FEDERAL PREMIER RETURNS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 198, 30 January 1915, Page 4

FEDERAL PREMIER RETURNS.

STATEMENT BY MR. MASSEY. By Telegraph.—Per Press Association. Wellington, Last flight. ■Mr. Andrew 'Fisher (Prime Minister of the Commonwealth), Mr. 0. R. HaJl (Attorney-General for New South Wales), and Mr. J. A. Boyd (member of the Federal Senate) left this evening by the Ulimaroa on their return to Sydney. This morning Mr. Fisher received a number of deputations from people interested in various phases of political and social activity. This afternoon Mr. Fisher gave a lunch at Bellamy's, to which were invited Mr. Massey and members of the Cabinet, the Mayor, 'Messrs. W. A. Veitch, M.P., E. H. Hiley, E. McKenzic (president of the Trades and Labor Council), and I others.

Speaking to a reporter of Mr. Fisher's visit, the Prime Minister said that he and th e Cabinet had discussed a number c." important questions with Mr. Fisher. One of them was reciprocity between the/two countries. "I have not the slightest doubt," said Mr. Massey, "that some more satisfactory arrangement than at present exists can be made between the two countries when the proper opportunity arrives." They also discussed, he said, the question of the naval defence of the Pacific, but no definite arrangement was made. Very little, he pointed out, could be done until the Imperial Conference, but in the meanwhile the two Governments had had the opportunity of exchanging ideas on the subject.