MR. McKENZIE'S SPEECH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8583, 3 June 1891, Page 5

MR. McKENZIE'S SPEECH.

[BY TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Wellington, Tuesday. The chief topic of discussion here to-day is the Hon. M«f McKenzie's speech at Waibaki. On general lines ib is considered a success. It is remarked that what ib contains in regard to the Government policy is nob new and not specific as bo details. Ib is pointed out that the Minister of Land gave to his auditors no indication of the direction or extent of the alteration in the incidence of taxation. The native land policy is also a matter of immediate local concern, and no additional information was vouchsafed on thab point. If the Minister of Lands should answer that these are matters wholly in the hands of the Premier ahd the Native Minister there is nothing more to be said, bub the fact thab the Hon. Mr. McKenzio'a speech at Waitaki is regarded hero in the light of a defence of his administration of the Land Department and the part he took in the general retrenchment of the civil service. The supporters of the Government look upon his speech upon these two questions as a triumphant answer to outside cavil. His answer to bhe chargos made againsb him I by Mr. Spence, Jate Crown Lands Commissioner nb In vercargill, is considered effective and qomplete, bub the opponents of the present Ministry declare that the Hon. Mr. McKenzie's statement in regard to the administration of his department will bo traversed throughout when he nhall have to answer for it to Parliament. The discussion, therefore, upon the land question will be one of the features of the coming session.