PRIME MINISTER’S TOUR

Greymouth Evening Star, 16 March 1937, Page 5

PRIME MINISTER’S TOUR

ENDED IN NORTH ISLAND. [per press association.] ROTORUA, March 15. The Prime Minister (Hon. M. J. Savage) to-day concluded a three-day visit to the Rotorua district, during which he was engaged principally in dealing with native affairs. The majority of to-day was spent at Maketu on the Bay of Plenty coast, where the Prime Minister was accorded a rousing Maori welcome on the site of the original landing of the Arawa canoe. Mr Savage was joined by the Minister of Lands (Hon. F. Langstone), who has been touring the Bay of Plenty district, Mr Langstone afterwards going on to Whakatane and Opotiki, and Mr Savage returning to Rotorua.

The Prime Minister left by car this evening for Frankton, where he will connect with the Limited express for Palmerston North and Wellington.

During the course of the Maketu reception, Mr Savage said that he was most impressed by the work done in land development on native schemes, and assured the Maoris that the Government would' do everything in its power to promote the welfare of the native race, being particularly anxious to improve their housing conditions and to raise their standards of living generally. Mr Langstone appealed for the ■co-operattbn-of the natives themselves in achieving this objective. SOUTH ISLAND MAIN TRUNK. CHRISTCHURCH, March 16. The Minister for Railways (Hon. D. G. Sullivan), with a big official staff, spent all yesterday on an inspection of the southern section of the South Island Main Trunk construction works. The Minister left Christchurch early yesterday morning, and on the journey to Kaikoura made stops at the Parnassus, Hawkeswood, Conway. Claverley, and Oaro camps. He spent the night at Kaikoura., where he was the guest of the County Council at dinner in the evening, and later of the Kaikoura branch of the Labour Party at a ball, where he was enthusiastically received by a big crowd. The Minister was accompanied on the trip by Mr. G. Mackley, general manager of Railways, Mr. A. Wellstead, commercial manager, Mr G. G. Stewart, publicity manager, Mr. K. M. Sleight (the Minister’s private secretary), Mr. F. Langbein, District Public Works Engineer, Mr. E. S. Brittenden, District Traffic Manager of Railways at Christchurch, and Mr. W. Munro secretary to Mr. Mackley. Mr. E. P. Meachen, member of Parliament for Wairau, joined the party in the afternoon.