An Open Letter to the Hon. John M'Kenzie.

Otago Witness, Issue 2209, 2 July 1896, Page 15

An Open Letter to the Hon. John M'Kenzie.

(Per Favor Editor Otago Witness.) Sir,— Ac you have complained about tie press and those opposed to your Government making false accusations and stating things that were not true, and as you referred electors to the Blue Books for information, thither I went for the first time, add with the editor's kind permission I purpose giving the information contained there. I have just had a look at B 1

for yean 1892, 1893, 1894, and 1895, whioh are the years dealing with your administration. About one of the first acts yodr Government was accused of was dismissing civil servants so as to make way for jour own friends. ' Whether your friends were appointed or not I am nofc aware, bub ib looks very like it, for the Blue Book shows you have given the following pen* trfons from taxes paid by the working classes, whose friend your Government poses tobe:~> £ s. d. 1892 M , „» .« 3«19 a. 1893 8153 11 2 1894 5910 2 1 1895 „, , 6982 IS Total ...- -£10,395 13 Id Making a total pf £16,395 13s lOd to those 48 persons who had to make way for friends of the Ministry. . The total amount paid in pensions for tnt year was— > , j £ 'a. d. ' 1 1892 ... ,M, M .„ 22,218 211 \ 1893 .» ... . i., 23,251 8 0.. 1894 ... , 24,969 5 2 1895 ' ... 25,263 9 4 • Total .£95,702 5 5 " I have nob yet seen the list for the year ending March 31, 1896, but it will be about 25,300 0 0 Grand total £121,002 5 5 As I have oarefully watched the speeohes of Roisters and none of you have raised your votdßß-»g^i n jfc thiujpayment, it must meeb wibh your apprSvbT^Do yO u consider ib jnst that workmg^men shouu^be.'.taxed to" pay .a yearly pension of £533 6s, £^Q>£433, and so on to those who have had a goocboUaw w hile j n service ? How many men -woulaSw^v keep on the Otago Central for a year — whaty^^g paying for dispensing with three offioials ? You^ state you have nob money bo give employment to those seeking work. Shame ! when £121,000 has. been given away for which bhe colony gets no return. The money would have been batter spent on the Otago Central. After pensions come what you are pleased to term gratuities, and they are— 'for ' £ s. d. 1892 «. 3389 0 3 1893 6502 10 0 , ' 1894 - ... ... ... 2028 10 0 1895 , ... ... ... 3692 10 0 Total l . ..." ' £14,612 10* 3 ' ' Then for those not entitled to pensions but whfc had to" mike way for other* you gave~in\. • ■;'■''' £ s/' d./ 1892 ' i.. ' 17,564 2 8" • "• • 1893 •..,.' ... \/. 10,180 6' 8 ■•■■'--•-• 1894 5,971 1 0 ■ 1895 ...< ... ... 3,577 13. 9 . Total ... £37,293 8' 8 — which Is called compensation for loss of office. When workmen were dispensed with on Otago Central, I fail to notice the compensation they got. Perhaps their wages were nob large enough to entitle them to it. . • To bhe last two items have to be \added . amounts for the year ending March 31, 1896. Without them it shows 'you have, spent £172,807 19 a 4d,'atd° the colony has received in return— whab? -' Ab Falmanton, April; 24, 1896, you stated most glariDg missbataments were sent forth through the Press Avsooiation. Quite true, for I find the Press Association report, of your speech at Auckland, June 1, repbrts you as saying, "Was it out of the paltry.. £800 a year they got as Ministers that they were to be called upon to do so P " Bub whether they are responsible for thab glaring missbabement it another mabter. In 81, 1895, yon got— £ s. d. 800 6 0 for salary 200 0 0 house allowance 278 0 i travelling expen«es\ R •». 195 0 0 „ allowance/" 17 * £1473 0 4 So thab statement may bejmid bo be falst to the extent of 75 percent.— l waif &o , Middlemnrcb, June 27. John Hat.