MR. CLUTHA MACKENZIE.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 254, 25 October 1919, Page 11

MR. CLUTHA MACKENZIE.

REFORM CANDIDATE FOR AUCKLAND EAST. The selection of Mr. Clutha Mackenzie son of Sir Thonra3 Mackenzie, as official Reform candidate for Auckland East, was announced last night, after a large deputation had waited on Mr. Mackenzie at the Chamber of Commerce. Messrs. T. N. Baxter, N. Mcßobie, J. P. W. Dickson, and A. C. A. Sexton spoke in support of Mr. Mackenzie's candidar ture, emphasising, his remarkable services to the country and its soldiers, and the splendid way in which he had risen superior to the handicap of blindness suffered during the war. An address from a number of women electors was read by Mrs. Boscawen. Mr. Mackenzie, in reply, said that he' felt much honoured by the request that he should,stand for Parliament. He had made his home in Auckland, and wished to give to Auckland, and to the Dominion, whatever power for good he possessed. He was glad that they did not consider his' disability any hindrance, and lie would discountenance any attempt to electioneer for him on grounds of compassion. Respecting his adherence to the Reform party, Mr. Mackenzie said that the people of New Zealand were tired of the party spirit. He spoke disapprovingly of Sir Joseph Ward's action in breaking up the Coalition, and expressed the opinion that Mr. Massey was more sincere than Sir Joseph in his expressed wish to minimise the evils of party. He had come to the conclusion that the Reform party "was more sincerely and honestly interested than the Liberal party in the welfare of ail classes. Ths.t was liis primary reason for supporting Mr. Massey. • , i A committee wag formed to promote Mr. Mackenzie's candidature. SPEECH BY MINISTER. DEFENTE OF GOVERNMENT. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) STRATFORD, this day. Hoii. J. B. Hine, member for Stratford and Minister of Internal Affairs, opened Jus political campaign la6t night with an address in which hu supported the policy of the present Government. He said two , months ago he had hoped for continuance cf the National Government to deal with post-v;ar problems, but it was not to be. 'lie still thought people should corn-bine to settle the Government on a solid basis, ilr. Massey wanted commonsense and business rn«n returned to ■Parliament, and did notr.'demand that they should swear allegiance to himself. Sir Joseph Ward may have left the Notional Government in order to precipitate a crisis, but the crisis did not aVrivc. Practically the only difference of ppinion in the Houee had been as regards the accumulated surplus. He ■thought' the small contract system* the best for public works. He did' not mean that men should take contracts and employ labour, but that a small body of men should take a contract and share the pay. Mr. Hine went to come trouble to prove i the falsity of a statement made that Mr. Massey was responsible for the imposition of the butter-tax. When the tax" was imposed, Mr.' Massey was in England, and the tax was imposed by the- ■ National Government. When Mr. Massey returned lie saw the unfairness of the tas, and removed it. If the Government of the day had paid the difference in the price of butter out of the Consolidated Fund, well and good, but the. National Government took the course of irtfEcting a ■ penalty on haTd worked : dairy farmers. The National Government had four yeare in which to remedy the matter, but failed to do so. Mr. i Hine defended the Government policy of scttinjr aside Bums for four yeare' for education, saving the Government from the need of raiaint; loans for the purpose. Education Rhould be le3s in the direction of claesical knowledge, and more in a vocational direction; Technical schools were good, but there could be a widening of agricultural instruction. He expressed himself in favour of State-owned steamers. * •' At the conclusion of his n.idress a. resolution of confidence in the Government was passed. PATEA. Mr. *W. Morrison, Liberal candidate for Patea, addressed a meeting at Haivera on Thursday night. '. Although standing as a Liberal, Mr. Morrison said he did not favour parly politics. He maintained that soldiers should be settled on email areas on the best land. He favoured the present education system, ■ with greafer facilities in country districts. • ■ The candidate was accorded a vote of thanks. ROTOJRUA CANDIDATES.' Seven candidates are announced to contest the new Rotorua seat. They are:-r-Mes6rs. E. C. Banks, of Matamata (Reform); F. H. Hockley, of Te. Awa--1 mutu (Reform); W. C.' Hewitt, of Putaruru (Independent); Alfred Oldham, .of Rotorua (I_iberal-<Labour); M. Larney, of Rotorua; C.Tapper,of Rotorua; and P. Keoghan, of ,\Yliakatane. TAURANGA. Two candidates, tile Hon. W. H. Herries and Mr. B. C. RoT>bins, of Tauranga, are announced for' the Tauranga seat. OHIXEMURL Messrs. H. Poland, M.P., of Paeroa," and Joseph Clark, of Hamilton, are out for the Ohinemuri seat. I" _ ■ WAIMARINO. . Mr. Fred. W. Shortland, barrister, of Taumarunui, announces himself as an Independent candidate for the Waimarino I electorate, pledged to support moderate Labour. RANGITIKEI. Mr. C. H. Burnett has retired from the contest for the Rangitikci seat in favour* of Brigadier-General W. Meldruih, who is the selected candidate in the Liberal interests. WANGANUI." ' Mr. L. J. Sigley will probably be the ■Reform candidate for the Wanganui eeat against Mr. W. A. Veitch, the present I member.