THE HON. J. McKENZIE AT GISBORNE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 10084, 20 March 1896, Page 5

THE HON. J. McKENZIE AT GISBORNE.

[BY TELEGRAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION.] Gisdorke, Thursday. The Minister for Lands addressed a large meeting last evening. He referred at length to Captain Russell's speech, do'ivered at Hastings. The policy of his

predecessor, he might say, was a policy of selfishness, land monopoly, and usury. Captain Russell had disclosed no lines of policy for the Opposition, and he had not shown how to get better legislation and administration than at present. Mr. McKenzie dovoted considerable tiino to the National Association, which, he said, tried to belittle tho Government and distort their every action, so as to enable the old Tory party to climb into power. Ministers wero not desirous that they should remain in office, but were anxious that their party should be in power to carry out the policy initiated by John Ballanoe. The National Association had engaged a number of writers in Cliristchurch for the sole purpose of writing down the Government, and every Saturday 10,000 copies of the statements of these writers wero to bo circulated broadcast. In addition to this, the National Association had thoir friends, and a certain class of people were going the rounds of the colony vilifying tho private characters oi Ministers, in steamers, on railways, in clubs. Coming to the policy of the Government, ho claimed that they had been successful in providing a surplus every year, and had grappled with bigger questions than any Government before thorn, such as the Bank of New Zealand crisis, chango in the incidence of taxation, tho Midland Railway, and advances to settlers. he claimed it was legitimate to borrow for the purchase of native lands, roads and bridges, which investments would return good interest. Mr. McKenzie then proceeded to make a lengthy defence of his land settlement policy, and said if the country was to bo prosperous there must be a greater number of producers on tho land than at present, and the present land laws were more liberal than any in any British dominion. In his five years of ollico tho Government had put 11,331 selectors on tho land, with an avorage of 221 acres each. There would bo no loss on any of the estates purchased, but, taken as a whole, they would yield five per cent, interest. With regard to the unemployed, it was quite true tnat tho Government hud not been able to find employment for nil ; it would tako years to got rid of tho unemployed. During his term of oflice tho Government had found three-quarters of a million for roads and bridges, yet people asked what had the Government done for tho unemployed ? If he lived three years more and remained in power, the Fair Kent Bill would become law, and ho advised the Treasurer to also bring in a Fair Interest Bill. A vote of thanks and confidence in the Government was carried unanimously. Mr. McKenzio leaves on Friday for Napier, via Wairoa.