POLITICAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 220, 15 March 1912, Page 5

POLITICAL.

THE PREMIER IN AUCKLAND. "NOT RETIRING FROM POLITICAL LIFE." By Telegraph—Press Association. Auckland, Last Night. The Premier left for Wellington tonight to attend a meeting of the party to bt: held next week. There was an enthusiastic scene as Sir Joseph Ward and party stepped on to the train. In a short speech the Premier said that owing to circumstances he had "ueeided to take a particular course, but he wanted the people to understand that he was not going to go away from the political life of the country. (Cheers.) As the train left the crowd Cheered loudly.

HON. T. MACKENZIE AT TIMARU. Timaru, Last Night. The Hon. T. Mackenzie arrived this afternoon from Queenstown by the Mt. Cook motor" service, which now maintains a regular service between Fairlie and Queenstown, with a branch from Pukaki to Mt. Cook, and about half the I visitors to Mt. Cook this season have taken the inland trip one way 'or the other. The Minister attended the opening of the' Coronation band rotunda in the gardens, and then went on to Christchurch and Wellington. The Minister spoke highly of the inland trip for variety of scenery. MR. PAYNE AND HIS PLEDGES. A HEARTY RECEPTION IN AUCKLAND,

I Auckland, Thursday. _ Mr. Payne, M.P. for Grey Lynn, met his committee last night. He was warm--1 ly received, and said he went to Parlia-. ment a bitter anti-Wardite. He li'stened to each side making bold bids to catch votes. He had learned that barrow loads of printed matter were circulated in England by Oppositon people, damaging the credit of the country. Though the Opposition charged the Government with, reckless borrowing they were unable to say which ioan they would have struck out. That was what turned the vote of Mr. Atmore. He claimed that he (Payne) broke no election pledges. He had said he would vote against the Government on the land policy because he was misled into believing that large quantities of ldnd were locked up. He believed now that the Opposition cry to'< this effect was raised to divert atten- 1 tion from the large estates of their supporters. The extent of his election pledge was that he said he would., vote against the Government on its land legislation and railway administration. In ,the circumstances, he asked, did hie committee believe he had broken any pledges? (Cries of No.) -He had learned with respect to the allegations of bribery that rumours were current that he actually received money. He believed he had a very strong legal action against Mr. Massey in this connection, and he proposed to take legal advice. He declared in conclusion, amid applause, that he stood for Labor, and Labor only.

NEW ZEALAND'S POSTAL SERVICE. THE BEST IN THE WORLD. Auckland, Thursday. Speaking at the opening of the new Kingsland Post Office, Messrs. Bradney and Harris, Oppositionist and Independent M.P.'s, paid glowing tributes to Sir J. G. Ward's ability and administration as Postmaster-General. They declared that he was the ablest Post-master-General in Australasia, and was one of the ablest in the whole world. He had given New Zealand tlfe best postal service extant. Mr. J. Payne, the latest Government convert, expressed similar sentiments. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS WITHDRAWN. Wanganui, Thursday, Mr. Veitch, M.P., has accepted a withdrawal and apology from Mr. Martin Lee, of Wellington, in respect 'to the charges made by the latter during, the general' election campaign, that Mr. Veitch, as president of the A.S.R.S., had drawn expenses to which he was not entitled. Lee says that there is no truth in the allegations and expresses regret. Mr. Veitch has withdrawn legal proceedings which were pending.