LEADERS AT WELLINGTON.

Taranaki Daily News, 9 August 1919, Page 5

LEADERS AT WELLINGTON.

A OIVIC RECEPTION. WORK OF NATIONAL GOVERNMENT PRAISED BY THE LEADERS. By Telegraph.—Press Association.' Wellington, Last Night. Mr. Mussey and fciir Joseph Ward were accorded a hearty civic reception at the Town Ilall. There was a large attendance of citizens.

The Major (Mr. Lukcj Raid all agreed that the Work of the leaders would appeal to tiie people throughout the Dominion as houorable,. elTective, and creditable to New Zealand. The leaders hail done good work, n» also had their colleagues in the National Government. Sir James Allen was received with loud cheers. He said the leaders had represented New Zealand well, and came hack as nuts*engers of peaco. Tho Hon. W. D. S. MaeDonald also spoke. .Mr. Masscy was received with loud applause. He said he recognised they were being welcomed bv the people of New Zealand, but said tho Auckland reports of their reception there lmd not given a correct impression. The hllll was crowded, and all were enthusiastic, with the exception of two or three do7.cn people, who took control of a corner of the gallory. The applnttw exprwed the high appreciation of' the manner in which his eollengucs carried on the work during their absence. Only that, morning he had seen papers proving that the New Zealand administrators were determined to do their duty towards the returned soldiers.

As to the peace conference, he did not think there would be much difficulty with regard to the remaining details. Our anxieties were lessened, but our responsibilities had not been The <>rinans intended to smash "the TSinpii'fi, hut nnr dutv was to hand it down to posterity brighter and Wter than before the war. It waseaav to tie wine after an event. If it had to be done over again tho war would he parried into ("Sermon territory, Tl*c peace>deliberations continued so long that (I'erinnnv was getting dnilv into a stronger position, militarily nnd industrially. If we did not njind Ornmnv would get in first and flood the markets of the world with fJerman goods. We must be prepared to meet that very serious competition.

Tin added that pensions payable for war services amounted to two million vearly, capitalised at twenty-five million. New Zealand was going to press against Germany « claim for the payment, of that amount., though he did not think we would get hnlf of it. Sir Joseph Ward was cordially received. Tie stressed the necessity ,for and the work done bv the New Zeabind KntsonM Government, during the {our vears, but reminded the people of wfiat it" had repeat.vllv said, that the troubles after the war would be n« .great as those during the war. Tho formation of the League of Nations was, in bin opinion, the most important work done at the Peace Conference.