ON THE EVE OF BATTLE.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIII, Issue 140, 12 June 1912, Page 8

ON THE EVE OF BATTLE.

A COHTEDENT OUTLOOK. PRIME MINISTER INTERVIEWED. (By Telegraph.—Own Corresponaent.) WELLINGTON, this day. " Yes, I am looking foTw&rd to the session full of desire to show the mettle that is in us," declared the Prime Minister (Hon. T. Mackenzie) to your representative to-day, when discussing the early meeting of Parliament. "Wβ aj-e undoubtedly tackling matters of the gravest import, questions that have been floating in the air for a considerable time, and we are endeavouring to make some advance." A COMPLETE PROGRAMME. "Then you will meet Paxliament with a full programme for a session's work?" 1 suggested.

" Yes," replied the Prime Minister. " Wo have been carefully preparing our programme. A number of out measures are ready, others are being prepared, and v thc official returns are also well in hand; so that, notwithstanding what has been written against the Administration, and what its opponents say in fcbe hope of discounting our activity, we believe it will be possible to plainly demonstrate that all the time we have been doing everything possible to further improve the condition of the paople, although much has been said to the contrary. When Parliament opens, business will be .ready -for it to deliberate upon. Wherever we h,ave gone, throughout the Dominion we have met with the "greatest kindness and encouragement, and an earnest desire that we should be given an opportunity of showing our worth."

"' Then the threatened vote of no-con-fidence has not monopolised attention?" '" So far as the Ministry is concerned," replied Mr. Mackenzie, " we certainly do not take up the attitude that we must look to meet that alone. The House will, of course, exercise its privilege in a test of strength, and we are assuming that we will come out of it with a majority, and by Teason of that'assumption we have provided what we consider good material to occupy members of Parliament during a reasonable session. We are certainly not running away from a test of strength. They ran have it when they like; the sooner the better!" PREMIER'S PERSONAL POSITION. " I think the pubilc will admit, considering the difficulty of the situation when the responsibility of office was plated on my shoulders, that we have achieved quite as much as could have been expected. Best of all, the kind encouragement I have received from all classes of the community will, whether we win or lose the division, ahv-ys remain one of my most treasured remembrances. THE UNCERTAIN" MEMBER'S. " How do you think those members will vote who are now being , discussed," 1 asked. "' One has simply to .remember what has occurred," replied the Prime Minister. The- caucus which selected a leader agTeed to support whoever was placed in that difficult position, and the Liberal party in the country is looking to that assurance being carried out. I am prepared to trust the members of the Liberal party as their constituents are trusting them to do the right thing. I am sure that by doing so they are reflecting the views of their constituents."