THE PREMIER'S VISIT.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIIC, Issue 14327, 18 October 1910, Page 4

THE PREMIER'S VISIT.

Sir Joseph Ward has had what ho aptly calls "a good bird's eye view" of the Mackenzie Country, and has gained, we hope, something more than a bird's general knowledge of the country covered in his flying s.iyvey. We riave long since jjassed the time when Ministers esteemed themselves but amateurs and directors-in-chief, content to work upon the knowledge supplied to them by expert departmental officers and commissions, presumably of experts, appointed at great expanse. The Hon. R. Mclvenzie, as a " practical man," must decide by personal inspection what route a railway can best take, in opposition to the opinions of successive engineers- in-chief; the Hon. T. Mackenzie must demonstrate his fitness for a portfolio by showiig farmers how to make a burn, r.nd Sir Joseph, seeing that he bears the title of Minister for Lands, quite properly passes like a sudden apparition though the much discussed Mackenzie Country. We are glad to think that Sir Joseph Ward's visit was a pleasant one, and we hope that good will come of it ; His recognition of the necessity for reasonable continuity of tenure accords with what this paper has always urged, and we are glad of his assurance that the matter will be dealt with promptly by the Government. We note that Sir Joseph Ward visited also the new site for the proposed new Hermitage, and agrees with his departmental experts and with the Hon. T. Ma< •kenzie that that site is much better than tli<s old one. We 1 hope Hi at something will be done very soon to make the long heeded newaccommodation house exist more tangibly than upon paper. It is nearly two years since tenders were called for a new building according to elaborate plans, but the project was deferred on the score of retrenchment, and no contract has been let to date. At the present time the Government must be swimming in funds, since it can spend £2BOO for a suburban school near Cliristclrurch, and £2OOO for statuary to delight the eyes of the. aesthetic people of Wellington as decorations of a post office. In. the meantime we are glad to-'see _ that the Prima Minister-recognises the necessity for making temporary provision for an. increasing number of visitors to the present Hermitage. It is improbable that statues of all the Graces adorning the facade of the Wellington Post Office would add one penny to the postal revenue, while the value of our " great asset." Mount Cook—we quote, the Prim« Minister, not Miss 13. E. Baughan—depends not a little,. x from a Prime Minister's point of view, on the number* of people who can get good beds and agreeable accommodation at its foot.