MR. THOMAS MACKENZIE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 11148, 22 August 1899, Page 6

MR. THOMAS MACKENZIE.

RETURN TO NEW ZEALAND. THE COMMERCIAL INTERESTS OF THE COLONY. MR. MAOKENZIE AND NEW ZEALAND POLITICS. By the s.s. Papanui, which arrived yesterday, Mr. Thomas Mackenzie, formerly M.H.R. for Clutha, Otago, who occupied a prominent position in Now Zealand politics before his departure from tho colony, arrived in Auckland. Mr. Mackenzie has done valuable work at Home in the interests of the producers and exporters of New Zealand, and has never lost an opportunit) of furthering the commercial interests of this colony, and his views on commercial and political matters mil be read with interest. He was interviewed last evening by a Herald reporter, to whom Mr. Mackenzie expressed his readiness to afford information on subjects pertaining to the welfare of the colony. " What were the principal objects of your visit Home, Mr. Mackenzie?" was first asked. " The object of my visit was principally to acquire an intimate knowledge of the handling of Now' Zealand produce at Home. I felt that in our Parliament there was not a member who could fairly bo considered an authority on the subject. Therefore I resigned, after serving my constituents at Clutha for the allotted time, and expressed my intention to my supporters. They approved of my proposal, and, as I stated at that time, I intend now to re-enter political life, and take a scat in Parliament, provided, of course, that I am elected. I proceeded to England as the representative of tho New Zealand Farmers' Co-operative Association of Cantorbury and Hawke's Bay, and the New Zealand Farmers' Association. Here, let mo speak of the generous support accorded mo by these companies. They gave ino full power to treat tho matters referred to in the interests of tho colony, and rendered me valuable assistance in my work. I feel, extremely grateful to them for their many kindnesses." " As the result of your mission Home, what opinions have you formed as to tho improvements that couid lie effected in the interests of the colony, particularly with regard to tho export trade?" " Well, let me say, that in my opinion, a good deal of our produce is vory well handled at Homo, and that tho work is done by thoroughly reliable agents, who work in tho interests of the shippers. What New Zealand farmers and exporters should bo most careful of is tho agent who charges too low a commission. Somo of the agents sell for as low as 2 per cent., and aro sufficiently honest in their dishonesty to state that the rate of commission is too small, and that they must make it up in other ways. Soino of the other companies, charging a higher rate of commission, are doing their work honestly and efficiently. As I did not employ agents, but sold all meat myself, I cannot speak from experience as to the peculiarities of agents dealing with colonial produco, particularly nieaf. What I consider the great weakness in this connection is tho system of demanding ' damage claims,' and I am of opinion that the proper method will ho to employ assessors and an arbitrator to dccido tho question. Tho insurance companies, however, do not appear to recogniso the importance of this alteration, and if they do not take up a different position, and endeavour to act justly and fairly to the New Zealand exporters, then, though I am reluctant to do so, I will, if the opportunity ofrors, advocate in the House tho intervention of the Government to take over this imnortant matter of insurance. Butter and cheoso are well handled at Home, and though grading is, perhaps, an advantage, as far as it goes, tho real test is in tho quality of tho "Utter, and on that, and that only, the market price dononds, As to meat, it is placed in the hands of too many aeents, and, in tho event of a slight ovorsupplv on tho market, the buyers play off ono seller against, the other, and a fall takes place, which would not. occur if (he moat passed through fewer hands. What I think is wanted is that New Zealand's trade should be looked after by men who are thoroughly in touch with this colony. The buyers' call for assessment is not misled by agents, an it should be by those who represent New Zealand, and tho industry suffers m consequence." As to the extension of our trade with the Mother Country and oilier markets. What remarks have you tc make?" Mr. jo.ieke.nzio slated that in extending the' trado of iSew Zealand, tho Colonial Consignment Company wero doing good work, and supplied orders to all parts of England, dealing With Single carcases up to 500. The great object was to keep the meat beforo 'lie Homo people, 'iikl to send produce of good quality from the colony. There was no doubt but -seiv Zealand million, and especially lamb, stood high in the opinion of tho English people and there was no question of either going back in favour. Mr. Mackenzie then referred again to tho faults in tho system of damage assessment, and emphasised tho necess'.y of an improvement as suggested above, U'Mng effected in this connection. " Referring now to tho question of politics," said our reporter, "what has boon tho effect 0 recent legislation passed in this colony? .. m 1 ™"j,1 11 favourable effect, or othorwiso? at 10 toll you to® truth," answered Mr. Mackenzie, It is very rarely alluded to boyowl the question of tho Midland railway and in connection with this important matter tlio opinion is that the Government havo treated the debenture-holders most unfairly. When any explanation has been offered, the reply has been, 'All wo know and want to know is that a certain railway was authorised ny tho Government many years ago. Tho British public wero induced into investing heir money, largo sums have boon spont on the railway, after which the Government stepped in under tho provisions of somo Acts passed, and seized the railway without giving any compensation to the debenture-holders? As to recent legislation, very little attention is paid to particular Acts that aro passed. 1 he principal matters considered aro tho balance-slwets available at the end of the financial years, the colony's imports and exports, the promptitude with which engagements, business, local bodies, and colonial, are met, and J can safely say that tho financial standing of tho colony at Homo at tho present time is good. You ask me what is the opinion on your labour and social legislation : I may say in answer that Now Zealand is looked upon as an experimental field and that theorists watch carefully the offect of [""our legislation, but beyond the position of the Midland railway debenture-holders, I do not think that any gonoral statemont can lairly bo given as to the opinion hold at Home of New Zealand's legislation. It is looked upon much in the same light as a largo municipality would troat the actions of and motions passed by a small local body. After all, it is only a small place, this bright little colony of ours. As to New Zealand's loan proposals: If it can be shown that a fair return can be obtained, by all moans lot New Zealand borrow, but if we merely borrow for the sake of employing our people, waiting, Micawber-liko, in tho expectation of something profitable resulting, serious consoquenccs must follow. What is my opinion of recent New Zealand legislation ? I know very little about it. I have never perused a Statute Book, and have merely glanced at a few Bills affecting the interests which I considered it my duty to protect. I havo been really out of touch with New Zealand politics, and the business in which I have been engaged has taken so much of my timo that at such short notico, and with perhaps insufficient knowledge, I do not feel competent, and it would therefore bo unfair for mo to express any emphatic opinion on tho subject." " And what are your future intentions, Mr. Mackenzie ?" "Beforo answering that question, let me say that my absence from the colony and my presence in England have caused me to slightly forgot parties, and to have before me tho endeavour to do what I can in tho interests of _ tho whole colony, not from the point of viow of a parly man, but from tho view of a colonist. My chief attention has been given to matters of a practical nature, chiefly relating to the questions of trade, finance, the necessity that exists for the extension of markets for colonial produce and the means to be adopted to that end," " As to finance J" queried our reporter. "Well, I am of opinion that the time has arrived when the Home Government might well be expected to guarantee the loans of sound colonies, and that trustees should be able to invest trust funds in colonial loans. It was by tho adoption of such a method that the Chancellor of the British Exchequer obtained loans at 2£ per cent.' This had the result of enormously increasing the trust moneys available in En"land, while the national debt was largely decreased. _ Then, again, our Government might consider the advisability of guaranteeing local loans so that the rate of interest paid by looal bodies might be largely reduced. I do not mean that the local bodies should be relieved of the responsibility, but they would be assisted in obtaining their loans at the lowest possible rate of interest. On the question of exchange of trade, with which are associated the question of federation, and probably the adoption of a Zolverein, the advantages of international reciprocity giving concessions for advantages received might well direct us to the question of intercolonial reciprocity. . Tlio great question of this colony is to find iparkets for our produce, in order that people in "the colony should be employed profitably, and to give"capital as well as labour a reason-

able guarantee. The latter point, 60 far as the working classes are concerned, is of even more importance to them than the former, for while it is easy to remove capital from ono field to another, it is difficult for labour to follow the trend of capital, even if such labour is marketable." Mr. Mackenzie then touohed upon the reciprocal tariff adopted between the United States and the Argentine, and said that as the Argentine competed with New Zealand in the export of mutton inferior to that of New Zealand, which could supply all that Great Britain required, the price to the consumer would not be increased if England put a slight tariff on the Argentine exports. The internal competition going on would always make the price reasonable to the consumer, and the advantage to Britain would be great, because something like 60 per cent, of the amount naid to the Argentine for meat was spent in countries foreign to Britain, whereas 90 per cent, of the amount paid to New Zealand was reinvested in English goods. "Having said this much in favour of reciprocal tariffs, the question of federation naturally presents itself. What are your opinions on this head?" "I have not direoted special attention to tho question of the federation of the Australian colonies, but up to the present I have not heard any arguments against 'he proposal sufficiently strong to persuade me that it would bo against the interests of this colony to join. There may be details to be adjusted, but these details, I am of opinion, could be adjusted so as to suit New Zealand. First, if New Zealand is isolated, we would not, I think, bo so successful; secondly, and this is the strongest argument of all, I think it allows a wider field for the producer, for New Zealand can compete successfully under similar conditions with Australia. Our production is bettor; our colder climate gives a to the population of New Zealand that is not possessed by those of Australia. If we cannot turn these advantages to our benefit, then we do not deserve to succoed." "Now, as to your own movements, Mr. Mackenzie. Will you contest a seat at the next general election?" " I have como out to tho colony for 'hat purpose," replied Mr. Maokenzie; "bvt I have yet to go South and consult my directors, and I have yet many business waiters to attend to. After these have been completed, I will definitely announce under what conditions I will contest a seat, and the constituency that I will stand for." "Have you been approached by either the Government or the Opposition in tho matter, and have any overtures been made to you in connection with your candidature?" "Practically, no, with the exception of my own district, Clutha." "When you left tho colony, you wero looked upon as ono of the leading members of tho Opposition. Have you changed your views in any respect, or are you still actuated by tho same political principles?" "So far as politics are concomed, my general principles are the same. Some may have been subjected to considerable modification. On tho platform I will advocate tlio principles which I have mentioned in the course of our conversation, and I intend placing these before party considerations. In some places I have been termed a Tory, and in others a Liberal. It does not matter if on tho ono hand T am free from clogging inactivity and on the other from connection with socialistic impossibilities. Conservatism, it must be admitted, imports stability to_a country, and of Liberalism 'it may be said that tho desire paramount is to develop. Both are useful to a State, but what you want in Now Zealand is a happy morgenco of both, tho general effort, king a promotion of the interests of the colony as a whole."