POLITICAL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 1058, 18 June 1912, Page 4

POLITICAL.

THE PRIME MINISTER AT

DARGAVILLK

The Prime Minister, Hou, T. Mackenzie, addressed a public meeting at Dargaville on Saturday night, dealing on general lines with the policy outlined by him at Upunake, He also replied to the criticisms tm the four million loan, and stated that the details could not be given by the Government before transactions were completed. No couutry was in a more prosperous condition, and he qucted figures showing improved conditions iu the agricultural aud pastoral export industries, these being particularly sound. The outlook for the future was most promising. Speaking of the present situation, and after refuting Opposition criticism, he said there would be uo meanings it he passed over the bar, but he wished to thank the people lor the kindness and confidence expressed in him for the last 25 years, and whether in or out of Parliament or Ministry be would do his best for the community. The Government were anxious to convert the inertia of public opinion into something real. They had tried to compare their actions with things that had been in the minds of men lor some time, and he instanced the civil service, which needed remodelling ; but he was opposed to a Civil Service Board. Education cost too much, and he hoped for good results from the Commission, also from the Cost of Living Commission.

A vote of thanks and confidence in the Ministry was carried with cheers, and replying Mr MacKeiizie said that the Ministry was going to do good Liberal work and lead the country to good. Subsequent to the meeting numerous deputations waited on the Prime Minister who regarded this as an indication of the necessity of visiting various parts of the Dominion, also as wanting an increased number of Ministers. He declared there was not a ghost of a show to comply with the request to place ,£200,000 on the .Estimates for a North Auckland Main Trunk railway for this was equal to a quarter of the whole sum borrowed for all railway construction last year. In the face of all the slander the Government was not going to borrow so much this year.