THE MINISTER OF LANDS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXX, Issue 278, 23 November 1899, Page 5

THE MINISTER OF LANDS.

AN INTERVIEW,

COMPLIMENTARY DINNER

WELLINGTON, November 14

The Gothic, which arrived to-day from London, had an uneventful passage. The Hon. John and Mrs Mc-

Kenzie were among the passengers. The former is looking very well, and states that he feels on the way towards complete recovery, . having benefited greatly by the sea voyag. and rest. He received a most cordial welcome back to New Zealand. The Government steamer Tutanekai, profusely decorated with flags, met the Gothic as she entered the harbour. On board the Tutanekai were Mr Seddon and Mrs Seddon, Mr Hall-Jones, Mr Thompson, heads of the Departments of which Mr McKenzie had charge, and many private friends, all of whom gave a hearty greeting to the returning Minister.

In an interview" with a reporter of the 'Tost," the Hon. J. MoKenzie said the operation upon him had been very successful, but two days after the Gothic left Home he had been unfortunate enough to trap on deck, the fall straining the. wound. So serious was this injury that it was for some time thought that he.would.have to go ashore at Teneriffe, and remain there for some time, but the. careful attention on the part of the medical officer and the good effects of the voyage worked wonders, and he, now felt very well. He intended to have a short rest and not resume Ministerial duties until he had visited the South at the end of the week or the beginning of next. Questioned- as to his experiences at Home, he said he found great ignorance on the subject of the, colonies, and one of his regrets was that he had not more time to appear on the platform and endeavour to dispel this ignorance. At one place colonials were actually spoken of as foreigners. This he took occasion to controvert. Five da.ys afterwards, came the news of New Zealand's offer of a contingent for the Transvaal. Agriculture at Home was in a bad way, principally owiug to unsatisfactory tenure and the law of entail, short leases, and the absence of compensation for improvements. If Federation came about, and the colonies sent men to represent them in the House of Commons, there would be great possibilities for them in the way of reform. On some, of the big Scotch estates he noticed an improvement, but agriculturists were far behind the colonies in their methods and appliances. The railways were badly managed, and they could pick up a few wrinkles about time-tables in, New. Zealand; in fact, the management here was generally of a higher quality than at Home. Generally speaking, the most noticeable thing that came under his observation was the crowding of populations into towns. He thought there was no ..country like New Zealand. THE DINNER. A complimentary dinner, tendered by the .citizens of Wellington as a welcome to the Hon. J. McKenzie, on his return to New Zealand, was held in Searle's Hotel to-night. The company, which numbered 45, comprised the members of the Ministry, Mr Ward and prominent citizens. The Mayor (Mr Blair) occupied the chair. The. usual loyal toasts were houbiirech, the i "Army and Navy" being entbusiasticallj'' reeejved, to the accompanimeHt: Of '-Soldiers of the Queen,'' and "For They Are Jolly Gqpd Fellows.". In' proposing the toast of the guest of the evening, Mr Blair said he, as Mayor, on behalf of the citizens of Wellington, had great pleasure in welcoming Mr McKenzie back in improved health. He could testify from personal kno\vledge that Mr McKenzie's term of office had not been barren of good work. In fact, he could say that Mr McKenzie had done more for this province than all Ministers of Lands that had preceded him. Ife spoke. eulogisticaUy of Mr McKenzie's work as Minister for Lands, and sjaid he felt sure that after.what Mr McKenzie, had seen on his recent trip Home, he would not be inclined to go back upon his land .policy.

' The. toast was drunk with cheers for Mr McKenzie, Mrs McKenzie, and family. - . \

On rising to .reply Mr McKenzie was enthusiastically received. He said he was under a deep debt of gratitude for that evening's welcome. He had not forgotten tlic hearty send : ofr he received wheu he left Wellington on his trip, and he felt all through his journey that he had the heart of the people" of New Zealand with him in his mission. This feeling cheered him up in his hours of pain. He had no idea so many of his fellow colonists would give him such a hearty welcome as he had received yesterday, arid when he saw the Tutanekai he had no idea she had come to meet him. He was glad he had taken the trip Home, for he felt he was on his way to complete recovery, although it wonld take some little time, so his medical advisers said, to bring this about. As to what Mr Blair had said about his land policy, he said he did not wish to take much credit for the success of that policy. His colleagues and the Liberal party had been behind him, and their assistance must be taken into a'ceoupt. All he could say was that his endeavp.tjrs had been for,jlmfg-qod of his fellow colonists. Regftrrjipg his visit to the Old Country, he must say that his feelings on arrival there were mixed, because he. missed so main'*of his old friends. He met with , the greatest kindness in the Old.Country.'. He had returned to New Zealand- with the hope that he had got over his trouble, and he thought it was his duty to give his time to the people.of New Zealand as long as-they wanted him.- On resuming his seat after what was a very brief speech Mr McKenzie was warmly applauded. Dr. Findlay proposed "The Parliament of New Zealand." Mr Seddon responded. He heartily acknowledged the reception accorded to Mr McKenzie, and also thanked Captain Kidley land the officers of the Gothic for the . attention they had given to him, ou the voyage out. The thanks of the people of* the colony were also due to those at Home, who had been so kind to Mr McKenzie, and whose skill had sent him back in improved health. Referring to the Parliament of New Zealand, he said we considered it was the Parliament of the Empire. The eyes of the .world were upon it, and its work was being copied in other parts of the world. He regretted Lord Ranfurley's absence that evening, for he felt sure that had he been in New Zealand nothing would have pleased him better than to have taken part in this welcome to Mr McKenzie. The aim' of the Legislature of the colony had been to improve the condition of the people of the colony, and that it had in some measure succeeded in this was admitted.' even by the bitterest pppohents of. the 'present Government. Now that;the'social'legislation,of the Governh-.ri't.h|d'.passed' the ' ex;per3-

■mental stage and had been shown to be a success, he thought all should pull together and show the outside world thatspur enactments w _re worth copying. It had always been the aim of the leaders of the present Parliament to improve the conditions of the people of the colony, and their guest had almost fallen in that struggle for the benefit of the masses. Mr Seddon made kindly reference to Captain Russell, the leader of the Opposition, and said they would all be pleased to know that he had so far recovered from his recent severe illness as to be able to leave his room yesterda.y. In concluding the. Premier glanced retrospectively at the Parliament of New Zealand for the past twenty years, and asserted that the Parliament of to-day had not gone back at all. He resumed his seat amidst applause. Mr J. G. Ward proposed the toast of "The Municipalities of New Zealand." In doing so he made eulogistic reference to Mr McKenzie, saying that when he faced the serious operation at Home he did so with that courage which he had exhibited in his public life, in the colony.

Mr Blair suitably responded. He said it was true there was a greatfuture before the municipal reformers, •but the whole basis of municipal law would have to be altered. The present method of dealing with these matters was simply heart-breaking.

The toast of "The Trade, Commerce and Manufacturing Industries of New Zealand" was proposed by Mr Martin Kennedy, and replied to by Mr Harold Beau champ.

Mr McKenzie proposed the toast of "Captain Kidley," of the Gothic, who, he said, had been extremely kind to him on the voyage, out.

Captain Kidley suitably responded

The toast list was interspersed with song and story, and a very pleasant gathering broke up shortly before midnight.