THE COUNTRY’S GOOD

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7850, 12 July 1911, Page 8

THE COUNTRY’S GOOD

ITS REAL FRIENDS. PROSPEROUS FARMKRS UNDER LIBERAL REGIME. SrF.CIAI, TO THE "TIMES.” DALEFTELD. -Inly 11. At the rcvjuost of thn Wairarapa Libera! Association, the Hon. T. Mackwixic, AlinUcr for Agriculture, attended and spoke at a social gathering hero to-night- The hall was full to overflowing in spite of tho fact that heavy rain hail rendered the roods in tho district anything but good for traffic. The Minister was introduced to the audience hv Air .1. T. M. Hornsby (who will ho the Liberal candidate for tho seat at the forthcoming election), who mentioned that to Air Mackenzie's energy' the Dominion owed very much in many i directionsA most cordial reception was given to iho Min inter, who mentioned, that the Cabinet was now in the throes of preparing for the legislation for the coming session, a great many important matters licing under consideration. According to the statements being made in certain nowspapera, members of the Government wore n mwt infamous lot. but his opinion was that the people them selves were ablo to judge of their public men just JIK well as, or better than, the newspaiper editens. (Applauso.) The ineifil>eiw of the Government were striving to do good for Near Zealand, to the very utmost of then- ability. AVORK FOR THE ADEN ON THE LAND. After stressing the importance, of agriI culture to the country, the Minister said I the Government was anxious to continue its work of placing people upon the soil under the best possible conditions. New (Zealand now exported produce north J52.500,M>0 annually, of which ninoteutbs came from the soil. Of the .Kt'yI.OC'O.OOO of frozen food imported yearly by Great Britain, a very large proportion was obtai nc/l from tills ©nt-nll coantrv, nn 1 illurtnitioii of the Dominion'© rotentialitTCs in this resnert. Tho AgfricsnltnraJ Tricar tment wiifi do in? nil ifc uostiblv could to increase the nmmtitv and improve the quality of New Zealand's produce. There ‘was no doubt at nil that if tho Dominion was to maintain its position in the world’s markets it must rail to its aid tho highest scientific knowledge amihxVl-e. and impart ifc to its people. It must be remembered that New Zealand was coin--peting with rotmtries not so many davs' sail from England as she wo.s weeks, thus it would be seen that there was ample scope for the Agricultural Department'© efforts. WHAT THE DEPARTMENT IS TRYING TO DO. He regretted very much. to say that in Parliament there were men representing Opposition constituencies who declared that the department should be wiped out. They said that the vote for it should be reduced, and one, the member for Palmerston, advocated cutting up tho experiment farms into sections for occupation. If tho department were not carrying out the work it should do. that was a reason for a change in tho Minister, or possibly in the Government, but certainly it was no reason for discontinuing that work altogether. (Applause.) There was every reason to be pleased with the present position of tho country, both from the agricultural and commercial point of view, and they could with reasonable assurance look forward to the future. However, it was, ho supposed, wholesome to have people among them who looked upon everything from the doleful point of view. In this connection ho again dealt with the remarks made by tho chairman of the Bank of New Zealand, on lines similar to those pursued when speaking at tho Palmerston Winter Show. The Minister pointed out again that there was every reason to anticipate an expanding market for New Zealand frozen meat, butter, and cheese, and that before long the Continent of Europe would assuredly bo taking a large quantity of frozen produce, Tho prospects for wool-growers were also reasonably assured. A WORD ON BORROWING. It had been said that New Zealand was plunging into debt beyond ail reason. ; Well, ho did not uphold undue borrowing, but considered that th6se who were so loudly censuring tho Government for raising tho loans ought to be quite clear that they themselves had not supported the proposals. (Hoar, hear.) As a mat- : tor of tact, not ono of the men now taking exception to the Government's borrowing had voted against the loans 1 raised under last year's authorities; indeed, not only had they not opposed . them, but had actually voted for -them, and had since been clamouring for appropriations in their partiouHar districts. THE COMING EIGHT. After some references to other matters 1 of interest to the farming community, the Minister concluded with an allusion to the coming election campaign. “What you have to do," ho said, “os to call forth tho best men you can select for the counsels of the nation. X regret very much to say that of recent years, especially during the last twelve months, there lias been far too much use of personalities in connection with our politics, but we want to riso above that. (Applause.) It is not by uttering terms such as 'political hypocrisy/ 'humbugs/ etc,, that you are going to do the best for the country. It should not bo necessary to employ personalities and terms that must degrade and not elevate, and if this system of abuse goes on to the extent recently indulged in, it will have a very serious effect upon the political future of the country. It will cause men of integrity and probity who are sensitive by nature to abstain altogether from taking part in the affairs of the country. That, indeed, will bo a calamity." . (Applause.) A vote of thanks to the Minister for attending the social at so much personal 1 inconvenience was moved by Mr Hornsby and canned with enthusiasm. Mr Hornsby also edmmented upon the splendid attendance, and thanked those present for their encouragement.