King Country Chronicle Wednesday, April 23th, 1913. PRIME MINISTER'S VISIT.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 561, 23 April 1913, Page 4

King Country Chronicle Wednesday, April 23th, 1913. PRIME MINISTER'S VISIT.

The visit of the Hon. W. F. Massey to the district will be universally welcomed. The fact that Mr Massey has determined to journey through the back country and see for himself the conditions under which ''settlement has taken place in the district ia quite in keeping with the policy laid down by the present Government. When Mr Massey and his colleagues took office they were hailed as the country party and prominent planks in the new Govenment's platform were land settlement and the adjustment of the native question. As far as this dis trict is concerned these important matters are inseparably associated, while they carry with them the equally important question of roading. There is no doubt these matters will bo brought prominently before the Prime Minister during the course of his tour, and a personal inspection of the district cannot fail to carry conviction as to the necessity for a policy of vigorous progress in roading the district. The settlers in the districts through which the Minis-

terial party will journey may be depended upon to unfold in detail the local requirements, but the fact that something more comprehenaive than J the system which exista at preaent is necessary to meet the requirements of the district in respect to roading should inspire our public men to emphasise the requirements in this respect. Indubitable proof has been furnished by Mr Masaey that he has the welfare of the backblocks at heart, and the fact of his taking a backblock tour at the present time is further evidence of his solicitude in the interests of settlements. We have every confidence that the Prime Minister's tour will be productive of good results, and those results will he immeasurably enhanced by the placing before the Premier in clear and lucid terms the requirements of the district in respect to reading and native hinds from the national point of view. Mr Massey will ha weclomed to the King Country for his own sake, apart from his position as leader of the Government. His long and creditablo association with the political life of the Dominion as leader of his party in opposition, no less than his capable and statesmanlike administration in office has won for him a high place in the esteem of all while his personal attributes are such as tend to dignify the individual either in public or private life.