THE HON. C. H. MILLS.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 13455, 20 June 1907, Page 5

THE HON. C. H. MILLS.

WHY HE LEFT THE MINISTRY. Per Press Association. BLENHEIM, June 19. The Hon. C. H. Mills (ex-Minister for Customs) delivered a pre-sessional address at Picton last night. Referring to the matter of reconstruction of the Ministry, he said that the late Premier expressed no personal desire for reconstruction, though the Cabinet seriously discussed the matter, all being present. He (Mr. Mills) had told Mr. Seddon that if he resigned from the Cabinet he would also resign from Wairau. The matter was then dropped. He stated that When Sir Joseph Ward went Home in 1906 Mr. Seddon had far too much work. Mr. Seddon was sent to Australia by the remaining Ministers with the idea of saving him. Sir Joseph Ward afterwards explained what he considered were complications that had arisen, in the party, and the Press s&d the representations could not be overlooked. Mr. Mills accordingly resigned. He had found out since that Sir* Joseph had been misinformed on many matters from what had transpired during the short session of last year, and since then the people had formed their own impression of what was the Veal cause of his retirement. Time would show. Refuting the remarks as to his being an amiable nonentity, e^tc., Mr. Mills sought to showthat the Government whip for years had yielded great power in vetoing or passing measures, and he claimed credit for choking the federation aspirations of the late Premier and some of the other Ministers, also for defeating the Midland Railway Bill. After the .latter 'had been thrown out by six votes, the late. Premier sent for him in anger, and declared he would re-introduce the Bill and take good care the tail did not wag thexlog next time. Mr. Mills claimed that he had always reserved to himself a free hand. In referring to the Land Bill, he said the difficulty was to know, what was going to be the shape of the land proposals of the Government Mr. j MqNab was sincere in his .closer settlement views, with which he agreed, but he would rather he introduced a slight amendment to the present land laws. He refuted the rumour that he was going to leave New Zealand for Australia. He would again be a candidate for Wai- ; rau.