PRIME MINISTER.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVIII, Issue 18308, 19 January 1920, Page 6

PRIME MINISTER.

BRIEF VISIT TO CITY. CURRENT TOPICS DISCUSSED. Tho Prime Minister (Mr Massey) arrived from Wellington on Saturday morning to attend a conference of wheat-growers in Christchurch the same day. He had a full day’s work before him when ho stepped from the ferry boat, but he gave half an hours interview on tho ferry train.

CABINET RECONSTRUCTION. “Not taken in hand yet,’’ was Mr Massey’s reply t? a question regarding Cabinet reconstruction. “It w only right that I should consult with Govvernment supporters, and I have not yet had tho opportunity. There are several of tho new members that 1 have only been introduced to. There is really no hurry, as the work is going on, but I want to get tho new men appointed so that they will get well ao» cub tome d to iheir duties before the House meets. Mr Massey did not say so. definitely, but the conclusion was drawn that there might bo a meeting of the Government members before the Samoan trjp and the immediate filling of Cabinet vacancies. BIMIGRATION. Glancing at a published criticism of the High Commissioner’s office staff, Mr Massey remarked, “ It can be improved. 1 think it is necessary to keep the Commissioner’s office in touch with the Dominion.’’ Replying to a request for an outline of the immigration policy he said, "Hero is the position we are in so far: It was our duty in the first place to got tho soldiers back. We have got them nearly all here now. There are a few men still to come, but not a great many. After that we take in hand the getting back to New Zealand of the very largo number of New Zealanders who went over to do othei war service. I do not think there are less than 8000 of them now. Next to them we take immigrants from England, and we have 2400 immigrants j ready and waiting for ship, with all arrangements made and passages paid, and I believe they will bo a particularly good lot. Many .of them arc j nominated by people in. this country, and aro relatives of New Zealanders, j They aro mostly country people, but j there are representatives of all classes, , and some domestic servants. That is ! tho beginning. Wo have to be care- j ful about, tho people to bo selected. j Then there is the other side. The Im- I porial Government intends to pay the ; passages of Imperial soldiers to any i Dominion, and I have no doubt that quite a large number will come to this country.”

THE HIGH COMMISSIONER.

No announcement was forthcoming about the appointment of a High Commissioner to succeed Sir Thomas Mao kenzie, whose term is about to expire. “ Will he rank as High Commissioner or resident Minister?” Mr Massey was asked. "That is an awkward question,” ho replied. “ How would it ho if he ranked as both; . hut how are you to get a resident Minister without a constituency? There are a number of little problems in that connection that have not been solved. Arrangements have to he made at the other end as well as at this end. The High Commissioner may he a man who is also competent to do the work of resident Minister when the work requires to be done; but the necessary arrangements have yet to bo made not only by New Zealand but also by tho Government of the United Kingdom and other dominions.”

Mr Massey indicated that Sir Thomas Mackenzie’s term did not end in February, but four months after tho expiry of his appointment. If a change were made, lie added, Sir Thomas would still be High Commissioner for some considerable time.

Mr Massey added that when the proper time arrived New Zealand would not be behindhand in appointing a resident Minister. "Whether it would be a ■joint position or not be could not say. ROYALTY AND VICE-ROYALTY. . Mr Massey was ashed whether he could’ make an announcement regarding the departure of the GovernorGeneral (Lord Liverpool). “Tell me when the Prince’s visit will come to - an end,” he repled. He expressed the opinion that it would bo awkward for a now Governor-General coming to New Zealand to undertake the duties connected with the visit of the Prince of Wales. As for tho date of the visit he was unable to give anything definite.

COAL A LITTLE EASTER. “The outlook is just n little better than it was,” Mr Massey remarked regarding the coal shortage, and the goslow strike. Ho said that tho negotiations wore going on, and if the minors or their representatives would go the length of meeting the representatives of the coal owners he thought the difficulty would not last long. The trouble occurred regarding the representation at tho conference. Meanwhile the industries of the country were kept going, but some of them were suffering hardships.