THE PRIME MINISTER.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10151, 30 January 1911, Page 5

THE PRIME MINISTER.

SPEECH AT DEVONPORT.

(By Telegraph—Press Association.)

AUCKLAND, Last Night.

The Prime Minister, who arrived in Auckland from New Plymouth yesterday, addressed a largely-at-tended meeting at Devonport last night. In, the .course of his speech he said that the suggestion had

come from New South Wales concerning the possible removal of the High Commissionership of the Western Pacific to Australia. He had put the protest of his country on record, and if anything of the kind was contemplated we had a right to ask that no action be taken until he had conferred with the British authorities.

Referring to the legislation of the pasrt session, the Premier said that, under the Land Settlement Finance Act nine Associations had purchased "land to the value of over £IOO,OOO, and a number of other transactions were in course of completion. Sir Joseph Ward also referred to

the increase in the population, which he said was larger on the percentage basis, than in the Australian States. He also referred .to the increase in the value of land and improvements. as.evidence of prosperity. ■-. ' .

Referring to Mr Massey's criticisms regarding the five million loan, he said the loan had been raised on more advantageous terms than those

of other British countries recently placed on the market j and that no suggestion had been made by any British paper or financier that the

credit of New Zealand was weak. Borrowing, he said, must go on, especially as our railways were not yet completed by thousands of miles.

" Sir Joseph was accorded a vote of thanks and confidence. He will attend the dinner, in connection with the conference of the Australasian *• Institute of Mining Engineers tomorrow evening. The remainder of the week will., be' spent in a motor car tour of various country districts, extending as far as Itoto-1-ua.

Sir Joseph will deliver an address at Pukekohe on Tuesday evening.