INTERVIEW WITH THE PREMIER

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2088, 14 January 1908, Page 2

INTERVIEW WITH THE PREMIER

NEW CABLE FOR MARLBOROUGH SOUNDS. USE OF GOVERNMENT STEAMERS. PREMIER DENIES ANY ABUSE. (Special to Times.) WELLINGTON, Jan. 13. Sir Joseph Ward has returned iq the capital, and will remain hero for two - more days before proceeding to Christchurch and Dunedin. Sir Joseph is loud in his praise of the beauty of_ the Marlborough Sounds, through which he cruised in the Tutanekai during the voyage to Wellington. He considered the question or linking up the Croixelles. Port Underwood, Durville Island." and Stephen Island lighthouse bv a cable. Pins would require only" two abort cables, and would enable Wellington to receive information of the movements of all vessels passing through the straits. The Premier gives an emphatic <kniai that he used the Government steamer iutenakai for pleasure purposes recently, so that repairs could not be effected to the Cook Strait cables. (Speaking on the subject to '. - ost interviewer this morn in o ' ?, u ' Joseph Ward stated that when Hie lutanekai left Wellington all the cables were working, and this is borne out by a report which he has leceivcd as Postmaster-GeneraL The steamer was used last month to take tfie i rime Minister to Oneliunga < n important business with the Governor and Admiral. On her return she went south, and Sir Joseph and Lady i im a ”d family were on hoard when she made a trip round about Stewart island. Sir Joseph added that he luul always made it a practice to pav for everything which he and his staff and Jus family have received on boarl Government steamers and trains, an-.l ho paid Ins own travelling expenses, and also those of his family and with him during the past fortnight. W hen he was at the Bluff last Wednesday word was received that there was a fault in one of the Cook strait cables, and he at once gave orders that the Tutauekai • was to retui n north and. effect tlie necessarv repairs Eu route to Wellington she called at Elmslio Bay. Marfborough Sounds, to enable Sir Joseph W ard to inquire into a proposal to lay _a cable from tlierp to Stephens Island and one or two other points, tlie work if carried out will involve an expenditure of several thousand pounds, and tho Prime Minister says tbat it was necessary he should view the locality before the Cabinet comes to a decision. Ho added that the Leader of the Opposition or any other politician could 'travel by the Lutanekai or Hinemoi by paying as he lm<l always done for the meals and accommodation on board.