RETURN Of THE HON. JOHN M"KENZIE.

Evening Post, Issue 117, 14 November 1899, Page 6

RETURN Of THE HON. JOHN M"KENZIE.

A HEARTY RECEPTION. A large parly of friends and relatives vent down the harbour in. the Govcrnnent steamer Tutanekei late yesterday afternoon to meet the Gothic, and welcome the Hon. John M'Kenzie, Minister for Lands, back to the colony. The party included the Premier, Honsj W. 0. Walker Minister for Education), W. Hall-Jones (Minister for Public Works), T. Thompson (Minister for Defence), and J. G. Ward, a number of ueads of State Departments, and prominent citizens. •iThe Gothic was met opposite Evans's Bay, the Tutanekei, winch was flying the code signal "Welcome Home," giving out a siren-shreik- of welcome, which was followed by shouts led by Mr. Seddon. The Gothic's deep-toned fog-horn replied. After the Health Officer (Dr. James) had boarded the direct liner, Mr., Mrs., and Miss M'Kenzie, with Mr. F. M'Kenzie (a nephew who has come to the colony .for a trip), and Mr. 0. Mewhinney (the Minister's Private Secretary), boarded the Tutanekei, where a hearty welcome awaited them all. The Minister, who had undergone a serious operation whilst in England, looked greatly improved in Health compared with his appearance when he left the colony, exactly seven months ago.- In conversation with our .representative, Mr. M'Kenzie said that his operation had been very successful, but two days after the Gothic left Home he had been unfortunate enough to trip on the deck, the fall straining the wound. So serious was this injury that it was for some time thought that he would have to go ashore at Teneriffe, and remain there for some time. But careful attention on the part iof the medical officer, and the good effects of the voyage, worked wonders, so that, as tlie Minister concluded — "Here I am back again, feeling very well !" On arrival in town, Mr. and Mrs. M'Kenzic and their daughter went out to Mr. Cameron's residence at Khandaliah, where a few days will be quietly spent. AN INTERESTING INTERVIEW. MR. M'KENZIE'S OPINIONS ON BRITISH AFFAIRS. HOME AND COLONIAL CONDITIONS COMPARED. ' It was at "Lochiel," the home of Mr. M. P. Cameron, at Khandaliah, that a' representative of the Post met the returned Minister of Lands this morning, in the midst of his family. Mr. M'Kenzie was in good spirits, and expressed Ihimself as well pleased at being back in the colony again. In answer to questions concerning his health, he said that though the London operation had been entirely^successful in removing the cause of a trouble which had for three years caused him an agony which he had hidden even from members, of his fainfly, he will for several months need to take the utmost care of himself. Before the operation the doctors had given him promise of but two more years of life — now, his life had been renewed. As to his future intentions with regard to public life, he could not say anything until he had had a brief rest, and had paid a visit to the South, which hs would probably undertake about the end of this or the beginning of next week. He would not resume his Ministerial duties until his return from the South. . It was certainly his intention to continue to serve the people of New Zealand so long as his service was required, and his health permitted. BRITISH IGNORANCE CONCERNING THE COLONIES. Tha conversation then turned upon impressions received by Mr. M'Kenzie during his visit to the Old Land, from which* ho had been absent some 40 years. Looking upon him to-day, ifc is hard to believe that no is 60 years ok age. Before leaving Scotland for i\ ew Zealand \n his youth Mr. M'Kenzie had travelled over parts of England, and shereforo had memories I of conditions prevailing in Great Britain m the fifties. On journeying through both England and Scotland again during his • recent visit, one thing which struck him with much force was the great ignorance upon colonial matters whicih' prevailed among what were considered -well-inform-ed classes. It was nob of Hew Zealand alone that little was kaowh, but of the colonies generally. Even members of the liouie of Commons- and those wha aspired to Parliamentary honours knew little of tho reforms thai, were in progress in tlie lands " ayont the seas." The Minister of Lands instanced the case of a wealthy English landowner wkoin he met, who referred to New Zealaviil as a bankrupt colony, with its large public debt. The Minister enlightened vho landowner and the company present- as to the public works which had been undertaken in the colony, pointing out that tlai railways, telegraphs, and other conveniences, which were privately owned in England , were constructed and owned by the State in the colony. If, argued the colonial, the capital value of these properties in, England were added to the national debt something like a fair comparison of the colony's position might be obtained. The trouble was that critics commented upon New Zealand's debt without taking into calculation "hafc had been done with the money. After the argument the company called upoirthe landowner to acknowledge that he was wrong in his statement that the colony was bankrupt, and he athnitted that he had not been aware that so much good work was^ being done in the colony. Mr. M'Kenzie thinks all the colonies suffer through the lack erf colonial news and information in the English and Scottish press. ENQUIRIES CONCERNING THE COLONIES. He regretted that the ten weeks of his illness prevented his devoting more time to giving information upon tho colony, most of all regretting that he had been unable to take the platform and give addresses, as thereby he could have removed many misconceptions. As i* was, ho had many enquiries about New Zealand from all parts of Great Britain, and he acknowledged the valuable help given by his private secretary (Mb*. Mewbinney) in furnishing enquirers with replies during the time he (Mr. M'Ker/zie) was in hospital. From his experience at Home he felt convinced that there "would be no difficulty in getting hundreds of people with means to come out to the, colony if land could be guaranteed to themi on their arrival, and ihe could have tajought many such people out with him. OUR PF.ODUCE AT HOME. Of course tJ; 4 e Minister gave a great deal of attention to the prospects of the colony's prod' Ace at Home, and with regard io this he said that he had made a note of certain ideas which it was his intention to place before his colleagues. He had visited parts of the country where New Zealarxl produce had never previously been seen., a,nd had been the means of getting ij introduced, especially frozen mutton, v/iich on trial the new customers had found as good as the best they had previously tasted, and cheaper in price. At one meeting at which he was present in; London the colonials were spoken of asforeigners. This greatly offended the Minuter, and in his spaaoh to tbo ftwonv

bly ho claimed Umt the colonies were an integral part of tho groat .Umpire, they wei'o ail good custoinci-s of tho Mother Landj and wore tho means of furnishing Britisher with eh&ap food. He pointed j out how insignificant Great Britain would bo without her colonies, and expressed tho opinion that some day tho population of tho colonies would bo greater than that of tho Old Country. Emphatically, he concluded, wo wero nob foreigners, but sons of the Empire, prepared to help England when help Avas needed. Fivo days later cable news was received in London of tiio offer of a New Zealand contingent for tho Transvaal. BRITISH POLITICS. The conversation here naturally turned to tho position of political parties in England. Mr. M'Kenzio .said the Conservative Party Avas on the down grade in public opinion when the South African trouble arose. The firm attitude of the Ministry met Avith a ready response from the people. "Believe me," said Mr. M'Kenzic, "England has no intention of losing a foot of her territory in any part of the Empire — that's the sentiment at Home." Want of leader* and a popular programme had greatly affected the Liberal Party, Avhich Avas in a bad way. There Avere still the tAvo well-defined political parties. In. reply to a query as to 'whether he saAV any sign of a change coming over the land, Mr. M'Kenzie replied— "No ; the only tAvo things which Avould Avork a change in Great Britain would be the nationalisation of the railAvays and of the land." 'The Minister here interjected a criticism of the English and Scotch raihvay systems, Avhich, ho declared, Avere so badly managed that upon even the best lines not one train kept its time. North of Edinburgh *his was especially conspicuous. He told the commercial gentlemen at a dinner party in London that their railway companies should send their managers to NeAV Zealand to learn a feAV Avrinkles about drawing up and carrying out a time-table. He had no hesitation in saying that railway management Avas of a higher quality in the colony than at Home. THE AGRICULTURAL OUTLOOK. Upon this subject Mr. M'Kenzie became prophetical. "If," said our Minister of Agriculture, "the present conditions prevail in the Old Country for another 40 years — as they appear to have prevailed during the forty years of my absence — agriculture will cease as an industry in Great Britain." Mr. M'Kenzie's reasons for this forecast are several, the principal being the inability of tenants to get satisfactory tenure for their holdings, v and the amalgamation of small holdings in areas Hhat are Used as deer parks by the Avealthy classes. These latter are increasing, whilst the agriculturist is a declining factor. Then the law of entail has been and still is a bar to tlie people talcing up land, and as the tenant cannot get more than a seven years' lease, and gets no compensation for improvements, there remains no encouragement for the farmer. There are endless restrictions placed upon the farmers, many oi Avhom only groAV crops to feed the landlord's deer and sheep. Of course, there are some good landlords who encourage their tenants, but they are feAV and far between. THE BURSTING-UP POLICY. Asked whether he had heard anything of New Zealand's policy Avith regard to bursting-up big estates, and the possibility of its application to the Mother Land, the Minister smiled. "Oh, no," said he, Avith a shake of his head, "they're not built such a way at Home as to even think yet of bi*eaking up the entailed lands. Some gentlemen to whom I explained our laAvs were greatly interested. At first they hardly thought the carrying out of such a law possible, but finally said that it might do very Avell for a young ■ colony, but such a /thing couldn't be done in Britain." Mr. M'Kenzio thinks that when colonial Federation came about and the colonies sent men to represent them in the House of Commons, there Avill be great possibilities for reform in the action of those broad-minded men from the lands across the waters. Then did you notice no improvement in the condition of affairs over 40 years ago? Mr. M'Kenzie avos asked. "Oh, yes,'' Avas his reply. On some of the big Scotch estates a considerable improvement was noted in the condition of the housing, the food, and the wage of the ploughmen and other fam labourers. But agriculturists Avere still far behind their colonial brethren in their methods of cultivating, the soil. Where he had expected to see the latest appliances and implements in use he saAV primitive operations. Undoubtedly, taking them all round, the colonial agriculturist is ahead of the British farmer in knoAvledge and methods. AFTER FORTY YEARS. "What were my feelings on again landing in Scotland, after an absence of 40 years V " repeated the Minister, Avith a faraway look over the Khandaliah hills. "Well, the first feeling Avas one of disappointment in finding that there were less people on the land in tho country than there Aveie in the old days. The men and women of to-day are different, too. There has been a. growth of cities and toAvns, to the detriment of the country. Emigration has taken many to the colonies, but still there is no room for the crowds which make for the cities. The condition of the crofter has been improved, but he also is noAV succumbing to the millionaire owner of deer parks, Avho does not stop at absorbing even the smallest plot of land for the enlarging of, his park. The problem with the thinkers at Home is ' What is to become of the large number of people Avho have crowded into the cities? ' These men Avere forced to the conclusion that if ever Great Britain Avas cut off from the rest of the world her people would starve." Recalling his rapid trip through America on his way Home, which country he considered: Avas greatly exaggerated and over-praised by travellers, Mr. M'Kenzie compared the condition of the people p Great Britain favourably with thos,e 'of the States. "But," he concluded, " there's no country in the world like NeAV Zealand, and glad I am to get back to it." The Minister for Lands is to be entertained at a " welcome home " dinner by a representative gathering of citizens at Searl's Hotel to-night. The Mayor will preside.

Tliero is at present an exhibition of water 1 colour sketches open :it Messrs. M'Gre^or, Wright and Co.'s which is well worth a visit from all wlio are interested in art. It consists of. some thirty sketches by Miss Isabel M. Blackett, who has been for the last few months working in l'iji. The sketches reproduce in* a faithful manner the | delicate touch and colouring of a moist tropical climate. V A reminder is given of the musical and ! dramatic entertainment to be given by the pupils of St. JFrancis Xavier*s Academy at the Exchange Hall this evening, in aid of the prize fund. James Russell, builder, of Courtenayplace, has been appointed to fill the vacancy on the Conciliation Board for the "Wellington district, The present appointment only holds goods for a brief period, as a general election is pending. If the appointment is gazetted tliig week, the Board will be called together to hear tho dispute between th« employers and the Carters and Drivers' Union. An exhibition of the theatrophone was ' thouehtfally given at the Hospital on Monday morning by the proprietor, Mr. WluteUouse, ana the patients wor« de< lighttd with tbt tnt«rtainm«nD>