THE PRIME MINISTER

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXXIII, Issue 15919, 3 May 1912, Page 8

THE PRIME MINISTER

* A VISIT TO THE SOUTH

THE POLITICAL SITUATION

The Hon T. Mackenzie, Prime Minister, arrived in Christchurch yesterday morning, and spent a few busy hours in the city. It was his first visit to Christchurch since:, he became Prime Minister, and when he stepped. on to tho railway platform he was met by Mr H. Holland, the Mayor, who gave him a cordial welcome, and heartily congratulated him upon attaining tho high position he occupied. Mr Mackenzie briefly thanked the Mayor. Ho congratulated him on his election to tho mayoral chair, and expressed a hops that he would have a useful and prosperous term of office. The Prime Minister was then taken to the city, and was entertained by the Mayor at breakfast, and later on Mr Holland had a chat with him on municipal and national affairs. . »Mr Mackenzie left for tho south by ■ the second express. He will attend a social at Oamaru to the Hon ,T. Y. Duncan this evening. On Saturday he will'. open a post office and a Coronation park at Balclntha, and in the evening will give a public address and will be entertained at a banquet. On Monday he will inspect protective works at Balclutha; on Tuesday he will attend a banquet to Mr J. C. at Orawaira, near Rivorton; and on Wednesday he will attend another ga.tb.er- '' ing ,at Otautnu. He expects to pass through Christchurch again about 6aturdav, May 11. THE GOVERNMENT AND THE i COUNTRY. NO FIREWORKS, BUT HARD WORK. In an interview Mr Mackenzie, in reply to a question as to the position of the Government in the minds of the people, said that all the Ministers were working very hard, trying to get into tho inner heart of the department's thev controlled. They hoped, by a record of good work, to justify their existence. As to the feeling of the country towards the Government, he was sure that it was cordial. Wherever Ministers had gone they were given the kindest receptions. In many places in the North .Island, great enthusiasm wasshown. That was notably the case at the wonderful reception given to Mr Mvers in Auckland. -?■"'; •'. ~ '"lf I might analyse tho position, he said, "I should say that the country has become tired of the political turmoil of the past, of the eternal tearing to oieces, and of tho political denunciations, and is anxiously looking for a party that will carefully inquire into the necessities of the dominion and will judiciously and economically administer public affairs. The Government has no fireworks to offer the -people, nor will it confuse th«ir minds . jrith a long list of nolitical Bills. Some *& persons think that the passing of an . Act of Parliament is a panacea for • every ill. They forget that the administration of tho laws in a proper spirit is of more importance to the country . than all the legislation politicians like to crowd-on the Statute Book. I notice that our opponents are describing me as the greatest political. humbug that has entered politics, and are saying that no good can be expected from us. Well, we are content to await the judgment of the people rather than to take notice of the envious criticisms of our political opponents, whose views are influenced by a desire for office." Asked in regard to the possibilities of a dissolution, Mr Mackenzie said: "If the-feeling of the country towards us is reflected by members of Parliament during the session, there is no fear of a dissolution taking place. Mr Massey I see, is telling his friends to be ready, because he does not know what a month or a week may bring forth. Whatever happens, I believe, from what I hare been able to gather, that Mr Massey is not the man his friends will look to in order to improve things. They realise that ho had his opportunity at last election, and that, although his captains and his generals won battles, he bungled the whole campaign by mistakes of leadership." THE FRUIT TRADE. FURTHER ENCOURAGEMENT FROM THE GOVERNMENT. . Touching on other subjects Mr Mackenzie said that he was greatly gratified at the success of the recent shipment of fruit from the dominion to England. He regarded it as a great achievement. The establishment of a market there, the prospective markets 'in South America, and the completion of the Panama Canal, gave promise of a good future for fruit-growers. He had read with interest Mr F. Wilding's remarks in the " Lyttelton Times " that morning, urging that as the Government encouraged the growing of fruit it ought to help to open up markets. He was doing that to the utmost of hie ability. Besides offering a bonus of Id a pound to growers, he told the officers of the vessel which took the recent consignment that if the apples were landed safely a bonus of £SO would be given to the vessel. He was pleased.to be able to state that the truit had arrived in good condition. He was deeply indebted to Captain Bone, of the New Zealand Shipping Company,-for the great, care he had' taken in- respect to the fruit. The report he had. received from Homo was Chat while the fruit was in good condition the grading was faulty. That defect must be corrected. The .grading of apples must be attended to with tho same care as the grading of dairy produce. . As to the announcement that orders for. New Zealand fruit had been received,' from;, the Argentine, he said that people. tliere realised that the dominion's fruit-was of good quality, and they were prepared to give higher prices,.than they would pay for TasHianiah fruit. The effect of recent Events, in fruit-growing would be to Stimulate ;the,. Government to further "develop the-industry. THE NATIVE BIRDS. The Prime Minister has a strong wish- to protect native birds, and belaid . that he hoped sportsmen would - »trictly observe the limit of a bag of toaradise ducks to twelve. Three years igo, some men went back into tho ibirds' Haunts, and shot almost every Jird they saw. One man killed no fewer ban eighty. If that kind of thing continued it simply meant that native bird Hife would be exterminated. In any fcase,- there was no real sport in shooting paradise ducks. They were as tamo ks barndoor fowls now, and would as £oon go up to a sportsman as go away from him. He wished to enlist the symCthies of all bird lovers in New Zeald in his efforte to prevent the extermination of many species of beautiful creatures. In Canada and in older 'countries numberless species had been »ent out of existence. That was not wanted in New Zealand. Besides the loss of feeding grounds on account of the deitruction of forests, the birds had to face terrible foes in the shape of stoats Und weasels and other vermin. Many « paradise duck had been found sitting on its nest with its artery pierced. It Was seldom that a brood of more than four was seen in these days. If those birds were to be preserved the destruction must bo minimised. Native Weons akO had a bitter struggle for ivistence- and greatly as the Government resetted that it was not able to fall in with the wishes of .sportsmen this year, it considered that it was wise to have a'close season for that species.

The Prime Minister was tormal.y welcomed at Ashburton yesterday by ,the Mavor (Mr H. Davis), »nd v. as \ congratulated by a number of *nonds -ob his elevation to the Premiership.