SCOBIE M'KENZIE SPEAKS

Grey River Argus, Volume LVII, Issue 10271, 29 April 1899, Page 4

SCOBIE M'KENZIE SPEAKS

[per press association], \ : Dunedin, April 27". '■ Mr Scobie McKenzie addressed; a j crowded meeting of electors at the J Agricultural Hall tonight, the mayor presiding. He paid that the work ojE la t session resolved itself into passing; the Old Age Pension Act, but he' declared that the problem of old age; pensions had yet to be fought in Nevir Zea'a- d. Tbei c was a fatal flaw in Ih'e* present Act;. A man who squandered his means received a pension which, was denied to ihe thrifty. The Marine; Department scandal would be a dis-' grace to a South American, republic, or even to China. The most odious; thing about it was a Minister saving; his own hlcin at the expense of the ; unfortunate victim. Civil servants »

dared not refuse to subordinate duty to the will of Ministers, who had turned a stream of moral sewage under the foundations of the constitution which was corrupting and demoralising everything with which it came into contaco. He declared that the principal Government supporters had no confidence in a Government whose policy was one of concealment and evasion. The colony had been demoralised by a few jingling catchwords. He believed that th.c present condition, of affairs would have to work its own cure. A vote of thanks and confidence was carried with only one dissentient.