ILLNESS OF THE HON J. M'KENZIE.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1266, 4 June 1896, Page 38

ILLNESS OF THE HON J. M'KENZIE.

Owing to the illness of tho Hon John McKenzie, Minister for Lauds, the address announced to bo given by him at tho Auckland City Hall had to be postponed.

Mr McKenzie was seized with a severe attack of colic on Thursday. Dr King was called in to attend him, and ho Slated it would bo quito impossible for tho Minister to address a public meeting. Mr McKenzio did not transact any public business on Thursday. Mr Walker, Minister of Education, who accompanied Mr McKenzie, attended tho meeting on Thursday, and apologised for Mr McKonzio's absence. Ho alsodelivored a short political address at tho meeting. Later news reports the Hon Mr McKenzie better.

SPEECH BY THE HON J. McKENZIE,

The Minister of Lands addressed a crowded audience on Monday in the Opera House, Auckland, the Mayor presiding. Mr McKenzie, on coming forward, was received with cheers. In opening his speech, ho thanked tho people of Auckland for their sympathy and kindness to him during his illness, and apologised at not being able to address them as had at first been arranged. Ho refer rod feelingly to tho deaths of Dr Pollen and Sir P. Buckley. Tho Minister wont on to reply to the charges made against tho Government by Captain Kussell on that platform. It was difficult to understand how Captain Russell could claim to be a self-reliant man, as when ho came to the Colony he got Jj'soo worth of land, besides coming hen; in the pay of his country to settle in *Now Zealand. Many people in the Colony would be quito as self-reliant if they could obtain such terms as these. Ho asked, was it because the Government completely revolutionised tho incidence of taxation and threw the burden of taxation ■ m tho.se best able to bear it that the

self-relianci of people had been undermined!' Was it because the Government had done away with the property tax and established in its place a system of land and income tax by which the settlers of New Zealand had been relieved of having to pay taxation on improvements on their farms and slock thereon, that, their self-reliance had been undermined ? Was it because fin; storekeeper, merchant, or tradesman had now only to pay on income in place of his stock, pioperty, cVc, that self-reliance had been undermined ? Was it because the Govorn- | ment created a live lands for settlement policy, by which pooplo having a little means can lease land from the Crown at ■)■ per cent, on tho capital value, and use their own capital for the purpose of improvomentand settlement,that self-reliance was being undermined? Was it because the Government had materially assisted the settlers, cheapened money, restored the railways to the people, ro-arrangeu the tariff and reduced railway freights, averted a financial panic, passed Liberal legislation in tho interests of tho workers, maintained a co-operative system by which the wages of the workers would depend upon their own exertions, that self-ielianco had been undermined '? Tho Minister defended the action of Mr Seddonin taking a position on tho Realisation Board, and said the desire of the Ministry was that he (Mr McKenzie) should take the position, but he could not, since as Minister for Lands ho might become a buyer from tho Board. Mr McKenzie also at great length defended his land policy, and received an excellent reception throughout. Mr Malcolm Niccol proposed, and Mr J. M, Shora seconded, the following motion,

which was carried by a show of hands, none against : Auckland citizens accords a hearty vote of thanks to the Hon J. McKenzie for his able and instructive address, and expresses unabated confidence in the present Government."

Tho Government have decided to arrange for a more expeditious publication of Hansard in tho coming session ; and it will probably take the form of a tri-weekly issue. This will necessitate an adjustment of the staff, and an ofiicer will bo placed in charge. Tho correction of the members' speeches will bo made in the type-written "copy" instead of when the speeches are in type, as has been the practico hitherto. It has further been decided that, instead of their being located in the gallery above the Speaker's chair, accommodation will bo made for the Hansard stall' on the floor of the House.

The Pharmacy Bill will be introduced in the Legislative Council next session. The Bill will not contain the clauses which wero objected to in the Hill of last session. An Auckland paper states that Mr .Malcolm Niccol will be a candidate for the Eden electorate at the coining general election. A meeting of trades unions and ofhor labour organisations in Auckland received the nominations of Messrs Regan, Fawcus, Rosser and Patterson as Labour candidates for the city. It was decided to invite them to express their views a month hence. The Hon Mr McKenzie was present and addressed the meeting. The Hon Mr Walker, Minister of Education, in his address at Auckland, said tho electoral system under the Education Act would not lie satisfactory until it was established once for all that the elections depended primarily on popular vote. He would certainly do away with tho election of the Boards by the Committees, and put the power of election in the hands of the individual members of the districts. The matter would, to a certain extent, eomo before the Legislature, probably in the coming session. Tho principle also applied to the Hospital and Charitable Aid Boards.

Captain Russell, who went South on Friday, is, it is understood, so far as we can learn, to go through to Invercargill to begin his Southern campaign there. Jf that is the case, he will work his weary way up through the island, addressing cold audiences and improving the fluency of his speech. We hear it is not likely that ho will discover again tho Sequali of politics, and it is said to be improbable that anyone will give him a vote of confidence. That pationt beast of burden the National Ass. will carry him and his fortunes. It will be a mild sort of Quixote riding on the mount of tho faithful Saneho I'anza, who with his wit and humour will be absent.

Some political capital is being made in the neighbourhood ol Strafford by certain prominent politicians in tho district. They aro under the impression that the settlers of tho Whangamamona Settlement have been peremptorily ordered by the Lands Department to take their wives and families on to their seclioiiH at once, in order to comply with the regulations. We learn on enquiry that there is no intention on tho part of the department to be guilty of the cruelty of plunging women and children into the miseries of the winter season under such circumstances. These anxious politicians will have to fish in other wafers for the capital they appear to want so badly. Sir G. W. Gano is mentioned as a probable candidate for Egmont. The Premier left for tin; South by tho Penguin on Monday afternoon. Beforo his return he will deliver an address at Invercargill.

Mr Felix McGuirc is likely to meet a Liberal fooman worthy of his steed at the election in Mr McKay, late principal of the New Plymouth College.

The Premier has been asked to deliver an address at Masterton before tho opening of the session. If is possible he may do so if ho has time, although the Masterton electors are sound to the core.

Mr S. J. Maealister is spoken of as a probable candidate for Wairau.

Our Carterton correspondent writes :Mr W. C. Buchanan, M.H.K., addressed his constituents at Carterton on Saturday night. He went over much tin: same ground he travelled over at Greytown, and was accorded a vote of thanks. In reply to a question he Said ho would not favour the construction of a railway from the Putt Valley to Woodside, although from notes from Captain Smith's log-book' in his possession, lid was decidedly of opinion the lino should have come by that route, instead of over tho dangerous summit and incline it now passed. Captain Kussell addressed a public meeting at Invercargill on Monday. 'J he attendance was the largest ever as-cmblcd hero for a

similar object, many ladies being obliged to stand in the passages. The speaker had a, good reception and a most courteous hearing, and received a vote ol thanks. His address was identical in effect with thoso delivered in tho Northern cities.

Sir It, Stout speaks at Hastings on Thar

day, and at Napier on Friday. MrG. J. Smith, one of the members for Christchurch, addressed his constituents on Monday. There was a fair attendance, and it was a quiet meeting, Mr Smith denied the truth of the rumour that he would not contest the next election. He received a vote of confidence.