PREMIER’S WORK.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 October 1921, Page 5

PREMIER’S WORK.

MANY IMPORTANT PROBLEMS. THE UNITY OF THE EMPIRE. FACTOR DURING WAR. VALUE OF THE CONFERENCE. By Telegraph—-Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. The Prime Minister (Mr. W. F. Massey), on rising to respond to the toast of his health at the Parliamentary luncheon to-day, was greeted with hearty applauee. He said that in going to attend the Imperial Conference 'he felt he had the support of the great bulk of the people of New Zealand. Because his first duty was to Parliament he did not propose to deal with matters of major importance; he would deal with those matters later in detail and wou’d .give the House every opportunity of discussing even the smallest detail.

He greatly appreciated the splendid services rendered to New Zealand by Sir Francis Bell, the Hon. D. H. Guthrie and his other colleagues in his absence. He kept in close touch with New Zealand and knew something of the difficulties with which they had to deal. Sir Francis and his colleagues made a very good commencement, and it was for all of them to continue the work till they restored the country to its normal prosperity and that would never be done by pessimism. NEED FOR ECONOMY. The principal business of Parliament would be to reduce expenditure till they could live within their income and reduce taxation to those who were overburdened. If they did so they would have a good record when they came to the end of the session. By the time that he was able to deal with Imperial matters he might have an important announcement to make; he might be able to deal with the Disarmament Conference, which was not escaping the Government’s attention.

New Zealanders were always welcome in Great Britain. On his last visit the English people were more than friendly, not only to himself, but to every New Zealander. His reception was more than that of one set of citizens to their fellows; the reception given him was enthusiastic because he was the representative of a community which was second to none in the Empire in loyalty. They were, he believed, going through a transition period, and he believed that sentiment was a most important thing in keeping the different parts of the Empire together, and instead of pooh-poohing sentiment as flag-flapping they should encourage what made for unity. When they sent him away one mandate they gave him was “the unity of the Empire” and he was bound to say this sentiment was reciprocated. The recent conference had done more to unite the Empire than anything that preceded it. The war was a thing apart and the thing which struck the British people was the great patriotism <yf New Zealand and the prompt assistance given. FUTURE OF WAR. Any doubts he had as to a separate signing of the Peace Treaty had been removed when he heard the speeches of representatives of the Dominions. Could the Dominion refrain from going to war if the Empire declared war? The answer was clear and distinct, that when the King as head of the Empire went to war every citizen of the (Empire went to war. They could not help it and he did not think they would want to help it. No part of the Empire, if trouble came to the Empire, could stand out. If any part said that, it did not make war the enemy would make war on it and would sink its ships, the same as x thoee of other parts, and if the war went against the Empire all parts would suffer.

He was not one of those who thought war was at an end—-though he did think that it was at an end for a long time — but if it were said that they had passed Armageddon then he thought they were mistaken. That was why he thought they should keep in a proper state of defence, and with such a huge Empire to protect they would be doing the wrong thing if they took any chances. One point he wished to emphasise was that the whole position had changed since the war. It was not a case of the United Kingdom againsj the world. If it became necessary to speak to other countries they would do so as the British Empire and they would speak from this time onward with one voice and without exceptions. AN EMPIRE CABINET. The Imperial Conference did the work of a Cabinet and they had the power of a Cabinet, because they had the opinion of the different countries behind the representatives. Let no one imagine that anything was done.to interfere with the autonomy of the Dominions. For many things —wireless, shipping and even the League of Nations —money would be required, but the people who would deal with expenditure required for Empire matters would be the different Parliaments of the Empire. Mr. Massey spoke highly of the service rendered to the conference 1 by Mr. Lloyd George and of his own personal debt to him. Na man in his position could have done more for the representative of New Zealand and to promote the unity of the Empire than Mr. Lloyd George. The Prime Minister referred also to shipping, produce, finance, housing and other questions, and concluded his speech by saying that he did not speak from any party point of view, but would extend the right hand of friendship to any man who was a loyiN. citizen.

The gathering closed with the singing of the National Anthem.