THE PREMIER'S TOUR SOUTH.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 948, 15 October 1910, Page 3

THE PREMIER'S TOUR SOUTH.

AN INTERVIEW.

(By Ttelesrraph.—Press AssooiationJ ' ; Ghrlstchurch; October. 14. j The Prime Minister (Sir Josoph Ward) ' arrived from Wellington this moming,j en:'route for the south, where ho has a : large number. of. engagements -. to fulfil. ; Though ■ hearing the traces of the arda-:; ous work of-the session, 1 ' Sir Joseph ap- : pears to be in gc«d health and escel- >1 lent spirits; After. his rapidtour in ; Otago, Sir . Joseph will visit . Mount - : i Cook Hermitage, and inspect the Mao- ; kenzie Country runs on Monday nest! ■!; " : ' .Defence. ■ -t > In an interview with a newspaper r®> presentative ,the Prime -Ministers spoke *v-i on a number of matters of more than . passing public interest: Regarding dofence matters, he-said that tho officers • recently appointed .will; arrive in the Dominion; in : December, and tho work of : putting: into operation' the provisions of- s *.' the new Defence Act ■ will bo in 'full swing early in tho new . year. \ Areas , for training-camps for.iboth islands havo been acquired, and machinery, is in' mo-, tion to get them ready. A model of - similar camps in England was sent for " two months. ago, and:' should arrive her®/ about the end of the year. • By this means: New Zealand will have' thttiad- ' : vantage of.' the most modern' ideas on this subjeot7 J f r A' gredt .deal'.of ary work has-been dono already in oon- ' nection'with);the toh'ejpej; and the Chief-. : j. of • the General;. Staff; - arid 'his ' have effected much ..work that will be available ior; the new Commandant on his arrival. Wireless. ' Tenders . for tho : two largo wireless stations which tho Government intend . establishing-^-one' at Bluff,' •• and'' iha; : other at Doubtless Bay—will be in- within'the. next .month or. so; , and, if , satisfactory, thej work will bo put in handand Completed in. twelve months. Onos the stations - have . been established,' ■ no ' difficulty will be experienced in bringing - the Chat-hams, _Auckland. Islands,. ana .■ v other outlying islands of.t-heDom-inion into • touch with"r. the : mainland.-" This. will be greatly' appreciated by. residents !. of the outlying islands, and,' 1 no doubt, will be valuable 1 in the case of the Auck- -' land and other ' sub-Aiitarctic islands in ■/ the event of lvrecks.V. . V. ;

: . Asked if it wereintended }to prevent experiments in wireless, methods - by. amateurs,! Sir Joseph- said: '-'There is ' reason why amateur's should not he, allowed to jexperiment/.lrat it is' beyond all. question', (mth":. temofyirelessstationsinNew.'Zealaii'dj' that private' stations- c&hnot Bo allowed,. for the.obvious reason that, in many in-.- , stances, -the priyacy'and secrecy of the communications of the public (apri; altogether of. those .between' warships), could - not be effectively ensured. ',' At - the samo time, naturally :I.am .desirous, u to secure: that every consideration- is '' given., to the inventive minds of this country, but- there are conditions especially. applicable to wireless messages thai cannot;be got over,by-regulation, andj - where. the interests.;.of -themany , are involved, necessarily; those of .the -few . have: to be subordinated.". "

Representation. . Consequent Ufwn the taking. of '- the: -:. census next year, '■ the : Representation : Committee (provided. by. law) will bo set •• up. during the , recess,, after the : results of.the census are.available. . The woii' ' ' connected with the . alterations of. tlio boundaries;.of, electoral districts , will be 5 completed in time"for' the v geheraleleo-' tion.";u ''£&'■ Polar Exploration. There is little', likelihood of -the Got- - ■ {. which liQs.been , promi scd in .connectioh?. • j with. Captain' Scott's Antarctic - expedi-.. • ' tion'. , This.jsum!is: given. to /encourage' v; -; intrepid spirits who : intend, to attempt to retell the South- Pole, aid in the in-;.' terests of science and research;' "Also - 1 as. New Zealand is't-he .base ofltlie ex-, pedition,': the voteis .-intended to show iA the appreciation of.- the people of the expedition. .:. • : >•> ' .. Parliamentary Buildings. • In reply to a question regarding the ! proposal,, to' .:erKt:.,ress"-;extensiTO- v bu^^ ings for the housing of Parliament thaJi was; at itrst proposal, Sir. Joseph'stated ': S i that).he;;could ; not-.give any: information v:-'-; at present, as t-he . matter , must -'first' - como before mianbers.' \ . .