MR. MASSEY.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 June 1921, Page 5

MR. MASSEY.

A BUSY WEEK. MANY IMPORTANT TASKS, SPEECH ON EMPIRE TRADE. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.-—Copyright. Received June 19, 11.5 p.m. London, June ]B. Mr. W. F. Massey has had a very busy week, being almost continuously confined to his office on Dominion business, which is very considerable at present apart from the work of preparing for the conference, which is entailing many interviews. Finance, shipping freights, wool profits and produce matters are engaging close attention, and invitations to public and social functions continue numerous, but they have had to be declined all this week, except the dinner at the House of Commons given by the Empire Development Committee and that given by the Association of British Chambers of Commerce. Both were important. At the former Mr. Winston Churchill delivered a notable speech on Empire affairs. Welcoming Mr. Massey, he said: “He is an old friend and no fair weather friend. We knew him when the storm raged and the waves ran high, and we saw him here always resolute, always cool and confident. Those who knew what the New Zealand division did in the war—a single di Vision kept always at its fullest strength and pushed continually into the fiercest battle—knew it had gained a reputation second to none.” (Cheers). At the Chambers of Commerce dinner Mr. Massey was the chief guest. Responding to the toast of the British Commonwealth he was accorded an oyation. He urged greater development in inter-Empfre trade and showed that Britain could obtain more produce and raw materials from the Dominions. New Zealand practised what she preached, for she took from Britain and other portions of the Empire in 1919 £20,000 out of £30,000,000 of total imports. Mr. Massey detailed large orders for hydroelectric plant and railway locomotives, waggons and rails placed in Britain. (Applause). He hoped British trade interests would do all possible in this direction. The speech was well received The Premiers’ conference opens under the presidency of Mr. Lloyd George at ton o’clock on Monday morning in the Cabinet room at Downing Street.—Aus.-, N.Z. Cable Assn.

Received June 19, 5.5 p.m. London, June 17

Mr. W. F. Massey was the chief guest at a dinner given by the Association of British Chambers of Commerce. There was a large gathering of commercial interests, who enthusiastically cheered him. Mr. Massey discussed the possibilities of greater development of trade and commerce within the Empire. He instanced that nearly two-thirds of British sugar came from Cuba and Java, while out of £106,000,000 worth of cereals only £35,000,000 worth came from British possessions. He quoted similar examples in bacon, beef and cotton. He then gave details of New Zealand’s trade with Britain, and concluded by urging British trade interests to bear the whole problem of inter-imperial trade ever in mind. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.