THE PRIME MINISTER

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10688, 15 July 1912, Page 5

THE PRIME MINISTER

NOT AFRAID OF DISSOLUTION.

HE ACKNOWLEDGES COURTESIES.

(By Association.)

AUCKLAND, Last Night

The Prime Minister (Hon. W. F. Massey), who left Wellington on Saturday, came to the North as fa.r as M'angere, and spent to-day with. his famiTy. His visit was a purely private one, and, except - ! the public * business itrsmsaoted en route, Mr Mas'sey did not act in an. official capacity. He left again for Wellington . by to-night's express, boarding the train at Otahuhu. i

Ou: bis way .North, Mr Massey was deluged with telegrams of congratulations.

Speaking to a Herald reporter on th.e brain, the Premier said both sides in the House had passed through a strenuous (time ; but he must speaking generally, the members of Hihe forma' Ministerial party Md behaved very well. Specially must be mentioned Messrs T. Mackenzie and Myers, who took their defeat like mien.

Mr Massey was asked if he thought there was «t jirc'bability of a dissolution.

"A very remote contingency indeed," 'be replied, with 'a smile. "I am confident that .we have >a working majority, and that we wdJl be able to carry c:i! without the least cf difficulty. I would like to take this opportunity," Mr Massey added, "of it/hanking the people of the Dominion —I am speaking genei'ally, and not from a (party point of view—for the approval that lias bec'.r expressed with regard to the change that has ju<& taken place. /There has scarcely been : a word of adverse criticism regarding the constitution or personnel! of the new Government, and I have noticed with a great deal of pleasure th«t even newspapers which supported itlie late Government, and along wflth other papers they may be regarded as ,the mouthpieces of public opinion, are very strongly an favour of giving ms an opportunity of putting forward our policy, and of afterwards givftrg effect to it. I lf.v-1 convinced that the time ia not far distant when the people of iNew Zealand will acknowledge what /I ihave Hong contended, that 'the Reform Party and the preisent Ministry are a set cf patriotic and progressive imen|, ,who are actuated by unselnsih motives, and ithat they are men who will give their very host to the grand little country .whose public affairs they have been called upon to administer.