THE PRIME MINISTER

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 10713, 18 November 1912, Page 5

THE PRIME MINISTER

BANQUETTED AT PUKEKOHE! AN ENTHUSIASTIC GATHERING. (By Telegraph.—Press Association . AUCKLAND, Last, Night. A banquet was tendered the Prime Minister on Saturday night at Pukekohe by the local branch of the Political Reform League. The Ministers present were the Hons. Rhodes and Pomare, and the following members of Parliament were also present: Messrs Harris, Young, Statham, Bradney, Mander, R. L. Bollard and Dickson. Tho Hon. W. F. Maasey received an ovation when he rose to reply to the toast of his health. It was," he said, a pleasant feeling to be among his friends and constituents after a strenuous session, he did not refer to its length or to the amount of legislation that had been passed. But they had to remember that the Reform Party had come into power after the .session commenced, and' had only a three weeks' respite to prepare its financial and policy statements and then had to learn the ins and outs of the offices. The loyalty of the Franklin electorate had been a very great factor in placing the party in the position it now found itself,'. and he thanked the electors for the way they had adhered to him. Mr Massey then gave a short review of the session's work, referring specially to the fact that both houses had affirmed the principle of the reform of the Upper House into an elective body. Tho nio'it iir-iortant measure before the last Parliament was tho Land Bill. Under the new proposals 2.000.000 aWos of Crown lands would be affected, and 8500 settlers would become, as it were, emancipated i r they chose to take the opportunity t<acquire the freehold of their sections. He believed when the Land Bill was: put on the Statute TVok it vmilrllr good for every man whether he lived in the city cr on the land.- The dearest wish of his *ud himself was tlint tho-- wnu'-' nhl? to ininrovo tho country, and .do something for the pooplo. c-io o ~|,-q ivpi-o r,w rr'voT by the Her«. Rhodr.s and Pomare, and member* '-f Pa'-lia-n""* present. Tho orcooedino"; "Ti" 1 of r most enthusiastic nature throughout.