MINISTERIAL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXX, Issue 14982, 30 April 1909, Page 8

MINISTERIAL.

[Per Press Association.] DUNEDIN, April 29. The Prime Minister paid a visit to Taieri to-day, and received a number of deputations concerning local matters. In the evening lie was present at a social at Mosgiel tendered to the Hon T. Mackenzie in honour of his elevation to Cabinet rank, a number of complimentary speeches being made. To-morrow Sir Joseph Ward will proceed, to Invercargill. THE HON T. MACKENZIE. [Per Press Association.] OWAKA, April >28.. To-day the Hon Thomas Mackenzie, Minister of Agriculture, Industry and Tourist Resorts, in response to an invitation from the settlers, visited. Owaka, and proceeded by road and river to the various places of scenic and industrial interest in the neighbourhood, receiving a few deputations of local ,import on route, and planting totara trees in what is to be known as the Mackenzie Belt at the Pounawea Domain. In the evening a social was held in honour of Mr Mackenzie’s elevation to ministerial rank, the guest being played to his seat by Highland pipers. The chairman, in his opening remarks, referred to Mr Mackenzie’s energy and übiquity. Mr Anderson, member for Mat-aura, in the course of a forcible speech, said that the man who said this country should not be defended to the last shilling and the last man was a traitor. He hoped during the life. of the present Parliament to see such steps taken as would prevent the possibility, of the Germans or the Japanese violating our shores. The Minister confined himself mainly to generalities, mentioning the need for defence, the source of wealth the Tourist Department was likely to bo, and the necessity for retrenchment which the Government had resolved to face boldly. THE HON D. BUDDO. The Hon D. Bnddo, Minister of Internal Affaire, was waited upon yesterday morning by Mrs F. Pratt, of Sumner, representing the Ladies’ Immigration Committee, which purposes petitioning Parliament to re-establish free immigration in order to secure domestic servants from Groat . Britain. Mrs Pratt said that great inconvenience, amounting in many cases to positive hardship, was experienced by ladies who were unable to obtain sufficient domestic help. She asked the Minister’s support in furthering the objects of the committee. The Minister expressed himself as fully alive to the need for domestic helps, and promised to bring the representations Of the committee before his colleagues. Mr G. W. Russell, M.P., introduced a deputation of officials of the New Brighton Trotting Club, who asked that the club’s totalisator permit should be allowed to apply to a new course, recently acquired. The Minister replied that on the facts stated by the deputation he saw no reason why the permit should not follow the course. He asked the secretary when applying for a new permit to place the position fully before the Department.