POLITICAL.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 14250, 25 March 1914, Page 3

POLITICAL.

PRIME Ml MISTER ON WEST, GO AST- . ':■■•;••. -,'' '--- r £. RECEIVES-- EXCELLENT REC^PTJO^ i- . -.- ' s*r, . " (Per "United Press’-'Association.) ' v CHWTCHHRCH, March, 24 v , After a land', -thy -Prime Miiiiytcr ’arrived a. Christchurch this evening, having left •Hokitika- in 'the moining'. Everywhere on the coast the reception accorded’Mr Massey was exfeellfent, The hospitality being ot the true'West-'Cdast type; Every opportunity was’taken throughout the’-trip’ to, show Mr -Massey the possihiHtiea d,i developments latent in the'district. Ml Massey' is - 'convinced that the'.'eddst has a. great : future before it; especially iif'the direction of dairying, whichwould Jiti, in the hands of the people themselves Jet; realise. ■ • '■■ ■■ ■, Interviewed by a repprtet, the- Prime •Minister expressed himself as deliglitfi ; with' the reception accorded him ; on- thi coast. ““Ho man,” life said, “cdhld havt had a better "reception than I ‘ffceeivec at every centre that i had'-, the’-oppor-tunity of visiting. ”S6 fir as the political f position, is concerned) while -I adi aot‘pre ; pared to say Tliaf every elector in- West- - land is ndw asupponor of the Refprm; pari#', I am prepaifed! to' say this-Mhirl ' the people of Wtestland now undfersfant that’the present G'ovfefhmfeht‘is not tin Govermnetii of reactionaries that many o. them liad been ledto’ > belfeve/ , brif a Gov: ernment that is thoroughly progfeSsife. really Liberal and democratic/ ind -oiu that Is anxious to' promote in every ) o sible way the development- of the c0...i try. 1 am only sorry that I .was '■not able to give more.time to theWcst iGoaStd As a matter of fact, T had intended beinj with them dri the occasion of their iubi lee, and theii going on through 'South Westland into Otago, , but the' somewhat severe indisposition from Which; I suffeijeo for a few , interfered .to a ceitaii extent with my' plans.” : ' 1 . , Vote* of- confidence in the Government had been earned at every,, meeting ; addressed by hint, said the. Prime .Minister, with the exception of/Nfelsohl' There was, ■ no doubts however, that thfere' that'motion: would have been forthcoming‘ had if no been for interference at that stage by' Jjjie member for the district.': ’. : s Mr Massey arrives' from his trig very much benefited in health,' although even yet he is not quite restored' to normal health, although he is rapidly (/pickinc up. ' • ' ■ -'' ’ s To-morrow the Prime Minister will re ; ccive deputations on the Subjects of tlu Midland Railway and a daily service’with' ..tile coast, and one or two. other mhtteis.-, : On Thursday he leaves for Dunedin, Whdrche will spend a few days. He Will'/isb Moa Flat and speak at Tapahui'in the evening. On Tuesday evening, he rfeturni north and speaks at Fait lie' in ’theeVen-’ ing, On Wednesday he passes' througl.. Christchurch on his way to .Wellington,.; THE COST OF THE STRIKE. MR FISHER IN THE WAIRARAPA. PAHIATUA, March 24. The Hon. F. M. B. Fisher, who has been touring the Akitio coastal district, arrived from Pongaroa this afternoon, and was welcomed' by the Mayor (Mr J. D. Crewe) on behaf of the citizens. In ropy to a deputation asking him to remind the Hon. Fraser, Minister fol Pubic Works, of a grant for county roads, ' Mr Fisher said the strike last year com ,£450,000 in hard cash. Probably some items in the Estimates would have to be cut down; v In reply to a deputation from Pahiatua Racing Club regarding restoration of a permit, Mr Fisher held out ho-prospects. The Government itself was taking up a Bill, introduced last session by Mr G. Hunter, M.P-, providing the increase in permits, but lie thought the 'House would put it trough. His own -opinion 'was that it should be "put through. He described the Racing Commission' as “racehorse owners fat stbk'es commission. It was a Metropolitan commission and old-efetablish-ed"clubs laid been'Svi’ped ' but rhtlilessly add relentlessly. The' Minister .afterwards proceeded to Eketahuua. ’ ; F.KETAHUNA, March 25. Hon. Mr. Fisher addressed a largo meeting last night and had an excellent reception. The speech was on the lines of that delivered.; ut Pongaroa. At the conclusion tlie Minister said he was prepared td divert fro/u tho ' ordinary course and' answer questions, but ■ none were forthcoming. '1 lie meeting unanimously passed a vote of thanks to Air fisher ior his • address and confidence in the A 1 inistry which he represented.