AUCKLAND EAST.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17329, 28 November 1919, Page 8

AUCKLAND EAST.

MIT. MACKENZIE'S SPEEOH. VIEWS ON LIBERALISM. RECENT ACTIONS CONDEMNED. The Government candidate for Auckland East, Mr. Clutha Mackenzie, addressed a gathering of between 400 and 500 electors at St. Andrew's Hall last evening, Mr. A. C. A. Sexton presiding. Tho meeting was an exceptionally orderly and sympathetic' , one, conducted without a single interrup- , tion, and concluding with a vote of thanks and confidence to which not one dissentient voice was raised. Mr. Mackenzie commenced his address 1 by emphasising the necessity for a loyal and progressive Government. "Extreme , Labour is the enemy," he said; "Liberal- . ism may intrigue with labour, and only in Reform is there hope of a strong and j sincere Government." At a previous j ' meeting he had been asked if the Seddon ■ Government was not' the finest New Zea- ) land had ever known, and was it not a Labour Government? The speaker unhesitatingly agreed that the Seddon ' .Government was all the questioner claimed, ' I and if the Labour of to-day had been the 1 j Labour of Mr. Seddon's day the speaker ' would now be standing as a Labour can- , I d : date. Mr. Myers had said the speaker | "was ashamed of Liberalism." To this ho ' would say he was not ashamed of Liberalism, but he was ashamed of Sir Joseph ! Ward, and did not think the recent actions • of the Liberal party had been in full con- . sideration of the welfare of the people of New Zealand. [ The cand ; date elaborated his views upon various matters brought forward at previous meetings; the primary need of the Dominion at the present time, .both from i the viewpoint of increased national safety and of agricultural and industrial development, was increased population. To meet this need a well-control'ed system of immigration, utilisation of the natural resources of the country, and a vigorous road and ! railway po'.icv" were the first essentials. A strong plea was made for better treatment !of soldiers on the land. The present ' system, although well-intentioned, stopped at the most vital point, said Mr. Mackenzie—it put men on the land, and just left them there. The Government should appoint a much larger number of expert advisers and demonstrators, so that soldier farmers and others might be made acquainted with the most modern and scientific methods of farming. Education and. town-planning were touched on bv the candidate, the importance of the schools as the basis of the . j countrv'B social system being emphasised, I while "town-planning, as applied to the I establishment of model suburbs, would j bring about improvements in housing conditions long overdue. . A more vigorous policy of afforestation was advanced, the speaker advocating the I prohibition of export of native timber from the country and reservation of suitable forest areas as national parks. The cost of living, overseas freights, and profiteering came in for comment, a scheme be ng elaborated which would provide for the formation of local " fa ; prices" committees, made up of housewives and business men, which would collect evidence, find out the profiteers, and report cases ] to the Government. A national system of insurance against unemployment was also '. supported. v The meeting concluded with a vote of thanks and confidence, passed unanimously. ( , i SOME PERSONAL QUESTIONS. J MEETING INDIGNANT. i MR. MACKENZIE IN REPLY. .

; i \ The personal element entered rather ] freelv into the campaign address given by j Mr. "Clutha Mackenzie at St. Andrew's ; Hall last evening. The candidate referred at some length to letter-advertisements, which he described as an attempt to deride ■ | himself and the other candidates. j A Voice: They can't do it! After dealing with the text of the ! letter, the speaker quoted one passage I which stated that but for the "lamentable i i results of war" his candidature would be ■ a joke. I Another Voice: Impudence! I " Well," continued Mr. Mackenzie, " 1 don't know if Mr. Myers is finding it a ! joke, but I certainly hope to be able to enjoy the joke' myself in due course." : (Loud applause.) The matter of ideals | had also been mentioned. " With full ap- ! preciation of the need for sound and practical qualifications in our legislators, I I do most earnestly consider there is need J for high ideals also," said Mr. Maoi kenzie. " I have not forgotten what all ! soldiers learned at the front. I have come ' back from the love and kindness and fellowship of the trenches to bickering and jealousy, and a few other things— rather more bitter in some directions than they should be. My ideal is to try to I bring about a happier frame of mind ' among the people, and if only I can ad- | vance one step in this direction I shall I consider myself well repaid." (Applause.) When question time came, two queries ;of a personal nature were sent up. The first suggested that literature disparaging the Reform Party was freely in evidence at the Soldiers' Club; had Mr. Mackenzie made- any move in the direction of countering this ? The candidate did not appear to know much about the matter, " but I may say this," he remarked, " the Soldiers' Club has not said one good word to me, nor offered me a single congratulation on my candidature. If this kind of , thing is going on at the club, however I would be glad to meet those responsible and argue things out with them there." The second question was as follows: "Does the candidate consider his dis- • ability of blindness any serious drawback to a position as member of Parliament?" ■ The reading drew forth an immediate and I decidedly hostile demonstration. " Don't answer it!" "Shame!' sounded from all parts of the hall. Mr. Mackenzie, however, was quite unperturbed, and in a telling little reply referred to the great work done by many blind men for the benefit of their fellows, notably Sir Arthur Pearson, and by many blinded soldiers the outburst of applause following his remarks eloquently attesting to the fceline I of the meeting. ° ROSKTLL. i '[ he „ Lab0 , candidate for the Roskill | sea* Mr. & Davis, addressed a crowded meeting of the electors last evening at the . Epsom HalL Ho was given a good hearing, his speech being on the lines of those previously delivered. At its conclusion Mr. Davis received a vote of thanks and confidence. fn Mr *.' -rf* Fe ? dle ' Opposition candidate for Roskill, spoke at the Maungawhau Public School BSt evening to an audience of about 100. He outlined his platform on lines of previous speeches. He said the reason so many Independent Liberals were standing for Parliament was because the early land policy of the party had not been vigorously continued. The candidate , answered several question. A vote of thanks was carried unanimously. MAN UK At'. Sir Fredeiirk Lang, Government can- . didate for Manukau, addressed a larjje I meeting of electors at the Maraetai public ! school yesterday afternoon. Mi p j Couldrey presided. The candidate was accorded a unanimous vote of thanks and I confidence. , Sir Frederick addressed another ' a rge meeting in tho Whitford Public Hall the | same evening. Mr. F. H. Brounhili presided. A most attentive hearing was J accorded the candidate, and on the motion of Mr. 11. Shaw, seconded by Mr j S. Whitfnrlli. a unanimous vote of thanks ! and confidence was carried. Three, heart v cheers were given for Sir Frederick and three for Mr. .Maswy. » '