OUR PRODUCE TRADE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2210, 9 July 1896, Page 7

OUR PRODUCE TRADE.

INTERVIEW WITH MR T. MACKENZIE,

M.H.R. (Feom Oub Own Corheseokdent.)

Wellington, 'July 2.

I was able some two or threß weeks ago to give you the first information as to the probability of Mr Thomas^ Mackenzie severing his connection with New Zealand politics, afc all events for two or three years. He baa now definitely decided to accept the offer made to him by the New Zealand Farmer*' Association of Ohristchurcb. and the Canterbury Farmers' Association of Timaru to proceed to London. I learn now that Mr Maokenzie is likely to have several other irons in the fire when he^gets to England, as somp of ths meat freezing companies are negotiating with his principals with a view t3 utilising iris services in London. In view of the importance of his mission I thonght it advisable to have an interview with Mr Mackenzie, and in the course of »n hoar's obat I gathered that he anticipates that he will be able to' be of considerable service to the colony as well as to the association he direotly represents. Mr Maokenzie leaves with •fcis family by "the -direct steamer, in September next. During the nine years he has been in the New Zealand Parliament he has shown more Iban average abilityas a member, sod iuta made

i many friends, so that now he is leaving, the ! gjod wishes of both sides of the House go with him, and his political opponents on ths Ministerial beaches have promised to assist i him in his. mission as far as lie 3 in the ; r •power. ' In answer to a question as to whether there -was much, competition for the appointment he has -received, Mr Maokenzie said he believed there were U applications, but the position had been unanimously offered to him. Mr Mackenzie goes Home purely in the interest of tha farmers, in order that he may procure for them the besii market for their products on the most advftntogeous terms, and with the least incidental ontlay. T> quote a line from his instructions, he is to " open up direci trade with tbe coiwumera in Europe or elsewhere." The petition carrieß with it a handsome salary, but the expenses in connection with maintaining it are great, and were it nob that Mr Mackenzie po.'sessea private means ib is unlikely he could nave undertaken its daties and responsibilities, and when I asked him a qusoion on this point, he replied th«t>he felt sure that he ■would bo fully veoompensed by the gjedt experience he would gain and his prospect of increased usefulness to the colony. lam aware that the acceptance of the position has cauß«d him much thought, and in reply to my question as to whether he did not think he would be of more ''service to the colony by rimainiog here than by accepting an appointment abroad, he replied :

"That is the point which ha? given mo much concern, but cindidly I think I can be_ of more service in England.. Our party ia doing noble work here, bu' the colony appears to be contenb with its present managers, and theic majority is so lai'ge one more or less in oar band influences but little the legislation of the country, and became of that I concluded that I could in Eugland use a few years of my time to greater advantage than by staying here' in advancing the material interests of the agriculturists and pas*orali*ts of the colony. ' Suill, I feel very much parting with the Clutha conetituency. I have at all times been treated well— not to say indulgently treated— by the. people of the Clutha, and I am bound to them by ties of many happy associations and sincere gratitude. Still, it appears to me .to be of the first importance to this co'.ony that a thorough knowledge of how its products ara distributed should ba obtained, and in my opinion the only way in which that can bo done is by prosecuting active trade pursuits in the commercial metropolis of the world. A grasp can never be secured by any ofcher means."

" Is the trade in our produce not bsing done satisfactorily in England just now ? " "Wei l , I am not in a position to give an opinion ou that point. One hears of many complaints. Perhaps it is impossible to do any better, but that remains to be seen. One hears that the chaunels of trade are so fixed that it is impossible to make fresh departures. This I know : thab siuco Me Jamieson (the association's representative) went Home the farmer* doing trade with the association haVA been well satisfied with the result of his work."

"Do you propofe confining your work to farm produce alone ?" "Not if I can ba of service to any other industry. It 'should be possible to place in Free-tr-Ade England parcels of New Zealand-made woollen fnbcici. The Mcgiel, R«bn, and E»iapoi mills turn out excellent good*, some clas cs of which should command a market abroad. Tbea there are the great natural wonders of New Zealand to speak about whenever opportunity tfftra. I Bhall make known the mirvellous curativa properties of the water of our thermal springs district. I shall tell them of the grandeur of our scenery, our likes and waterfalls, our mountains, fiords, and glacierp, " and our pastoral and agricultural capabilities aud mining prospects." " Coming to tha personal aspect of the case, do you thiok you are ,wise in sacrificing the political future yon havo by severing youu connection with Ne v Zealand ? It is said you are sure of a seat in tbe'nexb Ministry."

" Please do not say severing things," replied 'Mr Mackenzie. "I csrtainly do not intend doiug thit. I am too strongly attached to New Zealand to be permanently trantplanted so easily. No country can ever possess for me the charms New ZeaUnd possesses, and to return and be of • service tD New Zealand will always be my greatest ambition." " Just one question about prohibition in the Clutha. It is said that the annoyances you recently received from the prohibitionists there had unsettled you. Is that so ?".

" I really had no bother. I had what one might call a mo?quifco attack, but that attack in no way refleoted the opinion of the prohibitionists in the district. The first was by a parson displeased because I refused to adopt the policy of changing my coat with the times which he advocated, and the other was by a teacher because I succeeded in showing that I had failed to commit the blunders he attributed to me. Ths prohibitionists of the Olutha are in the aggregate hard-headed people, and will not run after a man for one cry alone. I never professed to be a prohibitionist, still I received a large support from them because they thought me sound on other questions." v When do you resign your Education Board seat ? "

" I purpose going south to atlena the August meeting. As I wish to attend to several matters first, especially the locating of schools in the Rimu and, Tautaku districts, I shall probably j retain my seat until I leave, as I may have j opportunities of attending other meetings." As to the future reprasentation of the Clutha elsctorate, Mr Mnckeuzie stated he. had no fear for it. The traditions of the electorate showed* that they had in the past elected able representatives, and a district that returned for its members men, like' the late Mr James Macandrew, the late Sir John Richardson, and Mr J. W. Thomson were not Utyly to disgrace

fchemselveß in the matter cf parliamentary representation.