NEW ZEALAND POLITICS.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume II, Issue 127, 14 May 1912, Page 5

NEW ZEALAND POLITICS.

THERE MAY BE UPS AND

DOWNS.”

[PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

Wellington, May 14

Hon. T. Mackenzie, speaking to a “Post” reporter, said he had just returned from an extensive tour of the south. The country is right, and if a general election took place tomorrow there was not the slightest doubt the Liberal party would come back with a good working majority. Replying to the Hon. J. A. Millar’s prediction that the Government would be defeated on a no-confidence motion, Mr. Mackenzie said: “We are in the hands of the House. All I know is that the Liberal party at the conference pledged themselves to support the men selected by the party. If they fulfil that pledge we will carry on. But the House and country need have no anxiety as far as I am.personally concerned. If the House says it does not want us, we will accept the decision without argument, but we will use no means whatever to secure a majority. I know the constitutional position and that an appeal to the country cannot be made until the House is exhausted, but there may be one or two ups and downs before that takes place.”

LOCAL GOVERNMENT REFORM

BILL CONDEMNED BY SOUTH CANTERBURY.

Timaru, May 13.

At a meeting of the delegates of the South Canterbury local bodies held to-day Messrs. W. S. Maslin and C. N. Orbell were appointed to attend the Wellington conference on the Local Government Bill. A resolution was passed that while improvements in the present laws would be appreciated the bill was not acceptable, and its adoption would increase the cost and lessen the efficiency of local government. The inclusion of Waitaki County in the South Canterbury province was disapproved, as there ws practically nothing whatever in common • between them. The chairman of the meeting* Mr. F. R. Gillingham, condemned the whole measure as undemocratic and in no way acceptable. Others said the hospital and cducaton management must suffer if the bill was adopted.

GISBORNE THINKS IT . UNWORKABLE.

Gisborne, May 13.

At a meeting of local bodies to consider the Local Government Bill the opinion was generally expressed that it was unworkable, the changes foreshadowed were too violent, and' the powers of local bodies were greatly curtailed. Dr. Collins was appointed delegate to the conference.

NO SUCH DRASTIC -CHANGES DESIRED.

Dunedin, *May 14.

The Bruce County Council adversely criticised the Local Government Bill. The general opinion was that the county councils desired no such drastic changes as proposed. It was unanimously resolved that the council condemn the main principles of the bill. They object strenuously to the- proposed local government board, which would over-ride the rulings of the elective bodies. They also objected to the re-establishment of provincial councils. The. proposals to provide elections every second year were objected to as needless addition to expense. .

TARANAKI’S DISAPPROVAL. , New Plymouth, May 14. Mr. Joseph Brown, chairman of the Taranaki County ..Council, and Mr. E. Ms&well, member of the Harbour Board, Hospital Board and Egmount County . Council, been appoint to represent- the Taranaki Hospital Board on the Local Government Bill conference. The local conference this morning generally disapproved of, the bill.