POLITICAL SITUATION.

Clutha Leader, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 90, 31 May 1912, Page 6

POLITICAL SITUATION.

PRIME MINISTER'S SPEECH. PREPARED FOR WHAT MAY COME PALMERSTON N., May 28. Speaking at the annual banquet of the Wellington branch of the Fanners' .Union to-night, the Prime Minister defended the calling of the conference of local bodies, and said that the question of education in connection with local government was a subject which oould not be trifled with. The conference had framed a measure and it remained to be seen whether Parliament would approve of it. The work he would endeavor to do would be honorable work. He would give the best within him, and in doing so he was having the assistance of the men who were co-operating with him. Whether their life was long or short was in the hands of Parliament. Speaking personally, he said that the work was almost too hard for one man. While he was anxious and willing to give his services so long as the country considered he was of any use, his friends need not shed any tears for him if defeat awaited him when Parliament assembled. This was the attitude he was going to take. He believed the country was anxious at the present time to see a body of men entrusted with the affairs who would tackle the existing problems. He defended the action of the Ministry in setting up the Civil Service Commission with a view to bringing the service up to date. He was not making it a party question. They had had far too much party to the neglect of the interests of the Dominion. Speaking of the Education Commission, he said that they had to co-ordinate the various systems. They had to link the agricultural instruction from tlie primary school to the secondary, and right on to the experimental farms. They had to see that there was no overlapping and no undue extravagance. The time had arrived when the whole question should be reviewed. He was sure the work in connection with defence was on right lines, and would continue to be so so long as it did >not become extravagant. 'Hie iMackenaies were a remarkable race and seemed to be able to battle along. He had always managed to make a success of the-various things he had taken in hand. If his services in the higher sphere were on such lines as his efforts in agriculture, lie hoped he would be able to satisfy the people of the Dominion. If the high prices of land were maintained farmers must increase productiveness, and also see that they secured the very best prices for their produce. Prices were at present high, and they were on "safe lines so long as they continued. It was essential that there should be no reduction in the prices of staple products. If it did take place someone would have to carry the baby. He paid a tribute to the work of Mr Reakes (Government Veterinarian).

It had been, said about the previous Ministry (continued Mr Mackenzie) that there was a Scotchman at one end and a Maori at the other. The present Ministry had a. Mackenzie with a claymore at out' end, and if he did not make it hot enough they could give them Ell at, the other. (Laughter.) Capital was at present earning a very fair return, and if some of the younger men were leaving New Zealand for other fields, it was only because their fathers had done remarkably well, and their sons wanted to obtain larger areas of land than were available in the Dominion. Speaking generally, he said he did not think the prospects were ever fairer than they were now. Ail the Government could do was to assist, and he thought the Government had endeavored to widen the agricultural work, find new markets and supply details of markets from abroad. At the present moment it was carrying out negotiations with the High Commissioner with a view to abating some of the tariffs which existed in connection with some of our products. There was a bright future in connection with our products 011 the Continent. There would be nothing wanting on his part in binding up and mating successful the agricultural interests of the DoI minion. They should think less of party I and more of men. They should have 1 men of some knowledge and some experience of the things they were dealing with. They wanted men of commercial and financial experience in the House to carry to a successful issue the iinportant matters the Government had to I deal with.

NO COALATION. CHRISTCHURCH, May 29. Hon. G. W. Russell (Minister for Internal Affairs) stated at his social tonight that the Government is trying to solve the domestic servant problem, and' is making arrangements for a party of 50 English orphans to come out to New Zealand to enter service here. The experiment, if successful, might be extended. Regarding the political situation, he wid that there would be no coalition between the present Liberal Government and any other party. If the former were defeated in the House, an appeal would be made to the country.

SPEECH BY OPPOSITION LEADER AUCKLAND, May 29. The Leader of the Opposition (Mr W. F. Massey) addressed a crowded meeting »t Ngaruawhia to-night. He dealt with tirO general election and! events that had taken place since then. After the resignaiion-ef Sir Joseph Ward, he said, a caucus had been Tife/d a different set of men were chosen wlfp held different views. Up to recently they had not faced Parliament, and Parliament had had no opportunity of expressing confidence in them. They had now been in office some months, and it would still lie some time before Parliament would have a chance of giving an opinion on the matter. This procedure was unconstitutional, and in the meantime members of the Ministry were perambulating round- the country malting promises to all and sundry. No one who asked went away without a promise which, in all probability, the Ministers would, be unable to carry out. He was of opinion that the time was not far distant when there Would be a change. Quite a riiimber of members who ha-d aupported the Government <m tbto no-ecl&fidenoe mo-

tion had announced their intention of supporting the Reform Party, and he was firmly- oonvinoed that ere long the party which, would legislate for the best interests of the country would come into ite own. Among the other speakers were Messrs F. M. B. Fisher, A. Young, and R. T. Bollard, M.P.'s, who all received warm receptions. Subsequently a banquet was held.