MR THOMAS MACKENZIE'S CLAIM REJECTED. (From Our Own Correspondent.)

Otago Witness, Issue 2387, 30 November 1899, Page 32

MR THOMAS MACKENZIE'S CLAIM REJECTED. (From Our Own Correspondent.)

WELLINGTON, November 22. Mr Thomas Mackenzie has lodged an application to be placed on tho Wellington roll, iipon which ho claims he is entitled to register. The schedule of the act and tho act itself are in apparent conflict on the 'point. After taking legal opinion the registrar of electors rejected the claim on the ground that Mr Mackenzie had not complied with the condition of three months' continuous residence in. one electorate. Mr Mackenzie arrived in New Zealand waters on the 20th of August. At the request oftlio farmer»'ond insurance people in Auckland he stayed two daya there giving information on gome points in connection with the frozen meat trade. This delay has resulted in his being disqualified. Considerable interest has been taken in the question here and by the agriculturists of Canterbury, as it is felt that Mr Mackenzie could have been of great value in Parliament in dealing with questions affecting our produce and on commercial subjects, and severe comments are passed on laws which deprive colonists who move about of their privileges and the country of the services of men who can bring fretJi opinions and enterprise to help to develop the interests of New Zealand.

MR THOMAS MACKENZIE'S POSITION. (Fhom Our Own Coiirespondent.) WELLINGTON, November 24. An important decision was arrived at today in connection with Mr Thomas Mackenzie's position. Although the registrar of electors here refused to enrol Mr Mackenzie as an elector, the returning officer for Olutha will not refuse his nomination as a candidate, even although he is not an elector. Clause 9 of the main act so provides. Olutha, however, is the only constituency he could stand f or, so that should his supporters wish him' to reconsider his Waitepeka withdrawal from that contest there is nothing in the law to prevent his complying were he venturesome enough to hazard winning, with a week's time only at his disposal, so wide-spreading a constituency,when so old and tried a candidate as Mr Thomson is in possession of the field. Mr Mackenzie is still in Wellington.