MR ESCOTT ENTERTAINED.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 55, 23 July 1912, Page 5

MR ESCOTT ENTERTAINED.

SPEECH BY THE PRIME MINISTER. By Telegraph—Press Association. Woodville, Last Night. i Mr. J. H. Escott, M.P. for Pahiatua, was entertained at a social here this evening. There was a large attendance of supporters from all parts of the dis- ' triqt. The following members of Parliament were present; Dr. Newman, and Messrs. Sykes, Buick, Outhrie, and Hine, arifl the Hon. W. F. Massev.

The Prime Minister in his speech said that he would not divulge their policy \ yet. It would be ready in about three werks. They intended making a specialty of land settlement, as they could serve the country best by increasing the number of producers. * They hoped to give every man who desired ft an opportunity of going on the land, and to increase the production as far as it was possible to ' do so, to give security ot tenure, to im- > prove the valuation system by exempting improvements, to introduce a better system of roading, to improve agricultural education, in which New Zealand was behind. The colony being so far off the markets it was necessary for fanners to get the best possible education. If they were able to do these things they \ would feel that they had done well the people. He denied that Sir John ' Hall, Sir Harry Atkinson, or the Hon. C. C. Bowen were Tories, and gave an illustration of their being great Liberals. They could not make the people rich or prosperous without work, but they hoped to give equal opportunities to all,, and make the chances for life better. At the termination of his speech, the Prime Minister, on behalf of the electors of the district, presented Mr. with a gold watch ' and' chain. There was great applause and ; "For he's a jolly good fellow" was sung. , .