THE PREMIER ON TOUR.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 78, 9 April 1913, Page 7

THE PREMIER ON TOUR.

VISIT TO PALMERSTON. [Per Press Association.] Palmerston ivortli, April 8. The Premier arriyer. here from Wanganui this evening, and was officially received by the Mayor. Shortly after his arrival lie heard a number of deputations, \y|ip brought before him local wants. Mr F. Pirani, on behalf of the Manawatu Master Printers’"’ Association, asked in regal'd to the Dominion awards under the Act of 1911 that, before being joined to an award, an employer should be allowed to show cause that if would not be equitable to be so joined; also that there should be a separation of city from country in Dominion awards. He also asked that the law in regard to debts incurred by candidates of Parliament, particularly 1 with regard to advertising, should not be allowed fo protect dishonest candidates who repudiated just debts. Mr Massey said he was already cnsidering an amendment to the law regarding Parliamentary candidates’ expenses. The other matters referred to would be looked into. Replying to the flaxmillevs’ deputation, wlio voiced objections to the recent alteration in the grading ol hemp, Mr Massey said he had been impressed with the suggestion of Mr L. Seifert, a member of the deputation that there shuld be a standard bale of hemp at each grading port, on which to base the grading. He would see that the idea was adopted.

Replying to Mr S. Jiekell, President of the Local Bodies Engineers’ Association, Mr Massey said he would ascertain if the Government’s representative, who was already proceeding to the Old Country, and was going to inspect light railways in Belgium, could attend the Conference of Road Engineers in England in June. To-night Mr Massey and Messrs I). Buick, H. Campbell, and D. Guthrie, M.P.’s, were entertained at a smoke concert by the citizens, about sixty attending. Speaking at the social Mr Massey said that he did not propose to make a policy speech, but would do so at the proper time. The proper time was not when Parliament was in recess, but at election time or in the Governor’s Speech, or when the Finance Minister brought down his proposals. Then the Government was prepared to announce its policy.