MINISTERS IN LONDON.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 June 1917, Page 8

MINISTERS IN LONDON.

IMPORTANT WORK DONE. FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENTS. '■ ■ • London, April 20. Complaints have been made in New Zealand that the stay of Mr. jtfassey and Sil* Joseph Ward in Britain has been unduly prolonged. Reference to this criticism was made by Sir Joseph Ward in an interview given to the Auckland Herald's correspondent. "Tile fact remains that it is war time," said Sir Joseph Ward. "When the Imperial Government specially asked us to remain in England in consequence of recent developments, and to attend the Imperial War Cabinet, we felt that we could not do otherwise than remain. Many of the matters that have been discussed in the conferences have been of the most "vital important;"?, not only to the Motherland, but to the Oversea Dominions, and it would have been a dereliction of duty on our ;:;nt to have left them undiscussed. It was cur desire and intention to have returned to New Zealand in December, but the Imperial Government impressed upon lis tile important nature of the conferences and the fact that the other Overseas Dominions would : have their delegates here. There was, consequently, nc other course open to us, and I think I can safely say that we have done better work for New Zealand by remaining here than we could have done by returning home. "I can quite understand the desire of many people to have the Prime Minister and myself, occupying responsible positions in the government of the country, back in New Zealand to assist in grappling with many grave problems which are exercising the attention and the anxiety of our colleagues there every day. But remaining here was unavoidable. There was not much pleasure in staying in England during the hardest winter for 40 years, and that is only one aspect of the inconvenience and discomfort which the prolongation of our rtay has entailed. Ab for holidays, in tlie usual sense, we have had only the four days at Easter since our arrival in London. "There have been matters affecting the producers of meat, cheese, butter, and wool that could not have been arranged upon as satisfactory a baais if we bad not been here. In fact, I think I can, without disclosing any confidence, say that it has made a difference of Eome millions sterling in favor of New Zealand. My presence in London, moreover, has given me opportunity to arrange certain financial matters for the Dominion op the most satisfactory terms. Some of the details I will be able to disclose to Parliament in due course. With ordinary luck, we ought to be back in New Zealand in tjme for the opening of Parliament at the ordinary date. That, of course, depends on circumstances beyond our control." ■ .