THE PREMIER AT WORK.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2090, 16 January 1908, Page 2

THE PREMIER AT WORK.

A BUSY MAN. HIS ONE RECREATION. (Special to Tim os). AVELLINGTON, Jan. 15. Tho Premier has been unburdening himself to the “Post” about lm> dailv round. This morning he had two'hundred .and hfty documents of various kinds to deal with bcfoio 10 o’clock. “Sufficient lor the day s tlm work thereof” w Sir Joseph s ./olden rule. lie dors not allow things to .accumulate and overwhelm him. Tho documents keep pouring in and if they are neglected for one day they roman to make the next ffav’s burden very grievous. The 1 tern ier abhors arrears. His tempciamont leads him to be prompt wud “clean down decks” each day, so tba his mind will bo free for tho morrow’s events. The things of yesteidav are not a drag-anchor on him today, and tho things of to-day will not be a shackle upon him to-morrow. “Into it” is his battle-cry, though ho does not express it that way, thoieforc when the work rises at linn lie rises at work. Two or-three times a week lie is up with tho lark, and by 6 o’clock ho is in his study, demolishing his pile of tasks. That is the beginning of a twelve or thirteen hour day of official duty, and his secretaries work with him in bir Joseph is not a slave-driver. Necessity may make him invoke assistance ea Hv in the -morning, but lie takes care that his assistants have no more than a fair share of the strenuous life. It is known far and wide that he is a most considerate employer, and lie is generous in liis recognition of tho “energy and intelligence” oi his helpmates. He squeezes in breakfast somehow, and goes to [us office at the Government Buildings at 11.30. There he is interviewed by heads of departments on important matters, which require discussing and conference before decision on them can be reached, and there are other interviews before 12.30. , 10-day Sn Jospoli was listed for 14 appointments. People from near and tar seek speech with him on ail manner of topics, which they regard as vitally important to themselves, or the country at large. Some of the persons who desire t-o approach the Premier have very crude ideas about the demand on his time. They imagine that all they need to do is to tako the ’phone, wlnspor to a secretary, and have the way cleared for conference with Sir Joseph. _ They are, of course, asking for the impossible. The Premier is booked like an express train, and can’t run into sidings. Appointments must be mado .ahead. If Sir Joseph wore ‘on tap” for all the people who wish to talk to him during official hours lie would have time for nothing else, and would oven find a long day all too brief to satisfy the demands upon him. At 1 o’clock lie escapee home for lunch, and 2 o’clock or so finds him back at his office, with an abundance of tasks awaiting him. These keep him moving vigorously till about 6.15 p.m., and then he retreats to Awariia. But the day o! work is not yet done. A secretary comes to his office at 7 o’clock, and tlioro is a bout with telegrams ano other urgent matters that have(arisen between 5 p.m. ami 7 p.m. The chief dictates replies for half an hour, and after tiiat lie has a little leisure lo look at his family if the telephone will permit him. The ’phone starts early and ends late, and it is only by a systematic attack on his tasks ihal the' Premier can hope to get any peace at all. A man who did not tackle these multitudinous duties with a clear head, would soon be struggling vainly beneath an avalanche. Sir Joseph is not a lover of night work. He believes in rising early to meet the foe and conquering it by nightfall. AVhcn ho leaves Wellington by train or steamer, -lie doe: not vary "his system of coping with his duties. The work chases him. and he has it sent after him always. His luggage includes bulky packages of papers for perusal whenever denartments are not wavbi'Mng him. When he stepped off’ tile Tulanelcui the other day three hamper: of documents which lie had been kindling came after him. Just a; the Russians look upon tho Czar a: their “little father,” so there artmany people in New Zealand who regard the Premier as a sort of fostcrparcnt, who will right all their wrongs, and help them in any difficulty! Every day the mail brings him" letters from persons who de-sire advice oil all possible and impossiblesubjects. (Some of the topics art ve-rv personal, and the answering ot them "is one of the Premier’s inns' difficult tasks. The burden of it; is heavy upon him, but it is not hewing him down. “I recognise that the life is a very strenuous one,” said Sir Joseph, * the work entailed by the position of Prime Minister is always increasing. The number -of extra departments that have been created in the general interests Of the community during the last fifteen years Ims become so great that the growth oi work is simply prodigious, and although one is assisted by active and able colleagues, who have their full share of work, yet under tln> system there, is great focussing of all classes and conditions of things upon the Premier of the day, and this cannot apparently be avoided. I recognise that a great deal more is demanded and expected from one in this position than -any one man should be called upon to do. “if there is anything good 0)i,” concluded Sir Joseph. “there is nothing T enio- more than a visit to the Opera House.” However, the stress of work lias been so great during the past six months that this pleasure has been limited to about- half a. dozen. “There is no peace,” he added. _ “That is the difficulty of the ' position—there is no peace iu the ordinary sense.”