POLITICAL AFFAIRS.

Mataura Ensign, 13 May 1912, Page 3

POLITICAL AFFAIRS.

HON T. BUXTON ENTERTAINED. PRIME MINISTER'S SPEECH. PER UNITED TRESS ASSOCIATION. TIM ARC, May 11. About 150 persons, including sumo Indies, attended the social to Hon. T. Buxton at Fairlie on Friday evening. The Prime Minister was present, having motored from Pahnorston. Mr F. 11. Gillingham, chairman of the County Council and the South Canterbury Hospital Hoard, riresidod. Rotli Ministers had a. most cordial reception, and the meeting was enthusiastic throughout. The chairman presented Mr Buxton with an illuminated address of appreciation of him as a member and of congratulation on his attaining the rank of Minister. In his remarks the chairman praised Mr Buxton highly for his attention to local affairs in the past ami 1 said he believed that he would prove a capable Minister. References were made to tho recent progress of the Fairlie district through the closer settlement policy, and in his reply Mr Buxton said' that ho was trying to get other local large estates dealt with. The chairman spoke of the Local Cot - erinnent Rill, and condemned it roundly, its centralising principle being, he said, a great mistake. Hon. T. Mackenzie, in his reply, said that a Rill had long been asked for. and local bodies were being asked to say what sort of a Rill they wanted. Speaking of agriculture, the Prime Minister said the (Government ivas importing another first-class dairy instructor, and also a dairying chemist to instruct the people how to make the best of their by-products. Roth Ministers dealt with the party question to some extent. Mr Ruxtou protested against the Opposition saying that the present administration had no right to carry on. They hud a majority and a head, and they were likely fo do better work than Mr Ma.--.sey was capable of doing. Mr Mackenzie complaiii.-d of the Opposition attempting to belittle him, as he had done nothing to deserve such attacks. The Cabinet was determined to do good work if iciveti the chance. The alternative would not be Mr Massey, whom he likened to "a .Moses who never reached the promised land." Personally, he would not care if he were relegated to private life. He : might then bo able to make a little I money, which a Minister could not do.