POLITICIAN'S DEATH.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 240, 10 October 1934, Page 10

POLITICIAN'S DEATH.

HON. RODERICK McKENZiE,

FORENSIC BATTLES RECALLED.

(By Tclejjrnpli.—Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, this day. Some of the greatest forensic battles that have ever taken place in Parliament are recalled by the death of the Hon. Roderick McKenzie, which occurred yesterday. Mr. McKenzie was Minister of Public Works and Mines in the Ward Cabinet of 1000 to 1912. He occupied a scat in the House from 1894 to 1914, and during that time was conspicuous for his forcible methods in debate. "Red Mac," as he was known, had many an entertaining verbal duel with "Black Mac"—Sir Thomas Mackenzie. Mr. McKenzie was never more vigorous, perhaps, than during the closing of the debate in the small hours of the morning of July <>, 1912, when he focused his remarks on some of the other leaders of the Liberal party. The result of that memorable debate was the unseating of the Mackenzie Government —sometimes called the "Stop-Gap

Ministry"—and ended the 21 years' term of office of the Liberals. McKenzie's speech, which was liberally interspersed with cutting criticism, was the last of its kind that he delivered in Parliament, for at the next election he had to give way to a Reform candidate. Born in Rosshire, Scotland, in 1852, Mr. McKenzie was educated at the Glasgow Academy. On the completion of his school career lie entered the service of the London and Glasgow Enginering Company. Later he went to Canada, but the year 1809 saw him in New Zealand. He took part in mining life in Otago for a time, and then went into business on the West Coast of the South Island as a bridge-building contractor. He sat as a member of the Westport and Nelson Harbour Boards for some years, and was returned to Parliament in 189.3, defeating Mr. Eugene O'Connor, "the Buller lion." He captured the Motueka seat three years later, and j held'it for the remainder of his Parliamentary career. He was defeated in 1913 by Mr. R. P. Hudson. In August, 1900, Mr. McKenzie was elected Chairman of Committees of the House, and after the general election of 1908 he joined the Ward Government as Minister of Public Works and Mines. He also took over the Department of Roads and Bridges, and wliep the late Sir George Fowlds (then Mr. Fowlds) retired from the position of Minister of Customs, he took charge of that portfolio. He continued as a Minister until the collapse of the Ward Cabinet after the elections of 1911. He would have nothing to do, however, with the Mackenzie Government, which was then formed. After his retirement Mr. McKenzie resumed business as an engineer and contractor. In December, 1932, when he was SO years of age, he emerged once niore to contest unsuccessfully the seat in a by-electiou.