PREMIER'S NORTHERN TOUR.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIII, Issue 145, 18 June 1912, Page 8

PREMIER'S NORTHERN TOUR.

-■ENTHUSIASTIC MEETING AT WHANGAREI. PROGRESSIVE EAND POLICY. SPEEDING UP THE PEOUGH. 'Hy Telegraph.—Own Reporter.i WHANGAREI, Monday. The Prime Minister (Hon. Thos. Mackenzie) addressed a crowded and enthusiastic audience at the Drill Hall this evening. Mr A. S. Mackenzie (chairman of the Whangarei County Council! presiding. The Clan Mackenzie was strongly in evidence, the Premier being played from his hotel to the hall by a piper in the Mackenzie tartan, Mr Mackenzie himself wearing a Glengarry and exchanging Hielan' greetings en route, to The huge delight of his admiring escort. The Premier, who upon rising to speak wa_ hailed with prolonged and deafening applause, declared that he intende o avoid that unpleasant and increasin . ment iv politks—personality. (Loud applause.) He then proceeded to deal with •the finances of the country, the successful financing for which the Liberal Govbeen responsible and which bad resulted in such benefits to the people of the Dominion, introducing the manner in Which the Government had -transferred the weight of taxation, the speaker pointed to the fact that- the State was now obtaining nearly £400,----000 a year in income as against about £100.000 a few years ago. Could anyorio complain that they were overburdened? There was much criticism against the Liberal (government. 'What in the main did it amount to? In a great majority- of cases it was simply the fetish of conservatism. When a man. often largely through the assistance he had received from the Government, attained certain affluence, he considered it aristocratic to become a Conservative, iljaughter) and applause). Tn fact he believed that as soon as a man became the owner of 1500 sheep he felt often bound to become a Conservative and abuse the Government. (Renewed laughter and applause.) Speaking on the land question, the Premier pointed out that in the past ten years the Government had put 16,000 settlers on the land, but they meant to increase the rate. With that end in view his colleague, the Native Minister, was going thoroughly into the question, and when the report now in preparation ■was presented, and legislation had been framed, he ventured to 583- the country would not complain that the Government was not going quick enough with the land question. (Loud applause.) Speaking of the settlement of land, he declared that it, would be his endeavour 10 assist in every possible way people to get on the land, and in that point he brought- in the question of large areas of poorer land, including gum lands not at present available. If it were right to purchase cultivated estates for cutting up it was equally right to prepare land for the settler to take up. He therefore proposed an extensive scheme of ploughing and working up areas to bring them to a state of remunerative fertility for settlers to go upon. This would apply to the gum lands in the North. (Loud* applause.) FRf-TTGROWING. The (.'overnment's intention to take special steps to encourage the fruit-grow-ing industry was also greeted with enthusiasm. In the matter of fruit production the Minister declared his intention of devising, by a system of companies, a scheme whereby thep roducer will get the true profit for his fruit, and the consumers in large centres will not be burdened with heavy middle chartres. (Loud applause.) And the post office would be utilised in thus bringing the product and consumers into immediate cnni_ct. (Renewed applause.) THE FIRST- HURDLE. After dealing with a number of other political questions, the Premier expressed •the opinion that the country wanted to see the new Ministry given a fair chance to show their mottle, and he believed they would get that chance, in which event he had no doubt as to tbe future. (Applause.) There was talk by the other side of going to the country. Well, if they had to go to tbe country he ■bad not the slightest doubt that the present Ministry would be returned with a majority of ten or twelve. (Loud applause. 1 "But," added the Premier. amidst laughter, "we have the first hurdle to take yet. The other side, as before, may i'md that they are counting their chickens before they are hatched. 1 am not going to do anything to catch votes. but we have placed our platform before the country, and let; the others place their platform oefore the country. (Applause.) There has been too mucli talk of Tammany ism and too mu-.-h talk of public men dipping their hands into the public purse. 1 resent with all the injjignation of which I am capable all this talk of dishonesty. We could not be dishonest if we wished; it is a gioss reflection on our staffs and heads of r>s(wrtment-s. as well as on ourselves." (Applause.I If that sort, of slander continued, added the speaker, they would drive from our Parliament honest t:nd sensible men, and would bring into it the very class of men that were described by the -critics. (Loud applause.)

Referring to the various Commissicus -which had been set up, the Premier said that in a Southern newspaper there had been published a slanderous, anonymous letter relative to appointments on those Commissions. He could assure them that more would be heard about that matter later. (Loud applause.) THANK? AND CONFIDENCE. At the conclusion of the address a tcry hearty and unanimous vote of thanks was passed to the Premier, and confidence in his Cabinet. Subsequently Mr. Mackenzie was banqueted by the Whangarei Co.unty Coun-

THE PREMIER'S PROGRAMME.

The Premier and party left by special train this morning to visit Limestone Island before cnvharkiiig on the steamer Ngapuhi for Auckland. Mr. Mackenzie visits Albany district to-morrow, and departs for AVellington by express in the evening.