SPEECH BY THE PRIME MINIS-TER.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 14325, 10 April 1912, Page 9

SPEECH BY THE PRIME MINISTER.

(PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) MAXAIA, April 9. A gathering of about 400 people welcomed tho Prime Minister at a bai.r quet at Manaia to-night.- The proceedings were most cordial and enthusiastic. The Hon. T. Mackenzie rising to respond to the greeting, was received with continued cheering. He said he considered it tbe greatest honour to represent Egniont in the House. It was only a year ago that he came to lay the foundation stone of the post office, and now he was elected by tbo Liberal Party to carry on the political operations of this country. He praised the settlers for their good work in dairying. Referring to the cutting up of his former electorates in tbe South Island, ho said the large landholders had threatened that ho would never get, a seat because he advocated tho cutting up of estates so enthusiastically. He hoped his constituents would all be proud of him as their member. He bad refused to give any promises, but be gave his services to the -finest district, then to the Dominion, and then to the Empire. He referred to his association with the late Sir Harry Atkinson —a man of sound constitutional principles, who was ahead of the times- Referring to the new Cabinet he said each member of it had the interests of the country at heart, and they hoped to act tip to the standard set in the speech of I/ord Dudley. He deprecated a policy of anathema and improper motives. Good men should sacrifice self for their country. The mem. Iters of the Cabinet intended to «vnsWer every hostile speech before thoy met Parliament. He would make no effort to control a- majority, and would accept what Parliament had in store with an even mind. He hoped tbe people would allow the Ministry a chance to continue tho good government of tho past. Tho country wanted political rest —more administration and less legislation. The Government hoped to settle down and deal with matters for tho good of the people; to utilise tbo lands and break up tbu largo estates. He -believed the time would come when land must he available to all who wanted it, to give prosT perity to tbe country and people the land. Good settlers with moire scientific knowledge were required, espec-? ially in tho dairying industry—men to supervise the produce in London, more instructors, and better stud cattle. He hoped to open up the lands and improve the Avaste lands of the North. Fruit growing experiments and testing would prove whether the poor lands could be worked with advantage, which would bring Crown and other lands into greater productiveness. He also hoped to bring the swamp lauds into profitable cultivation. Ho assured his hearers that he was not giving up tho portfolio of agriculture. Referring to borrowing, be said the country had a greater income from the money invested by the New Zealand people than was paid in interest. It was improper to unduly borrow; they must see that their investments wero sound, and so push the Dominion along. "Tho men who are going to rule this country," concluded Mr Mackenzie, '•'are the men who take tjie neople into their confidence and make the country what God meant it to be. If wo cannot fill that position, we shall retire." He promised that if be were put out of Ministerial oflice, he would fulfil the promise he had made to come and live in the Egmont distri'-t. The Prime Minister was enthusiastically applauded when he resumed his seat.