PRIME MINISTER INDEPENDENT

Auckland Star, Volume XLIII, Issue 114, 13 May 1912, Page 11

PRIME MINISTER INDEPENDENT

ggSST OS THE PBOSPECTS. CgiBCE TOR CONSERVATIVES. ig» TtfesrsP- —Own Correspondent.) •WELLINGTON, Snnday. ii 3 gaiiariog in -Fairlie last night M .fttef -Sinister (Hon. T. Mackenzie), ponding to the wish heartily expressed aS he and his Ministry would have a fntf're"! l ! commented in frank terms fj political situation, Whatever Ji.Boise did when it met, he remarked, "'ires or the House to decide. As far the country vas concerned, it was teid»fly behind the Ministry. Changes, they" did occur, would only finally, • Us "opinion, more firmly establish the ijaeral party. It certainly would not dace the Conservative party in power. The alternative to the Liberal party, mv thought, would be a Labour SoaiUstic party. The country was true heart, and only desired an opportunity l j showing this. Unfortunately, in politics just now a man's work was regarded . Joed or bad not on its merits or taints, bnt whether that good or bad -ark was done under the Liberal or {he Conservative banner. COUNTRY OBSESSED BY PARTY. The country was, in many ways, so -jigged by party that the public were joi allowed to get a glimpse of the rerformanees. So far had this gone that £jne of his (the Prime Minister's) pojjjol opponents had said that it was a jjjjj day in New Zealand history when it chose a Mackenzie .to control the reins of government, and that no good joald be expected from bis government, fle challenged the record of himself mi Ministry against that of critics in gffi Opposition ranks. During the past « years he had given the country the toy best service that was in him. He fed fought battles for the settlers and fiie farmers both in this country and leyond the seas, and it was for the aasonaWy-minded people to judge, not giose saturated with little political TOJudiees, nor papers representing that Barrow phase of public thought whose judgment was so warped that they did not want good solid work from the rsrty in power and dad not wish to give &em an opportunity to do that solid pott. SO TEAES WANTED. Speaking personally, he could say that to long as the country wanted him he jronld stick to it and do his best, but is friends need not drop a tear on lis behalf if, on the other hand, his opponents in the House received a majority against turn. If this did happen fiie fact would not in the least distress iem. On the contrary, it would give fen an opportunity of availing himself of splendid chances that were going jnst now in sharing personally in the prosperity of the country.