MR. MASSEY EN TOUR.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1984, 14 February 1914, Page 5

MR. MASSEY EN TOUR.

LIONISED BY THE SETTLERS. (By Tilcgraph-Spccial Correspondent.) Whakatane, February 13. The Prime Minister"' (Rt. Hon. Mr. Massoy) is having a triumphal tour through the Day of J?lenty districts. At Opotiki yesterday, apparently tho wholo population turned out to welcome tho Ministerial party on arrival from Rotorua; and later in tho evening, at tho public reception in tho theatre, whero addresses were delivered by Mr. Massoy and tho Minister of Railways (Mr. Herries), the building was paokccl to . the doors. Many wero unablo to obtain admission to tho banquet tendered by tho Reform League.' To-day the Ministerial party journeyed from Opotiki to Whakatane, calling en routo at' Kutarero, AVaimana, and Tuneatua., The settlers provided luncheon at Waimana, and a hearty welcome was accorded at Tancatim, a vory ' flourishing settlement situated in tho midst of very fertile country. In . both cases the settlers officially., congratulated the Government on tho successful handling of the recont industrial . trouble, and expressed their gratification, at the laud policy of tho Government having been placed on tho Statute Book by Parliament. A largo number of deputations have been received by tho Prime _ Minister along tho line-of route. This evening a-largely-attended public meeting _ in Whakatane was addressed by the Prime Minister, tho proceedings being very enthusiastic. In congratulating the audience on tho prosperous _ year experienced, Mr.. Massey mentioned,: with regard to Savings Bank returns, that while the excess of deposits over withdrawals for January, 1913, amounted to '£'48,700, the corresponding figures for January, 1914, were £105,000. Mr. Massey also spoko of the coming . Panama Exposition, whore it had been decided that New Zealand. should be represented, (and mentioned that the Union S.S. Co., recognising the im- : portance of the. occasion, had intimated ; to ;, the Government that they would tarry exhibits free of freight to » San Francisco from New Zealand, and back again if necessary. Tho Government would take charge of. the exhibits, and would see they wero shown to tho best advantage. The Prime Minister also . dealt with the recent industrial troubles and matters affecting the. welfare of the agricultural and pastoral intorest. ,The Hon. Mr. Herries, referring to tho Nativo lands in the Bay of Plenty, district, explained fully that he had a legacy left him. by the Ward Governjienfc with regard to large blocks in the .'Urewera. country,.where individual interests haS bcon purchased before the titles'had been ascertained, and now, before he could open up tho country, he had to straighten out thp tangle that had bcon bequeathed by his predecessors in .office. .Tho Government intended to . prosecute actively the settlement of Native'. land "in the Urewera country as soon as tho titles had been legally defined. ' , ' Mr. Massey; though not quite strong again : after his recent indisposition,• is standing the arduous travelling splenand apparently is much impressed with the kindly consideration. extended by the settlors generally. Ho is .accompanied by the Hon. W. H, Herries (Minister of Railways) and > Hon. Dr. . -Pomare. ■ To-morrow, an will be made of tho important Rangitaiki swamp drainage work, Te Puke will be reached this evening, : -