THE PREMIER AT UPPER HUTT.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLIII, Issue XLIII, 3 April 1909, Page 2

THE PREMIER AT UPPER HUTT.

[United Pbess Association.] A POLICY SPEECH. REARRANGEMENT OF DEPARTMENTS. ALL-ROUND ECONOMY. DEFENCE MATTERS. PROPOSED ABOLITION OF THE DEFENCE COUNCIL. MILITARY TRAINING FOR YOUTHS. UPPER HUTT. Friday.

Sir J G. Ward was entertained at a banquet to-night, being one of the functions to celebrate the opening of the new Tost Office. Af erwards the Prime Minister addressed a crowded _rime ivi.u course audience in the nan. iv of his speech he said thero are at present thirty-seven separate ad.n.u.stra:r d S t P h7e° naituTfUl S- 1 relied fay the salaries of officers who«> se, vices will no longer be required The changes will not be made hurriedly or rashly On the completion of the Tmalgamafpon scheme a careful review of the requirements of the combined departments will be earned out by the heads and reported to the Ooverni" n t The Treasury Department w. 1 X_orb the Eriendlv Societies' Department The Port W Teleg^ Sb the Old Age Pensions and Itamp Departments. The Stai»l» a»d Deeds Departments will bo d yded the Deeds will be attached to the Jus ec Department, and the Stamps to the Postal The Public Works Department wi" absorb the Mines and Road Seoaifcneat*. The Native Depart--25? X considerably .changed The three retired judge, -will uot be Replaced and the Native Appellate Sur will bo abolished. The Just.cc Department wi.l absorb the Prison. Police and Deeds Departments. AH f ee a work, as fnr as possible, w.ll be carr el out by the A.ttorney-Uenera£ Departments. The' Interna Affa^ Department will embrace the Print • „ =.. .Hnuerv Electoral, aud -«v ;:^m Apartments. The Marine and Inspection of Machinery Departments w°lTbe amalgamated with the Customs Department. Immigration wljbe attached to tbe Labour Department The Lands and Surveys IVpartmen will absorb tho Lands for Settlement and Land Purchase Department. The Industrie* and Commerce and Tourist Departments will be attached to the Agricultural Department. The F.rc . Insurance Department will probably bo attached to the Laud and Income Tax Department. ' Other proposed changes have not definitely been settled There will be material alteration in the Valuation Department, and it is thought that the valuation for local public bodies by that Department should cease, and tho work be undertaken by the public bodies themselves The Public Health, Hospitals, and Charitable Aid and Mental Hospitals will be amalgamated. The Agricultural Department, under tho charge of the Hon. Thomas MacKenzie. will be largely remodelled. The Premier stated that it was proposed to ask Parliament to abolish the Defence Council, as it" machinery is too cumbersome for the country, and Parliament will bo asked to substitute a more practical system. Colonels Robin and Davies are to go to England for twelve months, in turn, and they will be attached to the War Office, and will have tho advantage of studying developments in the Imperial service. Other material alterations will be made in the Defence Department. Thousands of pounds will be saved by the proposed change?. Until 'these proposals are carried into effect no appointments or transfers will bo made. Actual travelling al lowances with a limit, will only be paid in future. The free telephone list will be abolished, and hospitals and charitable aid institutions will bo required to pay half rates. Tho smaller prisons will be closed, and the prisoners from them wil be transferred to tho larger prisons.