THE PREMIER'S TOUR

Southland Times, Issue 14636, 28 January 1911, Page 6

THE PREMIER'S TOUR

DOINGS IN TABAHAKI to tlie Times.) NEW PLYMOUTH, Jan. 27. Something - like a triumphal progress has been made to-day by the Prime Minister, Sir Joseph 'Ward. in his tour through the central districts of the Taranaki province. Though lie has visited tluec constituencies which are represented in Parliament by Opposition members, his reception at every slopping place lias been marked by the utmost cordiality. Sir Joseph spent last, night at Stratford and began work al an early hour this morning. for immediately after breakfast he received a deputation trom thre Chamber of Commerce, winch was introduceil by Mr J. B. Hinc, M.P. r i lie deputation proffered a number of requests in connection with local matters and attention to each was promised by the Prime Minister. At Kaponga and Eltham. Immediately afterwards Sir Joseph and party motored out to Kaponga. a run of about an hour and a half over sticky roads. There a very hearty welcome was accorded him by a gathering of residents .on whose behalf Mr Guy, Chairman of the Town Board, expressed satisfaction that the Prime Minister had been able to pay them a visit, Mr B. Dive. M.P. for Egmont. then introduced a large deputation, whose spokesman drew the Prime Minister’s attention to ' a number of local needs. Included in the list was the Opunake railway, ■which was introduced as "an old friend.’ a term which caused Sir Joseph, to smile and admit that ho had indeed heard of It on very many previous occasions. He said that he was sure that the line would pay expenses, but the trouble was that the maximum amount that could be expended on railway construction in any one year was strictly limited and could not bo exceeded. Sir Joseph promised full attention to all the other requests made on behalf of the deputation. Mr Dive expressed to Sir Joseph their hearty wishes that his coming trip to England would be pleasant and his return safe. Three cheers were given as the party moved off again, this time to Eltham. Hero again a representative assemblage of residents was gathered to welcome Sir Joseph, among the number being the Hon. W. C. P. Carncross, M.L.C., and the Mayor (Mr E. Parratt). There were no deputations, but at an Informal gathering the Mayor proposed the health of the Prime Minister, whom he said they were very gratiliod to have among them, if only for a very short, time. He and others felt sure that the affairs of the Dominion could be safely left in Sir Joseph’s hands. They were also confident that he would represent New Zealand fittingly at the Imperial Conference. In replying after the toast had been .enthusiastically honoured. Sir Joseph said he was exceedingly sorry that the limited time at his disposal did not permit him to make a longer visit to such a fl.mrishing town as Eltham. vr.- po to learn from the Mayor that the Government could be credited with some of the town’s prosperity owing to the cheap rate at which it had been able to lend money to the Council He would be very glad to return to Eltham later and accede to a request Just made to deliver a political speech if he could possibly do so. As the Prime Minister resumed his Journey cheers wore given for him by those present. luncheon at Inglewood. The next stop was at Inglewood. Which was reached early in the afternoon and where the party was entertained at luncheon. The gathering was entirely non-political in character, many Opposition supporters being present, includhVg Mr J. E. Hine, M.P. The Mayor (Mr J. W. Wingfield) presided and. in proposing the health of the Prime Minlater, assured him that the visit gave very general pleasure to the residents of the town. They hoped that at some future date he would be able to return and deliver a speech on political matters. Sir Joseph, in reply, said it gave him considerable satisfaction to visit the town and meet the residents, whether they Were political opponents or supporters. A hearty vote of thanks to the Prime Minister for visiting the district was carried by acclamation. Before Sir Joseph was permitted to leave another brief speech had to be made from the motor car for the benefit of those gathered outside the hotel. Cheers were again given as the car moved off. New Plymouth was readied about 4.30 o’clock. Sir Joseph was met by the Mayor (Mr G. Tiseh) and immediately taken out to inspect the works of the Taranaki Petroleum Co. His opinion of what was being done was shown by the following comment, which he made In the visitors’ book : “An industry full of great possibilities for the Dominion. The efforts of tiie promoters are deserving of every success, and present indications augur well for the realisation of It. I sincerely wish the industry and Its owners the fullest success." Another Packed Meeting.

In the evening Sir Joseph delivered a political speech in the theatre, when, as was the case at Stratford, the building was packed with a most friendly audience. The Mayor presided, and on the platform was a large number of ladies and gentlemen, among whom were Mr H. Okey (member for the district), borough councillors and other leading citizens. The Prime Minister’s speech followed closely the lines of that which he delivered at Stratford. He claimed that there had never been a Government which had done so much for the farmers as the Government which was at present in power in Xew Zealand. This deserved to be recognised far more widely than it was. It was only fair that the people should acknowledge that ‘•upon the whole the country had done very well indeed. Things were really ,not quite so bad as they were sometimes painted. After dealing again with the, five million loan and finance generally, he reminded the audience that every .year the Government was asked to expend millions more than could possibly •be found. It was not reasonable to expect such huge sums to be .spent on public works ; but the Government was trying to do all it could within reason. Pointing to what had been done to dovelope the country, he claimed that the actions and policy of the Government had 1/eVn ’ fully Justified in every respect. He was quite against borrowing money that was not necessary and wasalways for keeping the amount down. All along he had been one to Judge by results. ■ For instance, there was this interesting fact in connection with tn 1 State Advances Departments, that our. of altogether £10,000.000 lent only £l5O or so at the very most had had to be (.written off some particular account. ’’And yor ’if was not so very long ago til at he had the greatest trouble to g.-r the money which was required to start those departments. After a lengthy resume of the legislation passed last session. Sir Joseph declared that no impartial critic who reviewed the work that Parliament had Just done could do other ,<unless blinder! by prejudice) than recognise that all the legislation was for the good" of the great majority of the people in the country. Ho believed that the historian of the future would be compelled to acknowledge that no other country had excelled Now Zealand in the activity and intelligence put into its laws. Sir Joseph concluded xi two hours’ speech amidst loud ami continued appla use. Thanks and Confidence. Mr E. Dockeriil moved, and Mr Fitzpatrick seconded. "That this meeting accords to the Right Hon. Sir Josepa AVard a hearty vote of thanks for his gibU l and interesting address and exJ, r( . sf .-'S its confidence in the Liberal Covcrnmtnt of which he is the distiuguisi 'd bead.” A man in the body of the hall who moved as an amendment a vote of thanks- only was urged loudly to sit down. He fulled to find a seconder and the resolution was carried unanimously, amid applause. Three cheers Xor the Prime Minister concluded the gathering-