MR. M'KENZIE'S POSITION

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 90, 16 April 1923, Page 8

MR. M'KENZIE'S POSITION

01^ BEHALF OF MR. ''. , ;-' .' WRIGHT r *. Speaking.':at on Saturday (Slight, Councillor B.\ M'Kenzie again re-f-forr.ed to Mr.;-Wrigbt's;.;position- and his Town, in regard to .the; Mayoralty. He that two years ago Mr. Wright's had approached his' trustee, 'the late Honi J. G. W. Aitken, and he .used his influenoe .with him in order to get a straight : out fight' with Laborir, :»hd tho implied. understanding that Mr. KWright should: stand down for him on this occasion. Influence was again being used, and a deputation waited upo"n him ,jl4st week, when'it was thought that such /aj promise could be put on paper. Mr. ' ii'Kenzie drew attention to the fact, that <Mr. Wright had already made a comj,pact with Mr: Mitchell, and he was again 'facing both ways.. Further, in conver'eation with two staunch Reform support- , ere that, day,, they made it clear that ( they fully realised The set that had turnred against Mr. Wright, and expressed /the hope that Mr. Wright would retire, jand felt that Mr. M'Kenzie had. a better I chance of dividing the Labour vote than (-Mr. Wright, who was unpopular with +he working public. They also said it ;/would; be a disaster to the party, and (trusted they would be able to get him i (withdrawn. '■--■ -' ■ Mr. M'Kenzie justified the purchase iof the Homebush Estate, and trusted j,ihat General Richardson's scheme for Whe erection of baths for the district wrould go on now that the Corporation <jhad set aside the land. He had heard [there would bo opposition to the loan for ftwater and drainage, chiefly on account of fihe increase in rates. He showed how, *t Day's Bay,, the residents paid £2 per [annum for water alone, without drainage, and were pleased to do it. He /counselled his': hearers to support the loan--1 On the motion of Mr. A. Griffiths, secfended by Mr. Bevan, Mr. M'Kenzie tvas accorded. a vote of thanks and confidence.-:- - /j