PRIME MINISTER TO BE INVITED TO LEVIN.

Manawatu Herald, Volume L, Issue 3915, 7 March 1929, Page 3

PRIME MINISTER TO BE INVITED TO LEVIN.

ENTERTAINING DISCUSSION BY LEVIN BOROUGH COUNCIL. The Prime Minister, Sir Joseph Wax’d, is to be invited to visit Levin, particularly to view the Central Development Farm, before the commencement of the session. This is the result of a motion by Cr. Roe at Monday night’s meeting of the Levin Borough 'Council. In the first! place the Mayor (Mr. T. Hobson) reported having met Sir Joseph Ward at the railway station last Friday and brought several matters under his notice, the principal of these being the request for a more equitable distribution of the petrol tax a|mong boroughs. Cr. Goldsmith raised -a point of procedure. “Was it not just a little over the odds,” he asked, “when the Prime Minister was not coming on business, to make requests to him?” It seemed to him that it was not quite a dignified thing to do. When a Minister paid an official visit to a to>wn, then they took the opportunity to put as many things as they could think of before him; but this was a case of the Prime Minister passing through for the first time since his installation, and it did not see(m right that he should be stuck up with all sorts of l’equests in the na'me of the town.

Gr.' Mortensen: I think that if he came along like that and someone sprang something on him, he would think it a very important matter. Cr. Palloon: We should go a bit further and give him an official invitation to come here. He might have time to think over the remarks in the meantime. •His Worship: He might be pleased to come if we sent him an invitation. Cr. Roe: To tackle him on those things was a little over the odds, I thought; but I am going to move, after the business is over, that 'we ask him to corno here officially. Cr. Mbrtensen: On what grounds, Cr. Roe? ' Cr. Roe: I will mention that later on, Or. Mortensen. Subsequently, when the ordinary business of the Council had been disposed of, Cr. Roe said that Sir Joseph had regretted that he could not remain long enough last Iriday to see Levin’s wants. The speaker did not think that 'Sir Joseph had ever been on the Central .Development Faifm. This Council should invite him up. There were several matters which they would like to interview the Prime Minister about, and if they delayed the matter it might be a serious thing for the district. An invitation might be sent through Mr. W- H. Field, M.P., and Mr. Tuiti McDonald, M.P. “I would like him to go over the Farm,” added Cr. Roe. “He might let us know what the Government is going to do with it. There are several* other matters we could bring before him. I move that he be invited to come up, and that the invitation bo sent through Messrs Field and McDonald.” Cr. Goldsmith: What about the member for the district. Cr. Roe: The C.D. Farm is in Mr. Field’s electorate. Cr. Keedwell: But he is coming to Levin. Cr. Roe: It does not matter to me. His Worship: Give him a banquet. Cr. Roe: Never (mind giving a banquet. Cr. Mortensen: Are you not slighting the Minister of Lands and Agriculture. Cr. Keedwell: You want some definite proposals to put before him. Ci*. Roe: We will fix that later. Cr. Goldsmith: Sir Joseph W'ard is not a stranger to this town. He gave us £2OO to have the ,Oval; and he opened the Library or Lady Ward, did. Cr. Mortensen: Where did he get the £200? Cr, Goldsmith: Enterprising people collected it for the Post Office site, and he, (being conscientious did not keep it. Judging by the past, he was a very good man and always did anything well that we asked him. 1 don’t quite understand Cr. Roe’s idea in asking him just at this juncture unless he has something definite to put before him. If it is just asking him to see the farm, I suppose it is all right. •Cr. Mortepsen: Is this a political move, or what? ( Cr.- Goldsmith: No; I would not have anything to do with it at all

if it was. Cr. Mortensen: Wien you ask the Governor-General, you are asking someone who makes a formal visit, and not a man' in politics. Cr. Goldsmith: The Prime Minister is head of the Government of the country. (Cr. Mortensen: I take it that you mean Sir Joseph Ward. He might not be Prime Minister very long. His Worship: Is there any special time for inviting him? Cr. Roe: He jo going South. We should ask him to come as early as possible, before the session opens. It is a very short distance from Wellington. Cr. Falloon; What if ho tells ns that he has already decided what he is going to do /with the farm? IBs Worship: If we have not got something very definite to invite him up for, how are we going to entertain him, and that sort of thing? Cr. Mortensen: Is this the body to do.it on ibehalf of the district? Cr. Roe: Who else can do it? Cr. Mortensen: I don’t know. I have nothing I want to see him about. (Laughter). The discussion closed at this

stage, the Mayor putting the following motion, by Cr. Roe to the vote: -“That the Prime Minister be invited, through Mr. J. Linklater, M.P., to visit the district at an early and suitable date, to view the Central Development Farlrn, and receive deputations on this and other matters of interest to the district.” “He might have the Fawn cut up .before the suitable date comes on,” ivas Cr. Falloon’s comment. The motion ivas carried without , dissent. —Chronicle.