THE PREMIER-ELECT

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 228, 25 March 1912, Page 4

THE PREMIER-ELECT

A GLIMPSE OP HIS IDEALS. : INTERVIEW WITH THE HON. T. MACKENZIE. Wellington, Saturday. "I hesitated very much before listening to the suggestion' that I should take up the position of a candidate for the leadership," said the Prime Minister elect during the course of an interview last night with a New Zealand Times representative. "I hesitated, first, because I was a junior Minister, and there wpre others in the Cabinet who had undoubtedly prior rights, and those rights I respected. Another thing was the enormous responsibility, under existing conditions, that must fall on the shoulders of the man who takes up the political load at the present moment. The whole thing was very fully threshed out, and the decision of the party was undoubtedly hearty. , TOWN AND COUNTRY. "Now that the honor and responsibility have fallen to me I shall not spare myself in endeavoring to build up the interests of this country on good lines. I hope to unite the interests of those who work in the cities with those who are engaged in securing the fruits of the earth. They are the supplement and complement of each other, and the prosperous condition of the land must react beneficially on those in the towns. Of course, although trained primarily to business, I have had to do largely with those following landed pursuits. In order to ensure the prosperity of both town and country a vigorous policy of land settlement and agricultural instruction must be pursued. Next we require to give the producer such instruction a# will enable him to get the. very best results from the soil, and to so widen the scope of production as to utilise our natural agencies in the most extensive manner. We should study the requirements of the market, the resources of competing nations, and wc should assist our producers by a sort of guide or forecast as to possibilities. LABOR'S DIRECT INTERESTS. "I am sure the new Cabinet will contain men who are deeply interested in the social and material improvement of our city dwellers and workers; and har* ing special knowledge of their conditions. I don't profess personally to have that close acquaintance with this aspect of < affairs, because in these strenuous times we can only hope to overtake a certain amount of work, and I liavc specialised in the interests associated with our country people. But having in early days gone through the vicissitudes of ! city training, I am familiar with what the workers had to undergo in my time, when hours were long, sanitary conditions absolutely unknown, and whea many were employed who received not''' remuneration for their labor." • OPINION IN LABOR CIRCLES. ; By Telegraph—Press Association. Dunedin, Saturday. Official and unofficial Labor are astounded at the choice of the leader by the caucus. They point out that absolutely nothing of a democratic naturecan be expected, from Mr. Mackenzie, whom they designate as an Individualist of the most pronounced type. They ridicule the idea of Mr. Mackenzie attempting to control leaseholders, seeing" that he is what they describe as a rabid , freeholder. They consider the appointment a "stop-gap," and believe that a deeper game is being planned behind th« screen that has been set up by SirG. Ward. , _ The general opinion in Labor circles is that Mr. Millar, although not a hot f»y»rite for the position, would be in- ; finitely superior. > Mr. MacManus, who,, opposed Mr. Sidey for Dunedin South, says that the best that could be "expected from Mr. Mackenzie wojild" be legislation of a mildly palliatijte nature as far as Labor is concerned. >He also favors the opinion that another general election is certain within a year. A DIFFICULT TASK. Wellington, Saturday Night, v Sir Arthur Guinness, who arrived in Christchurch this morning, gave a briefinterview to a Star reporter. He said %] that the Prime Minister would have a * difficult task to perform, and a great / deal would depend upon the constitution of the Ministry. If he makes a wise • 1 selection he will have a prospect of re- ') sisting a want of confidence motion. The party in the country were anxious to know the - e t xact line of policy of the Government on land settlement, native lands and mining. If he deals with these questions in a statesmanlike way he may be able to carry on. Sir A. Guinness and Mr. Craigie are the only members to come south. The others remain in Wellington.

MR. MASSEY'S OPINION. Auckland, Last Night. Commenting on the selection of the Hon. T. Mackenzie as Prime Minister, Mr. Massey asks if there is any doubt as_ to the question of whether the new Ministry commands the confidence of the majority of the House (and he says there is very serious doubt) should th« Ministry go on making the important appointments that have to be made and committing the country to expenditure and administering affairs without consulting Parliament, and if it feels so inclined without giving Parliament the opportunity of expressing its confidence in the j administration or the reverse. Mr, Massey considers the position most undemocratic, unconstitutional, and one that should not be tolerated. The member for Taranaki (Mr. H. Okey) on Saturday sent the following' wire to the Prime Minister elect:— "Accept my hearty congratulations upon your being chosen by. the party to hold the high jjosition of Prime Minister. Whilst not being on the same side in politics, I recognise the tact and ability you have shown in the administration of the departments you have held, and I trust your elevation to the high office will be in the best interests of the whole Dominion." Hon. T. Mackenzie replied as follows: "I appreciate very highly your kind congratulations. I think we caH mutually help each other in the interests of the great province we represent and also of the Dominion. Kindest regards.—T. Mackenzie."