THE PRIME MINISTER.

Otago Witness, Issue 3033, 1 May 1912, Page 10

THE PRIME MINISTER.

ENTERTAINMENT AT CLEVEDON. AUCKLAND, April 24. The first social gathering attended by the new ■Prime Minister in the Auckland province wag held at Ulevedon this evening, when tlie local branch of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union held its annual dinner. The president (Mr Alec Bell) presided. ivir Mackenzie was congratulated on the attainment of tho Premiership. The members were gratified at the opportunity of entertaining him, and gratified that a man ol such capacity and ability had been entrusted with the leadership of the Administration. Mr Mackenzie expressed appreciation of the reception accorded him, and' said that every member of the new Ministry had graduated to his position, and he commended them as earnest workers who intended to use their utmost endeavour in the interests of the Dominion. —(Applause.) He relerred to the question of Protection raised by a previous speaker, who had said the agricultural industries were suffering. Mr Mackenzie said there were industries in the country established under Protection that were producing as good an article as could be imported. He reterred particularly to the woollen industry. There was no doubt that mercantile associations were in league with yhoutes in the United Kingdom, and that was productive of harmful results. The Government intended to appoint a commission to see that the cost of living was not unduly raised and that the concessions granted by the Government were enjoyed by the people. In acknowledging the justice of the grievances expressed by settlers in the back-blocks, Mr Mackenzie suggested that a system of light railways might be an effective remedy of their difficulties. There was a market in New Zealand for all its produce, and it was the duty of the Government to secure new markets and provide means of transport to them for the surplus production. The exhibit of New Zealand wool and meat at Roubaix was an illustration of the means that could be adopted. PRIME MINISTER INTERVIEWED. HAMILTON April 24. On being interviewed by a Waikato Times reporter to-day on the future leadership, the Prime Minister said ho oould not ece that the people were looking" to Mr Massey at all. The Opposition had succeeded in discrediting the former Liberal leader, but it by no means followed that the effects of their methods against Sir J. G.. Ward implied that the country wanted Mr Massey to be entrusted with the control of the destinies of the Dominion. Tho length of time that the present Government would remain in. office was for the House to say. If tho present favourable feeling met with by Ministers throughout the Dominion continued, it would be rofleoed when Parliament met. The Prim© Minister made it quite clear that the Government would use no political legerdemain to secure majorities. Tho country wae Liberal at heart, and was looking for guidance on sound economic and progressive . lines. If his party met these reasonable aspirations there could be no doubt of its future.

DEPUTATIONS IN AUCKLAND. OPINION WITH REGARD TO ' BORROWING. AUCKLAND, April 25. A deputation representing the council of the Auckland Institute and Museum, introduced by Mr J. H. Bradney, M.P., waited upon the Prime Minister this morning with a request that he use his influence to obtain Government assistance for the museum. Professor Segar, in placing the request before the Prime Minister, pointed out that there were several features worthy of special patronage in connection with the Auckland Museum, especially respecting the Maori section. The income of thd museum proper was only about £9OO a year, as against about £I7OO, which the Wellington Museum drew for maintenance purposes. The Auckland income was, _ in short, so small that it was practically impossible to provide for future building or extension of any sort whatever, and what progress was made was due to the srenclrosity of the nubile, which had altogether contributed £18,918, as against the £3860 granted by th e Government. What they wanted now was a grant of about £12,000, with the vie<v of providing the necessary increased accommodation to bring the museum nearer the requirements of a growing city like Auckland. The Prime Minister, in reply, assured the deputation that he had always taken a great interest in collections of such historical interest as were possessed by our museums. As to the Auckland Museum, he would certainly ask his colleagues to place £6Bl on the Estimates to meet a pound-for-pound grant on the sum recently raised by the public of Auckland. Touching the £12,000, he pointed out that in Otago, where recent additions had been made to the museum, the Government contributed on the pound-for-pound basis, and, if the public of Auckland could form a scheme to raise more money for the extensions, he would be glad to try to obtain a pound-for-pound subsidy up to a reasonable limit. Ho thought the public would be willing to make a special effort for a permanent structure. People in the south admired the public spirit of the men who left so much to Auckland. It stood apart from anything which had been done anywhere else in New Zealand, and he thought they would find this public-spiritcd-ness not by any means exhausted. The deputation thanked the Prime Minister for the offer cf assistance. Some interesting remarks were made by the Prime Minister, in reply to a deputation from Waiuku district, which waited upon him and the _Hon. A. M. Myers today to urge the claims of a branch railway construction. Mr Mackenzie said the matter of the branch railway construction must bo dealt with on definite lines of policy. The country at the last elections had raised a loud voice of protest against excessive public borrowing, and the Ministry of which he was the head intended to respect the wishes of the people in this connecton. Regarding the claims of Auckland, he mentioned that this province had come in for a good share of railway expenditure cut of loan moneys lest year. “ There are many parts of New Zealand, the Prime Minister continued, “ which are far worse off for railway communication than Waiuku, and unless the country comes to a decision regarding the desirability

for construction of these branch railways I don’t think they will go on. At any rate, the question will be made a matter of policy for the Cabinet to consider.” Mr Mackenzie added that the Ministry was not going to assume the responsibility in, this matter and risk denouncement from one end of the country to the other. For purely political reasons he expressed a wish to visit the country, and added, “ I have no hesitation in saying that if the country is willing I am quite prepared to borrow for the undertaking of public works of this nature. I am for progress, and so are my colleagues.”—(,“ Hear, hear.”) The Prime Minister assured the deputation that he was satisfied that its railway scheme would be included among others in any general borrowing scheme. He said that, in face of the outcry against borrowmg, there was not a single item-in the recent five million loan which any publicspirited citizen could take exception to. Of course,” the speaker added, “ I quite agree with tho spirit of economy, but where a country is progressing at the rate New Zealand is it is essential to maintain a borrowing policy. At the present time wo are receiving from our public investments more than sufficient revenue to meet the interest upon all of our borrowed money. The financial position of the country is good, and I shall be glad indeed) to go into the matter of branch railway construction with the Cabinet.”—("Hear, hear.”) He had no doubt, the Minister added, that it was a wise poUfcy, and he asked; Why should productive districts bo held up for 20 or 30 years when the whole of their produce could be got on to wheels and slipped along to market? He intended to pursue a forward policy.—(“ Hear, hear.”)