THE PRIME MINISTER

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XIX, Issue 64, 2 March 1929, Page 6

THE PRIME MINISTER

SHORT STAY Al HASTINGS ADDRESS FROM RAILWAY PLATFORM. LAND SETTLEMENT POLICY. The Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. Sir Joseph Ward) passed through Hastings by the mail train yesterday afternoon on his way to Napier and thence to Gisborne, where, on Sunday. he will unveil a memorial to the late Sir James Carroll. A large crowd assembled on the Hastings railway station to greet Sir Joseph and to extend him a welcome during his brief stay. The Mayor of Hastings (Mr. G. A. Maddison), on behalf of the people of Hastings, said he was pleased to see the Prime Minister and he expressed the hope that Sir Joseph would make it convenient to visit Hastings and make a stay of a few days in the district. On behalf oi the citizens, he congratulated Sir Joseph on his becoming again Prime Minister of New Zealand (cheers). The Prime Minister, who was received with cheers, thanked the Mayor for the vaum reception extended to him. This was not the first time he had visited Hastings because he had spoken here before. A voice: When you laid the foundation stone at the Post Office. Sir Joseph Ward: I am going to uproot many old stones and lay down new and good foundations. (Applause). - Continuing, the Prime Minister said that he was sorry he could not make a longer stay in Hastings. During the present pressure of business he found it very difficult to leave Wellington and, up to now, he had been only absent for two days. He was at present going to Gisborne to unveil the memorial to the late Sir James Carroll and. after leaving there, he must proceed to Invercargill. where he had been returned by sucii a handsome majority (applause). After that he would endeavour to visit this district to address the people. A Government, he said, remained in office as long as the people desired, and a vast majority of the people wanted the present Government to continue (applause). That was because his Government had laid down a definite programme catering for the welfare of all classes of the community It would be idle to deny that the disappearance of people from the land in such numbers could not be allowed to continue without making all classes suffer. This country was essentially a producing country and they wanted to see that there was room for good men on the land, to work out their own destinies and to lay the foundation in the towns for industries and the towns’ consequent prosperity. CLOSER SETTLEMENT. The Government, said Sir Joseph Ward, was out for closer settlement in New Zealand and for tne placing of thousands more upon the land, thus assuring the prosperity ot the country which would be reflected in the flourishing industries of the towns, providing employment for the young people in New Zealand. He had said he would procure seventy millions—a million for the extension of railways and 60 millions for the country—but he was pooh-poohed, yet he got the first instalment of seven millions at 4j per cent., under extremely difficult conditions, which a financial expert, in a letter to him, acclaimed as a most wonderful achievement on the English market. The people of t his young country wanted a Government of action which would work for the interests of all. Already the new Government had given life to the workers in the towns and to the settlers in the country.

“During the two and a half months the new Government has been in office,’’ said Sir Joseph, “it had provided, from the State Advances Department. loans for 680 settlers and 500 workers, and there is still available £1,600,000 for those who want to improve their holdings or acquire homes. The wheel of progress is being turned by the Government in its aim to help people of all classes in the community. What New Zealand has to solve is the difficulty of effecting closer co-operation between the different sections that build up its population (applause). It has to try to create a system which will prevent the occurrence of unemployment and to promote such land settlement as will enable men and women to make their own homes, so that New Zealand will become sufficiently attractive to invite the settlement from overseas of these people who will not become a burden on the population here (applause). The United Government will, with the assistance of the people, add such legislation to the Statute Book as will make for the prosperity of the people as a whole.” (Applause). On the call of the Mayor, three hearty cheers were given for the Prime Minister—cheers which were renewed when the train steamed out. Sir Joseph was accompanied from Woodville by Mr. W. E. Barnard, M.P. for Napier, who took the opportunity to represent to the Prime Minister the pressing nature of the unemployment problem in Napier. At Hastings the partv was joined by Mr. J. Vigor Brown, Mayor of Napier, and by Mr. Gilbert McKay. In conversation with one of the ministerial party, a “Tribune” reporter was informed that enthusiastic receptions were accorded Sir Joseph Ward by representative citizens at Levin. Woodville. Dannevirke and Waipukurau, the speakers on each occasion describing the result of the election as a great personal triumph of the Prime Minister. WELCOME AT NAPIER. A most enthusiastic reception was tendered the Prime Minister, the Right Hon. Sir J. G. Ward, on his arrival in Napier by the mail train last night. The Mayor (Mr. J. Vigor Brown) in expressing pleasure at seeing Sir Joseph back again as Prime Minister, trusted that he would retain his health to enable him to carry out the duties of Isis- office. Sir Joseph warmlv acknowledged the welcome accorded him and said that although the position of head of the Government was an honourable one, it was at the same time a difficult one in view of the fact that the Dominion was bounding ahead in Many ways. Tn splendid fashion the Dominion had responded to the need

for provision of public utilities and had emerged from the ghastly world upheaval with the country unsullied and free from the domination of any foreign Power. The greatest sacrifice of all, perhaps, was the fiije body of men who in serving their country so well never returned.

Sir Joseph then referred to land settlement and borrowing policy as mentioned in the Hastings report. 1 Touching upon bis visit to Gisborne for the unveiling of the memorial to the late Sir James Carroll. Sir Joseph stated that he (Sir James) had the proud distinction of being the only member of the native race to hold the position of acting Prime Minister, lie had carried out his duties with remarkable courage and intelligence and Sir Joseph esteemed it an honour and a privilege to be associated with such a distinguished son of New Zealand.