TRUST THE PEOPLE

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 308, 25 June 1912, Page 7

TRUST THE PEOPLE

PKIMB MINISTER'S VIEWS. THE APPROACHING SESSION. WFLL GIVE A PAIR TO MR. lIERRIES. I am looking forward to the session with great confidence," said the Prime Minister (Hon. Thos. Mackenzie) to a Wellington Times' interviewer on Friday. "Not one member of the party that met at our conference in March lias notified rnc that he has gone back on the pledges which were so spontaneously entered into on that occasion, and I do not believe any of them will think of departing from that attitude. The situation was an extremely difficult one, and I think it will be admitted that we have improved the position of' the Liberal party in the country during the time we have held office. The feeling of the country is undoubtedly in favor of giving t)he Liberal party an opportunity of showing what, grit they are made of. "I have now been all over New Zealand, and, personally speaking, I would | be quite content to trust the people, and |so would the Ministry. We have our | work ready for the session, and considerj ing the whole position it will be admit- [ ted, I think, that we aTe proposing to ; attempt as much as can be expected. [ We, of course, are going to do our best to win, but the country need not have any anxiety or doubt regarding the way the Government is going to approach the ! situation.

"Of course, we are in the hands of the House, and Parliament will do that which it thinks right and proper. 5 will accept with equanimity whatever the decision is. We are going to do good work, and we trust that our en-' deavors will be recognised and supported. "As to the position when the House meets, all I can say is that Mr. Massey may move his want-of-confidence motion as soon as he chooses. He need not delay because of the abesnce of Mr. Herries, who lias the sympathy of all of us in his bereavement. I said some months ago when speaking in Taranaki that if I could not secure a pair for Mr. Herries I would give him one myself, and that statement still holds good. Mr. Massey, therefore, need have no apprehensions on that point. "I think the prospects of the Liberal party are undoubtedly improving, and the public mind is largely behind us. If the public mind has an opportunity of expressing itself I have not the slightest doubt as to the result. The country is Liberal and progressive, and those are the outstanding mottoes on our banner. "Yes, I have seen allegations in regard to what is termed 'too much expenditure,' but you can take it from me there are commercial men in our Cabinet who can get to the kernel of any undue expenditure that may be going on—if sueh is the case. In this respect I think the Cabinet can claim that they can be trusted as far as business and comrner- ' cial management are concerned." "Where, in vour opinion, would the | Opposition stand in regard to business management, assuming liiey gained the Treasury benches?" the Prime Minister was asked.

"Thiil". is not", for me to =ay." was the rctnvt. "If the House had to select, say, two or three business men to undertake some great commercial or financial operations, I think I can safely say the whole selection would not be confined to the Opposition. "What about a dissolution? Well, my view is that if we carry the first division we shall not have a dissolution. But if we go, then I should say it is the beginning of the end."