POLITICAL

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 304, 20 June 1912, Page 5

POLITICAL

THE PRIME MINISTER. By Telegraph—Press Association Auckland, Last Nigtl, > The Prime Minister visited Albany today. In his speech he referred to the complaints made by Mr. Massey that Ministers .were neglecting their work in travelling about the country. "Let him say," said Mr. Mackenzie, "that not a single particle of 'their work was neglected." In the launch that morning he had dealt with over 100 letters. Hi? departmental work followed him and was executed in the train. As a matter of fact, owing to the absence of the unending interruptions experienced in Wellington the work was disposed of with greater dispatch when away. In answer to a statement that the Government had no policy, the Prime Minister pointed to his policy for making large landowners disgorge for the benefit of closer settlement, and declared that Mr. Massey and the Conservative section he stood for were so alarmed at the Government's proposals that the leader of the Opposition had hastily beaten the big drum and rallied half-a-dozen of his supporters to hurry on his (Mr. Mackenzie's) heels, and, if possible, nullify any effect he might have had- on the people.

AN OPTIMISTIC MEETING. Dargaville, Last Night. Messrs. Massev, Fisher and B radii ey addressed a public meeting to-night, criticising the Government and outlining the Reform policy. A resolution was enthusiastically carried "that this meeting thanks Mr. Massev and his colleagues for their able addresses, records its appreciation of Mr. Massey's long up-hill fight in the Opposition, and congratulates him on tlie assured prospect of attaining office in the near future."