THE PATRIOT M'KENZIE.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 8991, 2 January 1895, Page 4

THE PATRIOT M'KENZIE.

Ode local morning contemporary is naturally a little embarrassed over the nepotism of " its ~pet administrator, the Hon. John M'Kekzie. Writing of the first catalogue of appointments made by this gentleman, which we published on it naively re marks that " the list, it must be ad- " micted, is a -rather formidable one. a It includes the names of two sons " and three nephews of the. Minister, " as well aa the names of a score "of gentlemen who are variously "described aa fupporters, sons "of supporters, and .distant re- *' lativea by marriage*" As we

published yesterday a supplementary list as long as the first, and as both fail to exhaust the total, oar contemporary will probably find the situation increasing in embarrassment. It urges, however, that ie has not been proved that the persons appointed by Mr. McKeszik are not in every way admirably fitted for their posts. "No " One," it pathetically urges, " will " maintain that) a son is incapable of 11 being a very valuable assistant) to " his father, or that a Liberal elector " should be disqualified from taking <c service under a Liberal Ministry." Finally, it; assumes that the only objection to Mr. McKbszib's administration is that "it has discovered "talent which from the Opposition "point of view is not of the right) * political colour." Now this is all very delightful, only we canuot quite understand what our contemporary is so distressed about.. Why apologise for Mr. McKenzie? We never attacked him. How could we ? How could we attack the paternal pride which sees such merit in his eons? How could we blame him for coming from such a talented family, that not only those sprung from his loins, but hia nephews and cousins, even to the third and fourth remove, are found to be born administrators, without whom the public service of this country cannofc be carried on ? How can we condemn him from unearthing in the remote recesses of Shag Valley such an astounding abundance of hitherto unexpected genius ? If a man who makes two blades of grass grow where only one grew before is a benefactor to his country, what shall be said of the patriot who brings to light a perfect horde of great intellects whoae existence was never so much as dreamed of before? How could we condemn such a man 1 Of course we never did auything of the kind. All that we implied was that there were bounds both to the Civil Service of New Zealand and to the taxable capacity of ita inhabitants, while Mr MoKenzib's ability for finding out genius among his relatives and friends was evidently entirely without limits. Of course we are bound to provide for as many of them as we can, but there must come a time when Qovernment Buildings can hold no more. We grieve, too, for Shag Valley, in imminent danger of being entirely emptied of its "bone and sinew." It would be a shame to see so fair a district, with such a euphonious name, converted into a howling waste. True, the Civil Service is crying aloud for its shepherds and ploughmen to come and save the country from ruin, but we would let it clamour. We canuot sacrifice everything even to the Civil Service.