PREMIER ON TOUR

Southland Times, Issue 17609, 25 March 1914, Page 5

PREMIER ON TOUR

ARRIVAL AT CHRISTCHURCIt DESCRIPTIOX OP THE TRIP (Per United Press Association) CHRISTCHURCH, March 24. After a very fine tour through Wesvland tlie Prime Minister arrived at Christchurch this morning, having left Hokitika, in the morning, and everywhere on the Coast the reception accorded .Mr Massey was the excellent hospi-. taiity of the true West Coast,type, und every opport nnit y was taken throughout the trip to show him the possibilities oC development latent in the district. This* was greatly appreciated by Mr Massey and convinced him that the Coast had at great future, especially in the direction., of dairying, which would lie in the hands ' of (he people themselves to realise. Interviewed by a reporter the Prime* Minister expressed himself as delighted with the reception accorded him on the Coast. "No man." lie said, "could have had a better reception than I received at every centre that I had opportunity, of visiting. So far as the political position is concerned, while I am not prepared to say that every elector in Westland is now a supporter of the Reform party. I am prepared to say this, that the people of Westland now understand that the present Government is not lh« Government of reactionaries that many of them have been led to believe, but a. Government that is thoroughly progressive, really Liberal and democratic, and one that is anxious to promote in every possible way the development of thfr country. I am only sorry that T was not able to give more time to the West Coast. As a matter of fact I had intended being with them on the occasion of their jubilee, and then going through south West land into Otago, hut the somewhat severe indisposition froni which 1 suffered for a few weeks interfered to a certain extent with my plans. Votes of confidence in the Government has been carried at every meeting addressed t.y him. said th*t ITime Minister, with the exception of Nelson There was no doubt, howfmr, thai Hi ere the motion would have been, forthcoming had it not been for the interference at that stage by the member* for the district. ,M i Massey arrives from his trip very muclohenefitted in health, although ev n. yet ho is not quite restored to the normal. He is, however, rapidly pickirj? up. To-morrow the Prime Minister wil. receive a. deputation on the subject of the Midland railway, daily service with the coast and one or two other matt ire. On Thursday lie leaves for Dunedin, where he. will spend a few days. On Monday lie will visit Moa Elat and speak; at Tahanui in the evening. On Tuesdav evening lie will return north and speak at Eairlie in the evening, and on Wednesday lie passes through * hrtslehurch on his way- to AVellington.