MR MASSEY.

Timaru Herald, Volume C, Issue 15304, 25 March 1914, Page 8

MR MASSEY.

* VISIT TO WEST COAST. IN EVERY WAY PLEASING. (Per Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, March 24. After a very fine tour through. Westland, the Prime Minister arrived in OJiristcnurch this evening, having loft Hokitika in the morning. Everywhere on the Coast the reception accorded Mr Massey was excellent, with hospitality of the true West Coast type. Every opportunity was taken throughout the trip to snow Mr Masbey the possibilities of development latent in the district. This was greatly appreciated by Mr Massey, ana convinced him that the West Coast has a great future, especially in the direction of dairying, which would lis in the hands of the 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," he said, 'couki have had a better reception .than I received at every centre I had an opportunity of visiting. So far as the political-position is concerned, whilst I am not prepared to say that every elector in Westland is uoav 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 the Government of reactionaries that many of them have been led to belieye, but a Government that is thoroughly progressive, really Liberal and Democratic, and one that is anxious to promote in every possible way the de- ' velopment of the country. I am only i fcorry that I was not able to give more time to the AVest Coast. As a matter of fact I had intended being with them ' on the occasion of the Jubilee, and then ' going on through South Westland into Otago, but l the somewhat severe indisposition from which I suffered for a few weeks interefered to a certain extent with my plans." Votes of confidence in the Government had been carried at every meeting ad- , dressed by him, said the Prime Minister, with the exception of Nelson. ' There was no doubt however, that there the motion would have been forthcoming had it not been for interference at that btago by the Member for the district. Mr Massey arrives from his trip very much benefited in health, although even yet he is not quite restored to normal, •although ho is rapidly "picking up." To-morrow the Prime Minister will receive deputations on the subjects, of the Midland Railway and a daily service with the Coast, and one or two other j

matters. On Thursday he leaves for Dunedin, where he will spend a few days. On Monday he will visit .Mop, Flat,. and speak at Tapanui in the evening. On Tuesday evening he will return north, and speak at Fairlie in the evenOn Wednesday he passes through Christehurch on his way to Wellington.