A RETIRED MINISTER.

Feilding Star, Volume I, Issue 296, 20 June 1907, Page 3

A RETIRED MINISTER.

MR C. H. MILLS AT PICTON. {PSA PttKSS ASSOCIATION .j Blenheim. June 19. The Hon. C. H. Mills, in a presessional address at Picton last night, referring to matter that led up to the re-construction of the Ministry, said the late Premier expressed no personal desire for reconstruction, though Cabinet had seriously discussed the. matter, all being present. Mr Mills had told Mr Seddon that if he resigned from the Cabinet he would also* resign as the member for Wairau. The matter was then dropped. He stated that when Sir Joseph Ward went Home in 1906, Mr Seddon was left far" too much work, and was sent off to Australia by the remaining Ministers with the idea of saving him. Mr Mills described Sir Joseph Ward's interview with him on his return from the Old Country as the new Premier. Sir Joseph explained what he considered were the complications that had arisen in the party and the press, and said he thought the representations could not be overlooked. Mr Mine accordingly resigned. He had found out since that Sir ojseph had been misinformed on many matters. From what had transpired during the short session last year, and since, people had formed their own impressions of what the real causes bf his retirement were. Time would show. Refuting the remarks in the press of the colony as to his being an amiable nonentity, etc., Mr Mills sbught to show that as Government Whip for many years he had wielded great power in vetoing or passing measures. Mr Mills Claimed credit for choking the federation aspirations of the late Premier and some other Ministers, also for deefating the Midland Railway Bill. After the latter had been thrown out by six votes the late Premier sent for him in anger, and declared that he would reintroduce the Bill, and "take good care the tail doesn't wag the dog next time." Mr Mills claimed that he had always reserved to himself a free hand. Referring to the Land Bill, he said the 'difficulty was to know what was going to be the shape of the land pro^ posal of the Government. " Mr McNab was sincere in his- closer settlement views, with which he agreed, but he would rather see him introduce a slight amendment to the present land laws. He refuted the rumour that he was going to leave New Zealand for Australia ,and said he would be again a candidate for Wairau.