THE PRIME MINISTER

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 212, 4 June 1929, Page 12

THE PRIME MINISTER

VISIT TO AUCKLAND POLICY SPEECH TO-NIGHT Dominion Special Service. , Auckland, June 3. Auckland gave the Prime Minister (Sir Joseph Ward) a rousing welcome at the railway station this morning. Cheers rang out as . the figure of Sir Joseph Ward was framed in the doorway of the Ministerial car, a large body of Government supporters thronging the entrance to shake their leader by the hand, while a still larger crowd on the roadway outside echoed the salutation.

Four Ministers —the Hon. H. Atmore (Minister of Education), the Hon. J. B. Donald (Postmaster-General), the Hon. A. J. Stallworthy (Minister of Health), and the Hon. W. B. Taverner (Minister of Railways)—welcomed Sir Joseph, who was accompanied by his daughter (Mrs.,B. B. Wood). As the Limited was over an hour late the Prime Minister was unable to attend the King’s Birthday military parade at the Domain.

On leaving his carriage he was escorted to a specially-constructed platform outside the station, where speeches of welcome were made. The appearance of Sir Joseph Ward was signalised by a renewed outburst of cheering. Sir Joseph Ward said the coming session would .not be an appropriate time for skirmishing on minor matters: rather it would be a time for dealing courageously with matters of major importance to the whole Dominion. Parliament would be asked to adjudicate on important matters, including the settlement of land. The settlement of greater numbers of people was the last sheet anchor of the Government’s policy, and it was a matter which would have to be dealt with efficiently if the Dominion was to make that degree of progress essential to its prosperity. “At this stage of my visit I have no intention of making a policy speech,” said Sir Joseph, “but on Tuesday flight I hope to outline the Government’s policy in a manner which will, I think, be of interest to all.”