THE GRAND LITTLE COUNTRY.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 12815, 15 July 1912, Page 2

THE GRAND LITTLE COUNTRY.

"PATRIOTIC AND PROGRESSIVE'

MINISTERS

(Per Press Association.)

AUCKLAND, last night. The Premier, who left Wellington on Saturday, came north as /far us Mangei*e and' spent to-day with his family. His visit was purely a private one, and except for public business transacted en route, Mr Massey did not act m bis official capacity. He left again for Wellington by to-night's express, boarding the train at- Otahuhu. 'On the way north Mr Massey was. deluged with telegrams of congratulation. "Speaking to a Herald representative on the train, the Premier said that both sides in' the House had "passed through a strenuous time, but he must "say/ that, speaking generally, "the, members; of the.. 'former Ministerial party behaved very well. Specially he mentioned Messrs Mackenzie and Myers, who took their defeat like men. Mr Massey was asked if he thought there, was any probability of a dissolution. "A very remote contingency indeed," he replied with a smile: *"f am confident that we have a working majority, and that we will be able to .carry- on without- the! Tea-it- difficulty. v l would' like* to take this opportunity,". .Mi' Massey added, "of thanking 1 the' people of the Dominion— l am speaking generally, and not from the party point of view— for the approval 'that has:,been expressed with regard to the -change that has just taken plaoe. There has scarcely been a word of adverse criticism regarding the con-tiltitioi. '■or -the' personnel of the new Government, and 1 have noticed with a great ; deal of pleasure that even the newspapers which supported the late Government— and along with the other newspapers they may be regarded as the mouthpieces of public opinion — are very strongly .m favor of giving us an opportunity of putting forward our policy and afterwards giying effect to it. I feel confident -tliat the time is not far distant when the people of New Zealand will acknowledge what I have long contended — that the Reform party and the present Ministry are a set of patriotic and progressive ' mcii, who are actu&ted by unselfish motives, and that, they are men' whb will 'give their '"Very* best to the grand little country whose . ( public affair-s^'-j-ney bave been called upon to administer." V >,