THE POLITICAL ARENA.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIII, Issue 6, 4 May 1912, Page 5

THE POLITICAL ARENA.

MU. LANG ON THE STUMP. H*or Preen Association..; Auckland. May 3. At the request oi' the leader of the Opposition, Mr Lang, ALP., to-day replied to the recent utterances of the Ministers. When interviewed, Mr Lang said the Prime Minister was touring the country carefully cultivating the idea that the present Cabinet in general, and he (the Prime Minister) in particular, were devoted to the interests of the farmer. Mr Mackenzie omitted to correct the impression that ho himself was a farmer. Mr Mackenzie was not a fanner, and never was a fanner. If the Prime Minister was so solicitous for the welfare of the farmer and the interests of the freeholder, why was it that when he had the opportunity of forming a Cabinet he excluded farmers from it? Mr Lang said that the Government attempted to lead the public to think that the vote of want of confidence moved by Mr Massey was lost by the reading of a letter by Mr Massey. The only thing that saved the Government was the promise of Sir ,1. G .Ward to resign. The attack made upon Mr Massey by the Prime Minister, in which the Prime Minister presumed to accuse the leader of the Opposition of political unfair play in declining a pair for Mr Wilford, who was not sworn in and who had refrained from asking for a pair, was particularly uncalled for, in view of the wire-pulling indulged in to defeat the no confidence motion and in view of the fact that the Government elected to take olficc by virtue of the support of two men who had promised to vote for the motion. The Prime Minister, in Christchurch, tried to tell the public that the present Cabinet has the support of the country. It had not and never had. The Reform Party required none of the Prime Minister’s advice, and had a thorough appreciation of its leader. “1 am not surprised at Mr Mackenzie',” added Mr Lang, “trying, together with some others, to injure Mr Massey in the estimation of the people, and to injure our party at the same time, because Mr Mackenzie and his friends fear Mr Massey and fear the Reform Party, but we know Mr Massey and trust him, and we also know Mr Mackenzie.” the postmaster-general. Feilding, May 3. The Hon. H. G. Ell, PostmasterGeneral, with Mr D. Robertson, secretary of the Postal Department, arriving at Feilding this morning, and were met by Air D. H. Guthrie, ALP., Air E. Goodbehcre, Mayor, and other public men. The Ministerial party proceeded to Rangiwahia, where the Minister will open the new post office building. The settlors are to tender a banquet to the party to-night.

MINISTER "FOR PUBLIC WORKS,

Nelson, May 3. The Hon. W. 3). S. Macdonald, Minister for . Public Works, who is visiting this district, returned from Murchison this evening. The Minister inspected the railway works' at Glenhope, and having seen the extent of valuable land in , the vicinity of Murchison, is impressed with the necessity for pushing on with the construction of the railway in that direction. To-morrow he will receive a deputation of citizens on local matters, and on Monday will proceed overland to Blenheim and Picton. MINISTER FOR EDUCATION.^ M asterton, May 3. Mr J. A. Hunan, Minister for Education, and Dr. Te Rangihiroa motored round the district to-day, accompanied by the Mayor, Mr Sykes, M.P., and visited the hospital. They motored to the outlying districts, and inspected various schools. Mr Hunan was greatly pleased with the school gardens at Gladstone School, which, he said, were the finest he had seen. The Ministers were pleased with the country visited. They left Wellington by the 1 afternoon train.