HON J. A. HANAN.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXXIII, Issue 15899, 10 April 1912, Page 10

HON J. A. HANAN.

THE GOVERNMENT AND THE PEOPLE. FEELING IN THE SOUTH. '/ The Hon J. A. Hanan, Minister of Justice and Education in the new Government, who went to Invercargill for Easter, arrived in Christchurch by the second express last evening, and went on to Wellington, where he will begin to make himself closely acquainted with departmental work. In an interview on the port train Mr Hanan spoke in confident terms of the Government’s prospects and of the possibility of doing much work on sound but progressive lines. He said that he found in the south, wherever ho went, a desire that the Government should be given a fair trial. He had no doubt whatever that it had the people with it and behind it. At any rate, he had heard no adverse criticism, while there had been many references of an appreciative character. All his colleagues were workers. There were practically no bounds to their energies or to their wish to do something for the country, and he felt sure that, if tho Government was given the chance he thought it deserved, it would give a very good account of itself. He was highly gratified at the way in which his own appointment had been received. He had received largo numbers of congratulations, and many of them were expressed in language which could not fail to give him great pleasure. Perhaps the most pleasing incident of his life was the hearty and enthusiastic civic reception given to him by his fellow-citizens when ho reached Invercargill on Thursday evening. Ho was met by the bands and escorted to the rotunda, where ho veaa officially congratulated by the Mayor and Councillors on behalf of the residents. It was a \ demonstration of which any man might be proud. As to the work before him, Mr Hanan said that he intended to go thoroughly into the question i of\prison management and the efficiency of the prisons. It was a subject that required investigation, and he intended to devote his attention to it at once. It was quite possible that lie would call a conference of gaolers in AA r ellington to discuss the management -of the institutions in their charge. In following liis profession as a lawyer, he had been brought into touch with the subject, and he hoped that a further study of it would be" beneficial. When that was out of the way he would go into questions dealing with the improvement of the dominion’s educational svstem.

" In renly to a question in regard to the aobointment of Commissioner of Police* In place of Mr F. Waldegrave, the Minister said that- when that gentleman was appointed, two positions, Under-Secretary of Justice and Commissioner of Police, were combined. Ho intended to go into the question whether they should continue to be combined, or should be separated, as formerly, and, when lie had made up his mind, would make a recommendation to the Cabinet. In the meantime. he could say that he was not in favour of going outside the dominion for the new commissioner.