TAMMANYISM.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1125, 12 May 1911, Page 4

TAMMANYISM.

"SPOILS TO THE VICTORS." A MINISTER'S BLUNT ADMISSION. THE MEASURE OF "MERIT." Some remarkable and significant admissions concerning the Government's policy in the treatment, of different, districts in the matter of railways authorisation were made on Saturday night at Opunake by the Hon. K. M'Keiuie. The occasion, a banquet at which Mr. M'Kenzio was the gue*.-, is reported at considerable length in the "llawera and Normanby Star" of Tuesday, May 'J. Our account of the incident is taken from the "Star's" roport. The chairman, Mr. M. J. Brainan, in proposing Mr. M'Kenzie's health, referred to the fact that Messrs. Carroll and T. Mackenzie had visited the district, and went on to say that "the visit of Mr. R. M'Kenzio had been more especially looked forward to," since he was Minister for Public Works, and "Hie visit imbued them with great hope that «they would not appeal for the railway in vain." In replying, the Minister said that "probably they were anxious to see if tho friends of the Liberal party could make more impression on him than the. other side, but they did not care two straws about political parties in tho matter of granting the public money. He always acted straightforwardly and dealt fairly." Ho went on to say: "They send members to represent (hem whose policy was to stop tho Government borrowing. H was their fault for returning them if they did not get a railway. If you wish to develop you must borrow. If you require roads and railways, .send men to Parliament who will vote for borrowing." After some further remarks, Mr. M'Kenzio referred to demands for railways where there was Utile settlement, and added: "In Opunake the case is different! you arc more closely settled. I am quue "certain from New Plymouth to Opunake a railway is warranted. . . In this line from New Plymouth to Opunake I will help you. ... It is ono of the first railways'that has a. claim on taxpayers. . . . It 'is the first branch railway that, should be made as it must bo profitable. (Ap-' plane)." ~.,-. Mr. Hive tthe membor for the district, and a member of the Opposition) also spoke, and said "he expected the railway would be started between the election and the year after. That was practically confirmed bv the Minister at Auroa. Tho chairman said "it was the best news thev had heard for some time that the Hon". M'Kcnzie considers it should be one of the fiivt lines in New Zealand to be started." . , , i Mr. M'Kenzio spoke again later on, 1 and, as the •"Star" reports, he "pointed out that he had promised nothing except that tho railway deserves 'to be put first on tho list of branch railways, and also his assistance as tho district merits it, as tho railway will be self-supporting. But [he continued] von send members to .tho House who slate us for borroiviiiff and squandering, to which I object, as ] am looked on as a man who looka after the ratepayers' interests. . . . We r.imiol; borrow if you stop us.. AVe nrc prepared to give you a. railway in two years if you do not stop borrowing. 'Tho late lion. R. J. Sedtlon told you if you apply t.ho brake vou will go behind, and if yon do not." support us you must go without, your railway. ... If you belong to (he stagnation party you must go without your railway. People who vote for iis, I am with them." The chairman, it is not surprising to read, said "he could not quite make out the lion, gentleman."