POLITICAL AFFAIRS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 10442, 23 April 1912, Page 1

POLITICAL AFFAIRS.

A BUSY PRIME MINISTER. MR MILLAR'S MOVEMENTS. [From Ouit Correspondent.] WELLINGTON. April 22. A busy fortnight has been planned by the Prime Minister, the Hon T. Mackenzie, who to-morrow will open the Boys' Training School on the Ruakura experimental farm in the Waikato. The Prime Minister will go fully into the ideals and objects of the scheme for giving to working farmers' sons a thoroughly effective training in agriculture. On Wednesday Mr Mackenzie will attend a farmers gathering at Clevedoni in the electorate of the leader of tho Opposition, having promised to talk of tne Agricultural Department's work. He will endeavour to show that it is not a laughing stock, as Mr Massey, with more partisan zeal than fairness, has publicly suggested. On Thursday in Auokland the Prime Minister will attend the complimentary citizens' gathering in honour of the Minister of Railways, and he will transact departmental work connected with land settlement and the experiments, by which it is sought to demonstrate an effective way of bringing the heavy turn lands of North Auckland into protable cultivation. Already the experiment has reached a fairly conclusive stage. The Prime Minister will return from the north in time to visit Oam'aru on May 2, and Balclutha, where he will speak on May 4, and he will be in Southland a--few days later.

HON J. A. MILLAR'S PLANS. Tho Hon J. A. Millar and Miss Millar left Wellington for Dunedin to-night. Mr Millar intends to spend a week in his constituency, and then visit Auckland. Next month ho will probably go to Australia. "Do you intend taking a commercial position there?" Mr Millar was asked, the question being based on a very persistent rumour to that effect. "No. If Igo it will not be to stay permanently," answered the ex-Minister. "I am looking after my own private business now, enjoying good health and tho rest from heavy departmental work." Another question, with a view to ascertaining Mr Millar's political plans, drew blank, save for the assurance that he does not intond to take the platform just yet.

SIR JOSEPH WARD'S HOLIDAY.

fpßii Press Association.] INVEItCARGILL, April 22. Sir Joseph Ward, accompanied by Lady Ward and Miss Eileen W T ard, left Bluff by the Ulimaroa this afternoon for Melbourne, where he will spend a month's holiday. Speaking at an informal gathering of his Bluff supporters on Saturday night, Sir Joseph said that he did not intend, while in Australia, to speak on the political situation, except anything he might say on the spur 6f the moment.

THE OPPOSITION TOUR. [Per Press Association.] OAMARU, April 22. A social was tendered to Mr E. P. Leo, Member for Oamaru, to-night, and it was the biggest thing of the ldnrl held here. Speeches wero made by Messrs W. F. Massey, W. Fraser, G. M. Thomson. A. S. Malcolm, G. J. Anderson, W. Nosworthy, If. Scott, F. H. Smith, and C. E. Statham. Mr Massev had a particularly good reception. the audience rising and singing " For He's a .Tolly Good Fellow."