MINISTERIAL

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 302, 18 June 1912, Page 5

MINISTERIAL

PRIME MINISTER OPTIMISTIC. By Telegraph—Press Association. Whangarei, Last Night. The Prime Minister concluded his northern tour to-night by addressing a large audience in the Drill Hall on the lines of his recent remarks elsewhere. He expressed a firm conviction that if he had the opportunity of appealing to the country the Party would go back with a majority of eight or tas. THE HON. G. W. RUSSELL. SPEECH AT PORT CHALMERS. THE ROYAL COMMISSIONS. Dunedin, Last Night. The Hon. G. W. Russell addressed a public meeting of about ISO persons at Port Chalmers this evening. He dealt with the political history of the past 25 years, and referred to the Liberal Party as having during the past 21 years developed a steady policy tliat could he seen in its legislation. At last election the. party 'had become nearly balanced, which he attributed to bad organisation, bad management, and the attacks made upon Sir Joseph Ward by the Conservative press. P.: (erring to the accusations made against Mr. Payne and Mr. Robertson of having broken their pledges, he said that Mr. Payne and Mr. Robertson had been returned pledged to support the Liberal party, and had since pledged themselves to abide by the decision of the caucus and follow whoever was selected leader. Now Mr. Massey was hoping that these men would go over to his side, and so break two solemn pledges that they had made. There was no one going to do it. The speaker replied at some length to press criticism, and justified the setting up of three Royal Commissions. It was possible that the Civil Service Commission would save the Dominion £50,000 or £IOO,OOO a year, besides providing the Government with suggestions for the better working of the service in future. The Cost of Living Commission would ascertain where the remissions of customs duties granted for the benefit of the people some years ago had gone, and if it was ascertained that trusts had kept these from the people the duties could be re-imposed, and some other means found to give the benefit to the people. As a result of the inquiry the Government would send to gaol, if necessary, the men who had created these uiilh''v trusts. The Education Commission w'uld, no doubt, produce an illuminating report. It might reduce the expenditure, but that did, not matter if the education of the people could be improved, A unanimous vote of thanks and confidence was carried.