MR T. MACKENZIE, M.H.R.

Evening Star, Issue 13000, 20 December 1906, Page 7

MR T. MACKENZIE, M.H.R.

HONORED AT PALMERSTON. j Tho Town Hall at Palmerston was eiowded to the doors last night, when the support eie of Mr T. Miokcniiie, M.H.R., [ honored him at a. social. Mr B. W. Fell, ' Mayor of Waikouuiti, presided. Among those present an the platform were Mrs and Mies Mackenzie, the Hon. T. Y. Dimcan, Messrs Jas. Allen, M.H.R.. Donald Reid, M.H.R., H. S. Orbell, D. W. Wylio, I A. Goodlcy, S. Woolley, J. Sloan, J. Kendall, J. Maxwell, G. Livingstone, W. I Nicholson, W. Souter, and M. Cohen. The . Minister of Lands (Hon. R. M'Nab) ar- , rived by goods train at 7.50. The Chairman said that this was one of ' tho most notable gatherings ever held in I'ahnorston. Tho presence of the members of Parliament attested the esteem in I which Mr Mackenzie was held in the House. It appeared that Waikouaili clec- . toratc was eocn to become a thing of the. pa&t." It was to be. cut up into small pieces, and the very name Wnikouuili, with „ all its historic associations, wad to bo dis- ; raided alto**.her. That, he was sun-, was .;v thing to be regretted. But, whatever changes there might be, he ivts tonuueni j that all would agree that Mr Mackenzie's j j services would not bo lost to the colony.— (Applause.) Tho Hon. T. Y. Duncan said that ho would have travelled far indeed to be present at this function in honor of Mr Mackenzie, who for twenty years had served the people of tho colony so zealorslv and disinterestedly. Had some of Mr Mackenzie's proposals as member for Clutha, been carried, tho colony would havo been i s;tve<l many hundreds of thousands of pounds. .In this connection he mentioned !Mr Mackenzie's Califomian Thittle Bill. j Mr Mackenzie always spoke Ills' mind, and ' strenuously advocated tho claims of his 1 district, and what he believed to be in tho i heal interests of the colony. There war, ! hardly a member of Parliament who was | more" popular with his colleagues, and all i would be fony if ho failed to rind a seat—(Applause.) But he was sure that this wuuld not be. Mr Mackenzie had been of the greatest service to the House, and no man had better acquaintance with country needs than ho had.—(Applauses.) Mr W. Duke, an ex-chairman of the County Council, made a 'humorous speech, in the course of which ho said that Mr Mackenzie, though a hard fighter, was a fair fighter, and could be relied on to do ]>'<> share in Parliament towards maJon.g New Zealand a great country.—(Applause.)

Mr Uas. Allm, .u.H.il., alter tn.o.ijxiug of his bug knowledge of Mr Mackenzie., said that they had both gone into the House in 1887. a year in which there were such convulsions, when they were cent into the House to do their duty, and ho believed that what was then done had laid the foundations of Now Zealand's success. He recalled happenings of those days in Parliament, avoiding actual politics as much as possible. He spoke of Mr Mackenzie's value to the House, especially sice his experience in England, and of tho important positions he had held—positioiu that generally went to Government members. These. things attested Mr Mackenzie's ah Lt-ies, and he was ture that though they might wipe out Waikouaiti they would never wipe out Tom Mackenzie. He expressed strong dsapproval of the principle of cutting up sparsely-populated electorates and perhaps losing "tho services of valuable representatives. Ho was glad that this honor was being dono to Mr Mackenzie, who had always been noted by other member? as one who nicvt strongly "arid earnestly advocated the claims of hu district. Mr Donald Reid, M.H.R., spoke of Mr Mackenzie's peculiar wisdom and jiuiess as the representative of a country electorate. H>. hoped that tho proposed effaoement of Waikuuait-i would not moan his removal from Parliament.

The. Hon. Mr M'Xub expressed his pleasure in being able to share in this tribute to Mr Mackenzie, with whom he had been long associated, they having once represented adjoining electorates. He (the speaker) was glad that he had been able to be present and express personally and as a. Minister hi.s appreciation of Mr Mackenzie. Ho was sure that if he could have managed it the Premier would also have keen present; but it was an awkward time for Ministers' io get away from Wellington. There was a great deal in common between this and his (Mr M'Nab's) tnvn electorate. They were both country con. tituenc es. It was* of the utmost importance that such should be represented by men who had the interests of country lite at heart, and would try to keep the country people from flocking to the towns, and to induce others to go upon tho land. He characterised the life of the farmer as the noblest profession in the land. He felt sute that, whatever might be said of other country districts, this one had been very fortunate in the honored names that had been boruo by its representatives. There was none more honored than that of Mackenzie. He expressed his confidence in the future that lay before. Mr T. Mackenzie. Country districts stood by their repre. entatives longer than town electorates did, and the consequence was that when the struggle came for the places of .honor in the land the country repre cntative generally had it all his own way. He thanked the promoters of the gathering for giving him the opportunity of being present. The humor of the audience was hero made manifest by tho fact that they encored Mr M'Nab's speech, tt tiling wnich he had quizzically cited as a most improbable happening nr. such a gathering. Mr 11. S. Orbed then rose to make a presentation to the guest of the evening, il-.! spoke of Mr Mackenzie's merits as a politician and as a man, and cited the presence of the Minister, members of Parliament, and representative people from all parts of the electorate as evidence of the esteem in which ho was held. Touching on tho proposed alteration of electoral boundaries, he said that they of Waikouaiti did not want a lot—they wanted to be left alone. At present they were a country constituency, able to elect whom they chose as their representative (and they were proud of tho preseu-t one), aud if the members of Parliament present would lend their assistance in he'ping (hem to retain their present status they would win the thanks and respect of all the Waikouaiti people. lie spoke of Mr Mackenzie's peculiar fitness for the position he iiftld. touched on the electorate's record in the matter of parliamentary representatives., and presented Mr Mackenzie with a handsomely illuminated address aud a gold albert chain, together with n gold watch and chain for Mrs Mackenzie and a gold bangle for Miss Mackenzie, who acted as her father's secretary iu the election campaign. The address, which was lopped by a photograph of Mr Mackenzie himself, was inscribed as follows : Thomas Mackenzie, Esq., M.H.E. Dear sir.—On behalf of tho electors of Waik.uaiti, we, the- undersigned, desire to express our appreciation of your services as representative of this electora-to in Parliament for six years. During your political career you have always acted conscientiously, without fear or favor, in the best interests of your constituency and the colcny of New Zealand as a whole. The interests of town, country, and mining of your constituency have always received your best attention, and the people of the colony of New Zealand are socially indebted to you for the interest you have taken in the matter of agriculture and education. We ask you to accept this address, and tho accompanying gifts for Mrs and Miss Mackenzie, with the best wishes of the subscribers, as a small token of the high respect and esteem in whicli you are personally held, and of tho liearty appreciation that is felt of your services as representative of this constituency in Parliament." Appended to the address were the following signatures :—A. D. Bell, B. W. Fell, A. Goodley, Archibald Gillies, Louisa Ireland, A. Kilpatrick, Edward Lalev, Thomas Muir. J. Maxwell, W. I. Nicolson, Marion Robertson, Samuel Woolley. The presentation was followed by * Jolly Good Yellows ' and cheers. Mr W. Nicolson (Mayor of Hampden) added his tribute to tho general praise of Mr Mackenzie, and said ho hoped that every soul in the electorate would protest strongly against the proposed alteration of the boundaries., adding that if the .

liUo Sir John M'Kenzie were alive it would never bo allowed. Their interests and those of Oamara were distinct and different, and he protested against the proposed change,—(Applause.) Mr M. Cohen spoke of Mr Mackenzie's services to the cause of education and of his good work in sturdily making himself heard in defenco of the interests of Otago. He was glad to see Mr Mackenzie thus and was sura that, wherever his political lot might be cast, he would always worthily uphold fcho interests of those he represented, as ho had done in the past. Mr Mackenzie, in returning his sincercst thanks to those who ha<l dono him this honor, spoke in the warmest terms of the qualities of the Hon. T. Y. Duncan, who, lie said, was beloved in the Houso in his day. He referred to old associations with Mr Duke, and*, taking different speeches for cue, touched Huhtly on reminiscences of humor. Ho tlvanked the people of Waikocaiti for their gifts, expressing his special gratification at the recognition of his wife, though she was not in any sense- a political woman. This was the first occasion on which she had heard a public ' speech of his or had been present at. a social; yet to her he owed his career. She had borne- lonjr absences and the care of a family, and tho results of her fortitude were seen in hor children. When public men got such encouragement as this (which was far beyond his deserts) there was nothing they would not do for tho good of the land. They had their dark Imttrs, and sometimes tliey felt suoh criticisms as camo occasionally. But when he 6aw old friends , coming from all parts to pay him this com- J pliment lie appreciated it wffch all his • heart. Touching on tho boundaries ques- | sfcm, he said that the Commissioners were ' powerless—it was tho law that needed altering. There was a change coming in tho colony. When he went into Parliament there"were thirteen country electorates and fivo city ones. Now the representation of city and country was about equal. Tho further away from tho seat of government tho greater" should bo tho representation, because the country people had not tho "button-holing" opportunities of those near tho seat of government. Yet tho number of Wellington members bad been increased, while there had been a dccrciso in the far south. Tho gentleman who stood for Clutha would now have to speak at sixty places and have sixty polling boot lis. Was representation to depend on physical power or mental ability? He believed that Sir John M'Kenzie woilkl have been alive to-day had it not been for this pernicious tampering with country electorates. He referred to the contests of the past, and asked if representation was to ha made to mean the putting up of good men against one another to destroy one another. Next session they must insist 0,1 a. cliangc. Let them have community of interest, and lot those far-reaching districts have a member for fewer people. Let them I have allocation with a view to community of interest, and let not population be the main factor. Though he felt that some of tho speakers had exaggerated his own qualities, he could claim to ha\-e fearlessly ex- i pressed his views as ho believed to be | right. He had never held his tongue when j ho believed that the cause he advocated was righteous, and in this way he had t made enemies.—(Applause.) But there were friends who would stand by him if lie did right, and if the public valned his services he would respond. If not he would retire from public life. —(Cries of "No, no.") This perpetual change in the cities was not improving their representatives. Ho counselled electors to encourage their representative, nml not carp at him. If ho did right in the total, keep him in, and if ho did wrong in the total, put him out. Wherever his future lot might be cast it would afford him tho greatest satisfaction to be of service to the people of Waikouaiti.—(Applause.) Supper followed tho speeches, a dance followed tho supper, and there, were sounds of revelry- till tlje small hours. Several musical items brightened the programme.