AFTER THE SESSION.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIV, Issue 72, 18 November 1912, Page 8

AFTER THE SESSION.

MR MASSEY BAN (QUEUED. (Per Press Association,) Auckland, November 17. A banquet was tendered to the Prime Minister on Saturday night at Pukekohe by the local branch of the Political Reform League. The Ministers present were the Hon; R. H. Rhodes and Dr. Pomare, and the following members'of Parliament were also present; Messrs Harris, Young, Statham, Bradncy, Mandcr, R. L. Bollard and Dickson. Mr Massey received an ovation when ho rose to reply to the toast of his health. It was a pleasant feeling, lie .said, to be amongst his friends and constituents after a strenuous session. When he said it was a strenuous session ho did not refer to its length or to the amount of legislation that had been passed, but they had to remember that the' Reform Party had come into power after the session commenced, and had had only three weeks’ respite to prepare its financial and policy statements, and then had to learn the ins and nuts of the offices. The loyalty ol the Franklin electorate had been a very great factor in placing the party in the position it now found itself, and bo thanked the electors for the way they had adhered to him. Mr Massey then gave a short review of the session’s work, referring to the fact that both houses had affirmed the reform of the Upper House into an elective body. The most important measure before the last Parliament was the Laud Bid. Under the new proposals 2,000,000 acres of Crown lands would be affected, and 85,000 settlers would become, as it were, emancipated if they chose to take the opportunity to acquire the freehold of their sections. He believed that when the Land Bill was put on the Statute Book it would he good for every man, whether he lived iu the city or on the land. The dearest wish of his colleagues and. himself was that they would .be able to improve the country and do something for the people. Speeches were also given by the Hons. R. H. Rhodes and Dr. Pomare and the members of Parliament present. The proceedings were of a most enthusiastic nature throughout. MR ALLEN INTERVIEWED. Christchurch, November 17. Tho Hon. J as. Allen, in the course of an inter vi6w, stated that he found the special school for hoys of feebh mind at Otekaike overcrowded, and he intended ascertaining if extensions can be put iu hand almost immediately. At present, 70 boys arc at school, but applications have been received iu respect to 200 or 300. The Minister announced the appointment of Mr Roy (Jarlick a® director of physical education in the primary schools of the Dominion. Regarding the. financial outlook, the Minister expressed the opinion that there were indications that the stringency of the money market was not now so acute as it has been.