N.S.W. Premier Greets Auckland

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 253, 16 January 1928, Page 9

N.S.W. Premier Greets Auckland

LEFT AS SCHOOLBOY RETURNS AS HEAD OF STATE Thomas Rainsford Bavin iefit the Auckland Grammar School a lad in his early teens, to accompany his father, a Methodist clergyman, to Australia. This morning he returned to Auckland Premier and Treasurer i of the Mother State of the Commonwealth. | JJESIDES his daughter, who is maki ing her first acquaintance with [her father’s native country. Mr. Bavin brought with him a good deal of flshI ing tackle. Catching trout, as a matj ter of fact, was a hobby with the j Premier long before he ever imagined that he would assume his present important office. And as Taupo has something special to offer in the way of trout, and as Mr. Bavin thought a little holiday was due after the most arduous election contest in which he has ever taken part, the Premier decided he would renew acquaintance with the the land that gave him birth. NO POLITICAL SIGNIFICANCE The Premier’s visit has no political significance. He is merely here on holiday, though as he explained on the Niagara this morning, he is particularly grateful for the courtesy already shown him by the New Zealand Government. Sir Maui Pomare, acting-Minister for Internal Affairs, extended a cordial welcome on behalf of the Cabinet, and Mr. J. S. Dickson, M.P.. the senior Government Whip, went out to the liner in the stream to renew his friendship with Mr. Bavin. Mr. Bavin is particularly anxious to see as much of New Zealand as possible, as with the exception of his boyhood spent in Auckland and Onehunga. he has not had much experience of the Dominion generally. He is due to leave Wellington for Sydney on February 14. He was very gratified to think that the citizens of Onehunga had sent him a cablegram when he assumed office as Premier, and said that he intended visiting the borough while in Auckland. As for New South Wales politics. Mr. Bavin believed he had a very solid party behind him. which was determined to carry into effect a policy endorsed by the electors. A commencement had already been made with more urgent matters, such as placing Sydney under a commission. "And not before it was wanted," the Premier emphatically declared. “This decision has met with the general approval of citizens, and already a good beginning has been made.” Tlie election was fought on the principle as to whether the Government was to be responsible to the people direct, or responsible to the Australian Labour Party, he said. Mr. Lang, the ex-Premier, had decided in favour of the latter course. A halt had also to be called regarding the Labour Party's “reckless financial policy.” UPPER HOUSE REFORM Next session would see the Government dealing with the question of Upper House reform, which, the Premier explained, was one of the most important matters Cabinet had to face. At the moment a subcommittee of Cabinet was dealing with it. The position was that the Labour Party had destroyed its usefulness; they expected that the House would endorse as a matter of course what was sent up from the Assembly. Commenting on the recent visit by the Secretary of State for the Dominions, Mr. Amery, Mr. Bavin said as far as his own State was concerned the discussions between the Minister and himself had certainly been productive of considerable benefit. The Premier cordially supported such visits and interchange of views.