LIBERAL GATHERING.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 86, 10 April 1912, Page 5

LIBERAL GATHERING.

PRIME MINISTER BANQUETED AT MANAIA. THE OPUNAKE RAILWAY. The Prime Minister, with him the Hon. G. W. Russell, motored \o Manaia yesterday, where the "Liberals of Manaia and the Waimate Plains tendered him a banquet. Excellent arrangements were made, and the gathering was a great success. The Town Hall was for the time being converted with admirable taste into a drawingroom, the decorations being on a high scale of excellence. The Chairman of the evening, Mr. A. H. Christie, extended a hearty welcome 'to the Premier, and explained that they had intended.to banquet him after the election, irrespective of his elevation to a higher rank. Tho Hon. G. \V. Russell, who replied to the toast of the Parliament of Sew Zealand, proposed by Mr. Felix Maguire, deprecated the ascendency of party above patriotism. Mr. Massey would plunge New Zealand into a state of political turmoil by forcing a dissolution, and this could only have a bad effect on the prosperity of the Dominion. ~,

Mr. Greville, of the "Dairyman," proposed the "toast of "The Dairying industry," and in doing so put in a plea for the establishment of an experimental station in Taranaki, which would demonstrate the economic production of butter-fat.

The responder, Mr. T: McPhillips, endorsed this proposal. An increase of 4.01 bof butter-fat per cow, would mean an additional 1,267,4661 b of fat. The Premier, responding to the, toast of "Our Guests," was given a magnificent reception. He said that be was proud of the district, of its people, and the organisation which had assisted in his return to Parliament. The selection of a Cabinet had been a difficult thing, but he had endeavoured to secure men cf ability and iategrity, with clean records behind them. They were devoting themselves wiL. all the ability with which they had been endowed to do the right thing and take the consequences. He and his Ministers would tour the Dominion and reply to every criticism that had been levelled against them. As to their majority in the House, they would use.no efforts to control it, but would trust to the feelings of the people finding expression in the members they returned to Parliament. They did not want political' rest, but they wanted less legislation, with more administration and practical work. With regard to ..scientific agriculture, he stated that the beat available man would be got to prosecute this branch of experiment. The Premier made an announcement concerning the Opunake Railway, and said that the Commission which had been set up to determine the route consisted of a man attached to working railways, one attached to the Public Works Department, one attached to the Lands Department, and the fourth was attached to the Agricultural Department. His efforts to have tramways included in the scope of the Commission had been unsuccessful, but he would not cease his efforts, and would make a further attempt. (Applause.)