THE PREMIER UP NORTH.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 272, 23 April 1914, Page 5

THE PREMIER UP NORTH.

COURTING "CINDERELLA."

By Telegraph—Press Association. Ohaeawai, Last Night.

The Premier opened the Kaikohe branch of the railway, of 17 miles, today at Kaikohe. Mr. Massey said the line wag of the greatest importance to the development of the north, as it would ultimately link the WhangareiKawakawa section of the railway with the North Auckland Main Trunk line." The Premier spoke of the need of railways to fully develop the north, which in the past had been looked upon as the Cinderella of New Zealand, but now was realised to l>e a productive area suitable for close settlement.

SIR JOSEPH WARD RETURNS

AND GETS TO WORK.

Wellington, Last Night. Sir Joseph Ward to-day gave an emphatic denial to a statement by the Premier in a speech at Whangarei last night, ini reference to the action of the Opposition on the Second Ballot Act Repeal Bill last session. Mr. Massey said, "The stonewall was set up, but was quelled when the Opposition got to know that he (Mr. Massey) intended to ask for a- dissolution; which they did not want."

"The position," said Sir Joseph Ward, "was that we were stopped by the guillotine being applied by the Chairman of Committees. The fear of a dissolution never arose, so far as the Opposition was concerned. In the first place, it is very questionable whether a dissolution could have been obtained, and in my opinion it would have been unconstitutional if one had been granted. The question of the repeal of the Second Ballot had never been before the country without a substitute of a system of majority ,rule in its plea, and in any case the Opposition were not afraid of a dissolution at the time referred to, anymore than they are now."