PREMIER'S WEST COAST VISIT.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2016, 25 March 1914, Page 8

PREMIER'S WEST COAST VISIT.

THE POLITICAL POSITION,. MR MASSEY DELIGHTED (Bj Telegraph;— Press 'Association.) .*'.*...-,. Christchurch, March 24. After a very fine tour through Westland, tho Prime Minister arrived ■ at Christchurch this evening, having left Hokitika this morning. Everywhere on tho Coast tho reception accorded Mr. Massey was , excellent,' and the hospitality was of .the truo West Coast type.-,. Every opportunity was ; taken throughout the trip to. show Mr. Massey the possibilities of development latent in the district. This was greatly appreciated by Mr. Massey, and convinced him that the. Coast lias a great future (especially in the direction of dairying), which would lie in'tho hands'* of the people themselves, to realise.'!

. Interviewed by a,"repol*terj the ,, Prime Minister expressed himself; as delighted with the reception'accorded him on the .Coast. "No roan," he said, "could ./ .have had a better* reception than I re- / ceived .at every, centre,that 'I had the opportunity pf. visiting. So. far as tho political position is'concerned, while I ; ain not prepared to say that every.elector in We'stlan'd is inow,,a/,supporter of tho Eeform Party, lam prepared to say this, that the people of Westland now. understand that .the .present Government is not the Government of reactionaries that many of .them'have been ' led fco'believe, but a , ' Government that is thoroughly progressive, really Liberal and democratic/ arid one that' is . anxious.,,to promote in every possible .way the development of the country. I { am only sorry that I was,not able to '. time to the West, Coast. As a. matter of "fac.tj I'had intended being with them on, .tho "occasion of -their jubilee, and ■itheii going on through South Westland into Otago, but ' the somowhaV severe indisposition.' from ■which I*suffered for a few.weeks interfered: io a* .certain extent ■ with my plans." . . , . ' Votes' of confidence in. the 1 Govern ; niont had been carried at every meet : ' ing addressed by him, said the Prime Minister, with tho exception of Nelsorit There was ; no doubt, however, that there that motion would liavo. been forthcoming had it'not-been for interference at that-stage- by the member ■>for the_ district. ...Mr. Massey arrives from his trip, verji-much benefited in health, although even yet he is not quite .. restored.,to, normal,'although he is rap-' •idlv'"picking un";" -." t To.-mo.rrow; the Prime -Minister will receive-.-deputations- on the subjects' of the "Midland failway . arid a daily service with the Coast. and : one or two other 'matter's. Oh Thursday he leaves for Dunedin. where lie ynll spend a few .days. On Monday ho will visit the Moa Plat, and .speik at Tapanui in "the evening. . On Thursday evening he- returns north, and sneaks at Fairlie in the evening. On Wednesday he passes through Christchurch on his way to !\Vel'ington. : . .*'•■■*,-