MR. SCOBIE MACKENZIE ON THE POLITICAL SITUATION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 11056, 6 May 1899, Page 4

MR. SCOBIE MACKENZIE ON THE POLITICAL SITUATION.

We give to-day a report of the speech o" Mr. Scobie Mackenzie to his constituents at Diinedin. It is characteristic of the mail, and is at the same time an excellent statement of the position. Mr. Mackenzie of set purpose departs from the stereotyped method of a candidate when addressing Ms constituents, which is generally a defence or his own action in regard to certain Bills. He deals simply with the principal subjects of legislation, and with the recent action' of Ministers. On these we have some keen criticism. In regard to the cost of the old ape pensions scheme he puts it down at ,£150,000 a year, or the interest of £5.000,000 of money. We have gone into this scheme " with a light heart," and have scarcely realised that it will take to pay the annual interest a sum sufficient tc pay interest on a loan large enough to have completed all the railways projected in the colon). A very complete exposure is made of the persistent cry that the colony has never advanced so rapidly as under Liberal administration. Tht corruption which is now a matter of course in the Administration is admirably exposed bv Mr. Mackenzie. The speech will bo useful at the present time, when attention is beginning to be drawn to politics. It appears that Mr. Mackenzie haa made up his mind not to speak at present outside of his own electorate, so that we have no chance of hearing him, at all events for some time.