MINISTER'S CANNIE POLICY.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1154, 15 June 1911, Page 4

MINISTER'S CANNIE POLICY.

STRINGING THEM ON. A curious reply was made by the Hon. T. Mackenzie yesterday to a deputation which asked for a post office at Seddon, in tho Marlborough district. The deputation comprised .Mr. J. Duncan, :M.t'. (Wairoa), and Mr. C. Ferguson, of Blind Hiver. Mr. Duncan said that a larger deputation would have waited on tho Minister had a longer notice been possible, and the railway time-table suitable. He handed a petition to the Minister signed by 130 settlers in the town of Seddon and the district of tho Awalcie. "The matter," Mid tlio Minister, "was before me some months ago, and I then came to a conclusion as to what should bo done. 1 find it unsafe, in view of tho distortion for political purposes that are being made of Ministers' replies, to say more than that it will bo considered when the Estimates are dealt with. "Take the other day at Clutha," continued the Minister, "when deputation.! waited upon me regarding certain matters. One was the construction of a new rail way, and the other tho crection of a bridge across the Pomahalca River. Regarding the railway, 1 said that all over the country, deputations Jiad been waiting upon me with requests for new railways, and to all I have given the samo reply, viz.: that, if the severo criticisms which have been levelled against the Government were a reflex of the public mind regarding borrowing, then, personally, I was not in favour of starting any new railways. Regarding the bridge, however, I said that I would be glad to assist, and to represent the matter to the Cabinet, and what did Mr. Allen distort my reply into? Ho said, speaking at ICaitangata a night or two afterwards, and referring to my renly regarding the railways, "Tho Minister, in effect, said that if the people wished to get tho railway they must put out tho Opposition member. Giving votes for roads and bridges was a most insidious manner in which to inlluenco an election. Surely," continued Mr. Mackenzie, "Mr. Allen must have though* l that the peonle in that part of the conntry were bereft of ordinary intellinpne#. bpc«yi.<e he was speakine in the contra of three Opposition districts (including Mr. Allen's), and they are all li"vin7 railway works pusli°d on there—one in particular with vigour—and of this railway 11 am a strong advocate. Now, were I to promise you the, post office, I wnu,d nrob?.blv be v o,T rmlprl as trvin<* to bribe (he people, and if I refu« T shali b» ' oiiitT so ljpcniisn you are on-nosed to lis! ho the best renlv T can make is (hat th» erection of „ n os t office at P«rldon will be considered when the Estimates arc being prepared.