POLITICAL.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLVII, Issue XLVII, 11 April 1912, Page 5

POLITICAL.

MINISTERS AT ELTHAM.

SPEECH BY THE PREMIER

ENERGETIC LAND SETTLEMENT POLICY. (Unitkd Prsss Association.) ELTHAM. Apr.l 10. The Prime Minister and the Hon. G. W. Russell were entertained •t a ioinpiimentarv social to-night in tho Town 30aIL It" was the Hon. T. Mackenzie's I ••first appearance in the distrvt sinjo his •elevation to the office of Premier. Tne Ja.-tendanco p.umbcr»d 400. a la>-_;e pro portion being ladies. The pi.wsd'mjs were enthusiastic, and Mr Mackenzie was greeted with prolonged cheering < riterine the Hall, headed bv p : pev«. The toast to Parliame.it was proposed by Mr W. T. Jennings,' ex-M.P for Tan- . snaranui, and was responded to bv the Hon. G. W. Russell somewhat on the Sines of his recent addresses. He said the policy of the Government would be stated in due course, but those wh'o knew the programme of the Liberal Party for 20 years had no ne 2.| to ask what that policy would be. The Opposition now said that thev did not obipot to

the Liberal legislation, but to "its administration; but the Li->erah said they would not trust- the administration of the Liberal laws to those who systematically opposed them. Grapes did aot _:r<->w off thorns, nor fies from thistle's. The Liberal Party had got a policv and thev meant to keep it.

The £&>n. Mr Mackenzie, in responding "to the toast of "the guest of the evenin ff/ followed the lines of his previous speeches latelv given. He said that Sir Joseph Ward s enemies had endeavoured to discredit him for his ideal of an Imperial Council, but eomething of that must, become the law of the Empire. "They wanted one King, one navv, one Empire, and must- allow the ideals and aspirations of the far-reaching Dominions to come before a common Imperial Council. The time would come when the countrv would again fall upon Sir Joseph Ward's services. He (Mr Mackenzie) h*d stepped into the breach, and thev would hold the breach. They were coing to endeavour to win th«» e.-teem of "the people b-t- energetic settlement. Tt was not so much tenure as territory. Lands settlement had been too long the shnttlecock of the Dartres, and the oresent Government intended to open m> all available lands, break up big estates for settlement, and increase"' the praduafed tax. They wore eroing yhow the farmer that the record of" ?0 years would be continued, and he. would ™rt be overburdened with taxation. Their intention was gotmr for progressive settlement. aorricnlt-ural development. the up-buildmsr of social and ' welfare, and extending the opportunities of every deserving man and woman. THE HON. J. ror.viN ON THE COAST.

THE. • ABLE TTOXEST " STRAIGHTFORWARD. HOKITIKA, April 10. The Hon. James Colvin, Minister of Mines, was met to-ni<riit u r a deputation from the Westland Countv Council in respect to a number of local requirements. All the matters brought under his notice, he said, would receive his Favourable consideration an.r) attention. _ In the course of his reply to expressions of welcome to the district, th?. Minister said he was of the opinion that the Ministry was an able, thoroughly honesty and straightforward one. He predicted that Mr Payne and other Labour members would vote with the nrefent- Government for the next three "vears. art-} that if there was an appeal to the countrv before them, he believed the present Government would 50 back with a fair majority, and that Sir J. G. would vet be asked to again lead I th« Liberal Party. Mr Colvin.Jeaves to-morrow morning for Grevmouth. where lie is to be entertained in the evening.

BANQUET TO MR C. A. C. HARDY MR MASSEY PRESENT. TAXATION OF LARGE ESTATES. METHVEN, April 10. At Methven to-night Mr C. A. C. Har <3v, -ex-tM.P. for -Selwyn. was entertained at a well-attended comptimentarj banquet, at which, amongst others present, was Mr Massey. Leader of the Op .position, who in responding to a Toa-st 01 the Reform Party, said it was 18 years ago that day since he had been returned for Waitemata. Just nrior to the election cf 1906 he had been appointed Leader of the Opposition, and had worked towards makine the party a true Liberal Party, not a sham Liberal and Democratic and Progressive Party. The Reform Party did not profess to be paints, but their first thought was not ror themselves. hut for the people of the Dominion. Mr Hardy, though lost to the House, would not be lost to tbe other branch of the Legislature. He dealt at some length with the political situation, and defined the Reform Partv's lan 1 T>"licv. which he said wap to make available for settlement all the land possible. Tho cartv was also in favour of, the taxation nect»s=arv to ensure a closer setof t{! e larsre estates. Mr Hardv. in accenting an illuminated eddress. SaM it was his intention not to contest the Selwyn scat again.