THE PRIME MINISTER.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume L, Issue 12145, 31 December 1907, Page 5

THE PRIME MINISTER.

(Per Pi-ess Association). OHRISTCHURCH, December 30.

Sir Joseph Ward arrived direct from Auckland last evening by the H.M.S. Powerful, and, with Lady Ward, Miss Eileen Ward, and party, was entertained at dinner on the flagship, after wbich tho Prime Minister, with his family, transferred' into the Tufanekai.. which wa.s in waiting at the Heads, and proceeded direct to the Bluff. When seen in reference to the proposal to remove the capital to an inland situation. Sir Joseph said that the time had goaio past when it was possible to make any change in that direction. The whole' of the' Government Departments, including the head office of the banking institution, were located at Wellington, an.d it would bs necessary to go back into the. fastnesses of the country to discover any place that was remote from the sea border.

In ■answer to ia question, Sir Joseph paid 119 had been unable to arrange, as lio first anticipated, for bhe, Kocuiya to take a limited number of1 passengers down to the ice when towing tlie British Antarctic vessel Nimrcd. Sir James Mills had telegraphed to him stating that the Koonya had no- passenger accommodation available, besides Avhi-oh there were other reasons, such tin the necessity for taking extra stewards, -etc.. why the proposal could net be given effect to.

Th.p Prime Minister will be present at the Caledonian sports at Inverciarsill on New Year's Day. "and will attend the Bluff regnttrv on January 2nd. Ho will then proceed with his family to Stewart Island fior a short holidaiv.