MR THOMAS MACKENZIE AT HAMPDEN.

Otago Witness, Issue 2677, 5 July 1905, Page 18

MR THOMAS MACKENZIE AT HAMPDEN.

A full hall welcomed the member for Waikouaiti on Friday evening at Hampden. The Mayor (Mr Nicolson) presided, and in introducing Mr Mackenzie said it had been rumoured that he (Mr Nicolson) intended standing for Waikouaiti. That was incorrect. He had been requested to stand, but as long as they could obtain and keep a capable man of Mr Mackenzie's experience he would not only not oppose, but do his very b&st to retain his services. Mr Mackenzie had never gone back on a single promise he had ever made — (applause), — and he was 'an honour to the district. — (Aplause.) Mr Mackenzie was listened to with great attenion during his speech of an hour's duration, in which he enlarged still further on the land question and the probable trend of party development In tracing the history of State actions regarding land, after reviewing the history of land occupation in Asia, Egypt, and Europe, he said that had the State not taken the land from the Irish chiefs and given it to Cromwell'^ followers and, further, had the State not taken the land from the Highland clansmen and given it all to the chiefs, much suffering would have been saved. He had no great faith in the infallibility of State control of lands. Had the titles of the clansmen been individualised into freeholds, such would not have happened as the Highlanders being driven away to make room for deer forests. Britain was now making a splendid effort to undo- the wrongs of the past in Ireland by absolutely " granting £12,000,000 to assist towards forming a peasant proprietorship whereby tenants could, by paying 3i per cent, rent, obtain the freehold of their homes in a certain numbßr of years. An instance of rent fco secure the home as against rent previously charged showed in one case the payment of £120, as against £229 for rent without right of acquirement. It was interesting in. connection with the agitation now going on for the freehold to remember the three F's of the Irish Na' onal platform — viz., "Fixity of Tenure, Fair Rent, and Fre© Sale," and what Mr Edmond, M.P., said regarding freehold. His words were : " You must not remove the sense of absolute ownership, otherwise you seriously affect the proposal." And again: "The moment tho people became the owners of the land the soil of Ireland would produce double the value it produced at present." It. was -well, also, to remember the attitude Henry George took up to the proposal to rebuy the land of Ireland. He started a league to stump England, protesting against a single penny of State money being used to repurchase land for the Irish tenants; but, except in cities, lie was not listened to in England. Mr M. Joyce desired to know whether the member followed the lat© Sir John M'Kenzie in land legislation. Replying, Mr Mackenzie said that their ultimate object was the same— viz., settling the country a3 closely as possible, with due regard to economic management. They agreed and differed regarding the best xnean3 to be employed. For instance, Sir John M'Kenzie favoured continuous leasehold under the lande for settlements policy, whereas he (Mr T. Mackenzie) would for many reasons grant the freehold if desired, provided that intending purchasers could sho»v sufficient means, restricting the area.

Mr Joyce: Do you approve of Mr Massey's land policy? — Yes, in many respeete, but not all. I do not approve of the policy Mr Massey advocates of reintroducing; the homestead system, whereby a man with a family can obtain 200 acres absolutely free by residence and payiDg the survey fees.

Questioned as to party, Mr Mackenzie enlarged on. tkis and on its bearing relative

to the future. He considered that we were in a state of political evolution. A number of socialistic and semi-socialistio leagues ware forcing the position, and their influence was growing. Some advocated ail taxation being placed on lands ; others, in addition to taxing land for all revenue purposes, advocated (at least Mr Fowlds had done so) a tax sufficiently high to provide funds for the public works expenditure. Then there was the platform of the Christchurch New Political party, which urged the gradual resumption of the whole of the land by the State, and a gradual land tax to pay for the land as it was bought back from the present holders. It seemed to him •that those who had the real welfare of the country at heart must check such theoretic, impracticable notions, otherwise not only would the country's interests be ruined, bub the resultant effects on commerce and manufacturing in the cities would be disastrous. It was not difficult to see the coming dividing lines. It was to be between theory and practice — in other words, between town socialists and country workers, which included masters and men — and this applied very closely to all engaged in country labour, from the wages man up to the employer and occupier. If undue taxation was placed on the land the margin available for paying decent wages would be detrimentally affected. The relative forces were finding expression on the one hand in advocating the leasehold tenure only and land taxation, and on the other hand optional freehold and equitable taxation. This also accounted for the Premier's dilemma. Hitherto his chief 6iipport had been drained from cities and townships, together with the miners. Up to the present the agricultural and pastoral people had not shown that responsiveness to his Government that he could desire, and consequently he had to be exceedingly wary in what he did lest he lost the support of the one without gaining that^ of the other. His city supporters were pushing him sorely. When, therefore, the time came the country party could rely on him (Mr Mackenzie). Quite a number of questions were asked on important subjects, and answered to the evident satisfaction of the meeting. The Rev. Mr Nichol then ascended the platform, and said he wished to express his high admiration of the excellent, hightoned speech to which they had just listened, a e.peech containing the true ring of the patriot and statesman. It was faultless in manner and matter. When Mr Mackenzie struck, as he often did, it was at measures not at men, and in doing so he showed that he possessed the faculty of so clothing his expressions as to render them free from, personal off&nsiveness, and at the same time he effectually disposed cf the point attacked. Mr Nichol concluded by proposing a hearty vote of thanks and confidence. The motion was seconded by Mr Jas. Ross, jus., and carried unanimously. A vote of thanks to the chair concluded the meeting. The Mayor said the meeting was one of the most pleasant political gatherings that had taken place in Hainpden.