PROBLEM OF THE PACIFIC.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 March 1920, Page 6

PROBLEM OF THE PACIFIC.

T~ RESPONSIEI!.' v./ NEW ZEALANI SPEECH BY SIR JAMES ALLEN. ig ' Is By Telegraph.—Press Association.- !_ Wellington, March 25. "i A wireless message from the Mokoii ■9 on Thursday evening says:—At dinne d this evening Sir James Allen paid i '■ generous tribute to Captain M'Loaii f- He referred to the courtesy and skilfu I. seamanship of the master and officer; * in difficult waters and presented Cap e tain M'Lean with an inscribed ease o '• pipes, a pouch and a letter of thanlci '■ and appreciation /signed by all tin t party. s Sir James Allen also presented Mr Baird, chief steward, with a signed let tor thanking him and his staff for theii splendid services. Mr. Sidey, on behalf of members, pre j sented Sir James Allen with a memen to of the mission and congratulated him on his able leadership of the '' party, also on his appointment as High , Commissioner. s The Hon. W. C. F. Carncross eloP quently supplemented the remarks, ; tracing Sir James Allen's successful career from the date of his sensational ( entry into Parliament thirty years ago ; and expressed regret that a strong man was leaving New Zealand at a time when strong men were needed. Sir James Allen, replving, was greeted with prolonged applause. He 'said , he was grateful to the whole party for j the assistance given throughout the ', trip. He was sorry to 'think this was probably the last time he would see them ajl together. He had had a busy time during the thirty years he had been in the House, especially during the last six. He always felt members of Parliament could not possibly realise the situation in the Pacific without coming themselves to see the Islands and study their problems. "Whatever the cost of the trip in money, whatever the value of the gift of your time, I think you will agree with me it is small compared with the lessons learned. Some of you may think we were wrong in accepting the mandate for Samoa. I remind you that w e cannot live in isolation. The acceptance of responsibilities opens up for us great possibilities of usefulness to the Empire and to the world. I am sure you will face the duties with steady determination without sacrificing the interests of the native peoples. "After your kind expressions to-night I feel that probably I should remain and help settle those problems, but the strain of the last six years has been great- It is very difficult for me to carry on long and a complete change of environment is necessary. For this reason I accepted the position of High Commissioner and hope that in that office I may be of some service to New Zealand and the Empire." In a final reference to the problems of the Islands, Sir James Allen spiritedly, declared: "We are Britow and as Britons have the capacity and the will and the power to meet those difficulties. (Cheers.) Sir James Allen concluded with thanks to everyone for their great kindness and consideration during the trip and expressed the belief 'that the friendships made would last as long as their political associations continued and would not -be broken even by politica! differences. (Applause and cheers). -Auckland. March 266. The Mokoia, with the Parliamentary party, arrived early this morning, ail well? after a very pleasant trip. Twenty southern members leave by the midday train, and others to-night' Sir James Allen leaves to-nisht for Whangarei. Kamo, and Dargaville. and returns to Auckland mi Monday, Rotorua on Tuesday, and Wellington' on Thursday.