BACK FROM CONFERENCE.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 December 1922, Page 5

BACK FROM CONFERENCE.

SIR F. BELL RETURNS. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Dec. 15. A complimentary banquet was given to Sir Francis Bell last night by the citizens of "Wellington, the Chief Justice presiding. He proposed the health cf the guest and was supported by Mr. Massey and Sir John Findlay, Sir Francis Bell, who was warmly received, dealt with the Genoa and Hague Conferences, on to which he had been suddenly switched. He mentioned that the Dominion delegates had made it clear that England’s free trade policy was not suitable to them, as showing that the delegates were by no means silent listeners, and he added that the conference broke up. when the Russians gave their exhibition of truculence, such truculence as he had never seen before. He also referred to his visit to the Somme, where he assisted in unveiling the New Zealand memorial at Longueval. Towards midnight Mr. Massey spoke in reply to the toast of the Dominion, but avoided a]l questions of policy. His remarks were on optimistic and Imperial lines. Opr name, he said, stood high in the council- of the Empire, as proved by the fact that he had been offered a million loan at 3 per cent. “Let us continue to advance,” he said, “and before long we shall be ahle to look back over our period of depression.”