SIR THOMAS MACKENZIE.

Dunstan Times, Issue 3464, 7 April 1930, Page 2

SIR THOMAS MACKENZIE.

AN APPRECIATION

1 1 has often been said a man can outlive his contempories and hav t o to travel a lonely road to the end —but such; cannot be said of the> statesman who passed away the other day loved by his intimate friends and appreciated by many who admired hi.s sturdy independence and sincerity, and the many sided life of usefulness he gave to New Zealand,, not the land of Jus birth, but certainly, in the best sense, the land of his adoption. Sir 'Thomas Mackenzie passed his early days in Dunedin and as a youth he spent a good deal of time with his brother .lames (late Surveyor General), and he often spoke of the isuivey of the Hangitikei Valley, which gave him a strong affection for New Zealand birds and bush. With his friends he could talk for hours of the, pleasure of camping in the bush —the names of birds and shrubs lie dealt with familiarly and with great enthusiasm. Later when in business h e found time to explore many of the mountains and fiords of Western Otago and in the search for the lamented discoverer Quinton McKinnon, lie showed his ability as an explorer and mountaineer. At the time of the discovery of the McKinnon Pass, coming from the Milford sounds side of tile mountains, he met McKinnon coming from the eastern side, and together they returned over the summit. Some years later, when McKinnon was lost, he spent weeks in trying to find him when lie was missing, but all he found was his empty boat on the shores of Lake Te Anau. Some years later he sold his business at Balchitba and was invited by the New Zealand Farmers’ Association in Christchurch to go Home to represent them in London. The burning grievance of farmers at that time (1896) was the system among London butchers of claiming compensation for damage to consignments of frozen meat and appointing each other to assess the value of the damage. Mr Mackenzie conducted a vigorous campaign against the system and a more equitable one was soon in operation. He returned to New Zealand in 1899 and with his previous Parliamentary experience from flic year 1887 to the year 1896 was I eminently qualified to be appointed i Minister of Agriculture in the Ward Administration and served from 1909 to 1918 in that capacity and was for some Prime Minister. Later he was appointed High Commissioner in London, which position he occupied during the whole of the Great War period, in which he probably did bis greatest service to the Empire. As a friend of the New Zealand troops during war time he bad few equals. His keen sense of Inn no,” did much to brighten his brief speeches to them and lie was over at the call of all who were serving I their country. No day was too long j to tire him and no' request for assistI ance was turned down. His tact and I warm interest in onr soldier sons won the praise of all who met him there. I Sir Thomas started life as an explorer. I gained high esteem as a statesman and ' High Commissioner, and behind it all I he was an indefatigable worker for and friend of the Now Zealand farmers. His first important work was as a Farmers’ agent in London, and at his death he was a director on the Board of the National Mortgage and Agency Company. I have known him as a friend .of 40 yeans standing and shared with others in Parliament the pleasure of hearing his racy speeches, his clever points and bright humor winch never touched an opponent unfairly, and his was a bright personality for a pubi lie. man. His friends were many ami he had no enemies. Peace he to’ his ashes! He left a pleasant memory and a wide field of work well done. New Zealand can ill spare such men.