THE PRIME MINISTER.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 297, 10 December 1908, Page 3

THE PRIME MINISTER.

INTERVIEWED AT LYTTELTO.N

ASSISTED IMMIGRANTS,

THE RECENT GENERAL ELECTION

ChrisU-lmi'ch, Tuesday, bir Joseph Ward and Lady Ward arrived in Cliristcbureh from Welliii"tun this morning, and went on to lnvercargill by the first express. Speaking to a reporter who met him in LyLtelton, lie said, that there were main -signs that the tightness of money which has caused a little anxiety this year was passing away, and that improved conditions prevailed. Money was easing, wool was rising, and the uulluuk was gaud.

Discussing the position, of assisted immigrants, hi; said tlwt 'he had sent bv cable instructions to London that no Government assistance in regard to pas- | sages should be given to any persons except snmll farmers and domestic helps, lie. said that fairly large numbers of people were coming to New Zealand on their own account. It, was desirable that those, who came should be gradually absorbed before further assistance I was given, except to the. two classes he had named.

Speaking of the elections, he reiter- , | a ted liis statements that he was very well satisfied with the results. "I do not know,'' he said, "when our party has ever gone to the country under more dillicult conditions. There was a tightness in the money market that was accentuated by the 'fact that practically all the lending institutions hail combined to refuse new business. What business was d'one with them was at an advanced rate. The one exception to that was the Government Advances to. Settlers Department, which maintained the old rate of interest. 011 the top of that there was the disorganisation of tile ilax market. Then there was the disturbance of the timber trade, largely caused by a deereaase in the ; rate at which buildings were being erected in- the towns and cities, and also by tile tightness of money and the importation of Oregon timber. In addition there was the falling in wool, and Oil top of them all came the dairy

regulations. Many of our members who are fanners have assured me that these regulations were necessary, but X am sorry to say that information in mv possession shows that representations were made in respect to that matter which are not creditable to those wlio used them during the recent contest. I will not, however, deal with that now. It is clear that the conditions under which we went to the country were not favorable to the Government. An Administration is always ,'blamed for conditions which at the time of an election are not satisfactory, while its opponents declare that it is mot responsible for the country's successes or for general prosperity. When all these points are con- - sidered, I feel that we arc justified in being satisfied with the result. We have a splendid majority, and I. look forward S ■with hope toi being able to carry out a I policy of progress which will help the t general development of the country." b ■ ■ „„ o