Mr T. Mackenzie at Waikouaiti.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXV, Issue 9775, 27 February 1908, Page 4

Mr T. Mackenzie at Waikouaiti.

Mr T. Mackenzie addressed his constituents at Waikouaiti last evening, when there was a large attendance. At the conclusion of the meeting the following motion was' carried by acclamation:— "That this meeting heartily approves of the attitude Mr Mackenzie has taken up, and has every confidence in him as the representative of the district." According to the Otago Daily Times, Mr Mackenzie explained his position in regard to his determination to support the Ward Ministry. Liter alia, he- said: — Politics with me are a creed, and not a profession. My political convictions are not caught by. contagion, but are the result of study and practical experience. Tbey are not put on and off as ' one changes one's garments, neither are they tattoed on by someone else, as is the moko of the Maori, what are the leading political questions of the day? Have I not from time to time throughout my political career dealt with them with no uncertain voice? 'Are they not engraven on the records of Parliament, and understood by the people of Otago? Have I not given my views on land tenure, on taxation, on finance, on commerce, on education, and on representation and many other subjects? Who in this audience will dare to say that I have departed from these principles? I challenge anyone to'come on to this platform at the close of this meeting and put his finger on a departure from the principles that have been espoused by me for a lifetime. I hold in my hand here my public deliverances on" most of the subjects I have alluded to, and I stand by these, subject, of course, to such modifications as time and experience have shown to be wise. Emerson says that mere verbal consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds, and he really means that the wisest of us to-day may be wiser than he was yesterday, and to-morrow than he is to-day. It is claimed, and rightly too, that many of my views were on the lines of the Opposition. I saw good on both sides; and that with some is an unpardonable offence. I have endeavored to follow the good wherever it could be found, and likewise to oppose whatever 1 considered pernicious, no matter from what side it emanated. But if it is contended that my views were on Opposition lines, what is the situation of the Government in that connection at this moment. Sir Joseph Ward deliveied bis first policy statement in the Budget of 1907, and when that statement was delivered did not the leading members of the Opposition claim that he bad largely embodied in it that which they for years had been advocating? Did not the Christchurch Press, a consistent supporter of the Opposition, make this statement: "The fact is the Government has Stolen almost the entire wardrobe (polic-v) of the Opposition?" and then follows a list of planks adopted bv the Government from the Opposition platform. Ihe Otago Daily Times said, regarding land, that the Government policy approximated so closely to that advocated by the Opposition that it might in fact be said to be the Opposition policy. The article concluded with these words: "Whatever may be said about some of its details, th* Financial .Statement unquestionablv contains much that may command the warm approval of the majority of the electors of the Dominion." 'lhat was the opinion last year of capable Opposition journals. What do wc find this vear to be the opinion of the same papers on the speech delivered by the Prime Minister in Auckland? This is what the Auckland Herald says in that connection : "The general exposition of his (Sir Joseph Ward's) attitude towards legislation in a progressive community will be accepted as satisfactory by the great bulk of the community, and we can only regret that m the pressure of sectional influences he so fiequently tends to depart from the statesmanlike part, he outlines." May I interpolate just- at this point, and say that that sectional influence could be entirely eliminated if the sounder minds of the House would sav to Sir Joseph : "You are doing the right thing, and as long as you do that, and irrespective of party bonds, we will see you through in the statesmanlike course vou have outlined." Continuing ' my quotation from the Auckland Herald. "If," savs that paper, "Sir Joseph Ward lias the "courage of his opinions and carries into practical politics his condemnation of fallacious and impracticable schemes, he may lose the doubtful support of revolutionary advocates, but he will gain the co-operation of all that is best iu the community." Let me remark at this point that that is exactly what I am striving for. I wish to see him gain the co-operation of all that is best in the community so long as he follows a sound economic course. On the question of social reform, the same journal makes remarks: "Legislation must now concern itscif not with the shibboleths of parties, but with the everyday life of the people, ameliorating their lot in.every direction; bettering their homes and improving the conditions of labor, and by watchfulness and wisdom increasing their happiness and comfort. This is the only true way to national contentment and prosperity." There you have the keynote of the position, and it is for our New Zealand legislator to forget, some of their party shibboleths. There are also some apposite remarks on the question of shibboleths expressed by Lord Rosebery and Mr Chamberlain, which I will, with your permission, quote. Lord Rosebery says: "There are men who sit still with their fly-blown phylacteries bound, round their obsolete policy who do not remember that while they have been mumbling their incantations to themselves the world hn.s been marching and revolving, and if they have any hope of leading or guiding it, they must march and move with it too." Mr Chamberlain, in the same connection, eays: "If, through adherence to economic pedantry and old shibboleths, we lose the opportunity of doing good, we deserve the disasters which may infallibly follow." Principles are eternal and unchanging, but the way of giving effect to principles may alter. As in navigation, new highways are frequently discovered. 'The Suez Canal, for instance, in. preference to the Cape route, the Panama in preference to Cape Horn; and merchantmen wishing to Teach eel-tain destinations attain their objects, although they have not followed on the old course, and attain- them more, promptly. When the warship Orpheus was wrecked on the Manaka-u bar, an old sailor who was on board, and who was familiar with the coast of New Zealand, told the captain that the channel, had changed, and pointed out the shoals. The captain, was indignant, and replied that he required- no information, and that he had his old charts to guide him. He silenced the sailor, and followed, his old charts. The ship w.us wrecked, and! the hands except one were lost ; but the shoals remain.. It is believed by some that I muet have received substantial inducement to have made- the announcement I did. The humor of the situation is almost irresistible. What arc some of the statements, that have been made? A Clutha elector, with a friendship for the sitting member which can be equalled' only by that which existed between David and Jonathan; declares that my sole object in making the announcement I did: was to displace Olutha's representative. The knowing ones of Waikouaiti assert that- it is a cunningly devised plan for securing Chalmers, and that the present respected member, Mr E. G. Allen, will be placed in the Unner House, thus making Chalmers clear for me. Many are persauded, and so express themselves, that the price is Ministerial rank forthwith,, and I notice that a deputation waited upon "Sir Joseph Ward, and received from him an assurance that the Government had had nothing to do in the declaration I have made. They were then endeavoring to extract from the Prime Minister some statement reegarding who should, succeed the Hon. W. P. Reeves as High Commissioner in London. They are all therefore persauded that nothing short of a great inducement could have influenced the member for Waikouaiti in doing what he has done. Let me here say at once, distinctly and emphatically, that neither Minister nor members nor a. single soul inside ot outside of Parliament has had anything wlntever to do with the course I have indicated. I had no communication from anyone, and have sent no communication to anyone, either before or after the declaration I made. I remember in the olden days, when Sir George Grey used to sit at the same dinhu'-tablc with us, he told me that when he framed! the constitution of the country he retired away into the Torest primeval at the base of the Buahine Ranges, and there thought out what lie considered best in the interests of New Zealand'. Comparins small things with great, I mav say that I retfrrd to the quietness of my own home and there, wandering on the wood- behind Allan Orance, I thought out as I ciuld! the intricaciee of the present situation. On one hand I saw a band of splendid men- called! the Opposition, and syled by some the Conservatives of this country." earnestly devoting themselves to forwardina, accordinu to-their views, the best interests of the Dominion. I realised

that in their ranks there were men, including the leader himself, who would go much further in the direction of Liberalism than some of their supporters were inclined to favor. On the other hand, I saw developing in this country a party of men styling themselves . Socialists, who, because of evils existin"" in older communities, were endeavoring to frame legislation in this new country which, if >nven effect to, could not have any other than, a most disastrous effect on every industry in the community. What are the expressions of some of their leaders!' The Christchurch President of the Political Labor League said he was opposed to nil shaaes of Liberalism, and would go in for straight-out revolutionary Socialism. Again, in the north, where there was a large gathering of representatives, they carried a resolution to the effect that they would support members of the Opposition rather than the Government, not because they believed in the Opposition, but to displace Liberal candidates with the hope that in the succeeding election Socialist candidates would be returned. I realised that the points of difference in many respects were not great between many membersi following the Government and those constituting the Opposition, and that if we could only overcome those party bonds we wonW have a body of men who, whilst following sound Liberal principles, could tell those who had espoused the cause of revolutionary Socialism that they could muster their strongest members and test their full powers, but we would' form a solid body to oppose them, anad' give effect to what we believed were the best principles that could be advocated' for our land. It is there that in mv opinion the party line should' be drawn, and I feel persuaded that if von polled the full strength- of your town revolutionaries 25 members would represent their full power. -That would leave 55 members free to develop the great industries of the country on common-sense lines. Speaking on the question of parties, I have always held that principles should rule party, and not party rule principles. When men nre combined into parties for the attainment of certain definite aims, the object for which the parties were formed ceases when those end's are attained. For instance, when the Atkinson Government was formed in IEB7, its great object was to restore, the financial condition of New Zealand. He attained that. Mr Ballnnce came in in 189 C. and his policy was to change the incidence of taxation, promote social refnrnis. and to adopt a self-reliant policv. When Mr Seddon took office he professed to continue that nolicv, and' also advance measures which he claimed 1 would be of use to the community. Fresh developments are now arising. Old names and. the meanings attached' to them are changed. Take, for inst.mce, the old terms Whig-'ism and' Toryism, as formerly anplied in the Old Country. At one time Whiggism meant the maintenance of the House of Stuart, and Toryism that of the House of Hanover. Later, the whole intent and purpose of those names were (banged and their meaning became blurred as fresh objects arose. In our country new wants are arising and parties must, begin to recast themselves. Men always gravitate to one of two sides—the progressive or the stationary. They are usually conservative when least vigorous, mid "radical when the mind is most stirred. Faith and hope tvpify one: prudence and .security the other. For my piirt I am for progress and liberty, and .with progress and liberty I desire to see our country built up on solid and permanent lines,"