being closely guarded. It is believed the committee asked for permissioneto interview Walsh, which was refused. The committee "is now considering the new move, but the -outfcok is not hopeful; The Trades Hall Council has agreeci to circularise unions for financial help.