The Prime Minister

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 254, 25 March 1914, Page 5

The Prime Minister

HJS WEST COAST AND SOUTHERN TOUR

A GLADDENED AND HOPEFUL POLITICIAN. By Telegraph—Press Association. Christehurch, Last Night. After a very fine tour through Westland, the Prime Minister arrived at Cliristehtirch Uiis evening, having left Ilokitika (his mornng. Everywhere on the coast the reception accorded Mr. Massey was excellent. Hospitality was of the true- VYcst Coast type, and efery opportunity was taken throughout the trip to show Mr. Massey the possibilities of development latent in the district. This was greatly appreciated by Mr. Massey, and convinced him that the Coast had a great future, especially in the direction of dairying, which would lie in ; the hands of the people themselves to realise,

Interviewed by a reporter, the Prime Minister expressed himself as delighted with the reception accorded him on the Coast, "No man" he said, "could have had a better reception than I received at every centre that I had an opportunity of visiting. So far as the political position is concerned, while I am not prepared to say that every elector in Westland is now a supporter of the Reform Party, I 'am prepared to say this, that the people of Westland now under* stand that the present Government is not the Government of reactionaries that many of them have been led to believe, but a Government that is thoroughly progressive, really Liberal and democratic, and one that is anxious to promote in every possible way the development'of the country. lam only sorry that I was not able to give more time to the West Coast. As a matter of fact, I had intended being with them on the. occasion of their jubilee, and then going on through South Westland into Otago, but a somewhat severe indisposition from which I suffered for a few weeks interfered to a certain extent with my plans." Votes of confidence in the Government 1 i:ul been carried at every meeting addressed by him, said the Prime Minister, with the exception of Nelson. There was no doubt, however, that there the motion would have been forthcoming l had it not been for the interference at) that stage by the member for the district.

Mr. Massey arrived from his trip very much benefited in health, although even vet he is not quite restored to normal, but lie is rapidly "picking up." To morrow the Primo Minister will receive deputations on the subjects of the Midland railway and a daily service with " the Coast, and one or two other matters, On Thursday lie leaves for Dunedin, where he wi'l a few days. On Mondav he will visit Moa Flat and spea-k at Tapanui in the evening. On * Tuesday evening lie return? north, and spenks at Fairlie in the evening. On Wednesday he passes through Christchurch on his way to Wellington .