THE GOVERNMENT'S MISSION

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1743, 7 May 1913, Page 7

THE GOVERNMENT'S MISSION

FEELING IN THE COUNTRY, PRIME MINISTER'S IMPRESSIONS. Tho Hon. W. P. Massey (Prime Minister) returned to Wellington yesterday after touring the King Country' and visiting Auckland. Questioned by a Dominion reporter, as to the trend of political feeling as it had nppeiii-cd to him in visiting different parts of the Dominion, tho Prime Minister said that he had not tho slightest hesitation in saying that tho Government stood well in.every district that ho had visited. "It is not necessary for mo to go into details," he added, "but people ai;o continually meeting mo and telling mo that, although they_ were not supporters at previous olections I can depend upon their supportin the fufcdre because they recognise that our policy is straightforward and definite, and that we desiro to be judged by our own merits rather than bj| political influcneo > or political patronage. "Owing to their absurdity," added Mr. Massoy, "tho criticisms that have been advanced against us rather help us than otherwise. Tho electors naturally come to tho conclusion that if thin is all that can bo said against our legislation or administration, there is nothing very far wrong. 'Then, all tho predictions, 1 members who are now in Opposition and by their journalistic friends, as to what would happen if ever we got into power, havo been falsified. Tho hard fact l'emains that though money is dearer than it was twelve or eighteen months ago, the country was never more prosperous than it has been lately. Admitting that money has been dearer recently, that if owing to causes altogether outside New Zealand, such is the European : wny_, and the demand for loan money in Londor from a number of countries that have not previously' mado their appearance in the money market as borrowers. "I think it is generally Tecoguised.' the Prime-Minister remarked in conclusion, "that tho Government is engaged upon a work of restoration after a period of unsatisfactory administration, and that tho economies which have been practised during the last few months will stand tho Dominioh in good _stead for the future."