THE HON. T. MACKENZIE.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 66, 1 November 1911, Page 5

THE HON. T. MACKENZIE.

ADDRESS AT ELTHAM

The Hon. T. Mackenzie, Liberal candidate for the EgmomJ seat, addressed the electors at the Eltham Town Hall last night. Tiie hall was | cohrfortably filled. The Mayor (Mr. *' Wake) presided, and bespoke for the speaker a fair hearing. Mr. Mackenzie said he appeared before the Egmont electors, not as a man who had been born in New ZcaI land, but as one who has been born in Edinburgh. It had been said that no southern rejects were required in 'tne north; but in the south he had had a record of victories. He had stood first in the south in 1887, and had been ..successful in winning seats ever siflße! In 1896 lie had taken advantage of a position in Great Britain during which he had clone great service for : the country. In 1899 he had returned to the colony, at the next , election he was elected to Parliament. There were those who declared that he'had turned a political somersault, but he defied anybody to produce evidence- to that "effect-. People said. he . should have stood for -a 'portion of his old electorate, but it had been cut up into inany pieces. He had won four separatei'Seats in the south, and it could not be said that ho was a reject of the south. Taranaki_, in his opinion, was not a province of parochial views. It was one "of thoso provinces which welcomed peoples of all kinds. The Port of New rlymouth would probably become one of the best ports in Taranaki. The first duty of the legislators of a country was to see tnat the chief industries of the country Wer« considered. If people looked hack for. twenty years tney would sea how much the country had progressed .since then. The Government of the Dominion at the present time had done much more for the farmers than any .other previous Government. As regarded the statement that he was to'occupy the position of Agent-Gen-eral} lie had had to combat the statement, previously. As regards women's ■suffrage," he had voted in favour of it.';-Mr. Massey was vory honest in bringing forward his "Family Homes Bill," but the fact was that the Government hud brought in statutes in similar offect. Mr. Massey was the political Kip Van Winkle. As to the national debt, if the latest loan was a failure the Conservative press of the. Dominion had done its. best to make-it so. It was what was done, and not;what was said, which counted. The Opposition claimed to have initiated almost every movement. The Opposition objected to the expenditure of money, but at the same time asked for the spending of large sums cf money. The Opposition objected to the raising of money; but when it was raised' they were as clamant as anybody else for their share of expenditure. If borrowing was carried en oh proper lines it was a good thing. | Mr. Massey had said that taxation had increased, but taxation bad increased in a good way—it had been ■ put on those who could afford it, and taken ofF those who could not afford it;", The income tax was much larger ,■ than it was in the previous' year, but those paying the tax were those the best able'to pay it. As to land policy. Mr.; Massey had said he had voted agftinst a certain amendment; but, being a member of the Government, how could ho vote against the Government on what was really a no-con-fidence motion. He desired to see the whole of the land devoted to close settlement. He thought that nothing more had been done for settlers by any Government beyond what had been done by the present Government. As to defence ma tiers, it'had to he "■ recognised that China was awakening. If Britain was engaged in an outside war, how could she look to , the defence of New Zealand ? It depended on the people of New Zealand to look'to the country's defence, and overybody should take his share. He (Mr. Mackenzie) was fighting his own battle. He hoped to see the best men sent to Parliament. There were many problems confronting the public. He , had: no doubt that within a short time there would be good trade between New Zealand and the Continent. At present there was too much time spent on personal charges against members. Sir Joseph Ward had spoken about an Imperial Council, and this would have to come in time. The existence of the Empire depended on the adherence of the whole 6f ,tho parts.., Mr. Mackenzie concluded by an oxhbrtation to electors to recognise their responsibilities in respect of .voting. In reply to questions, Mr. Mackenzie said he could not support the bare majority. Instead of establishing the present number of experimental farms ho was in favour of establishing a larger number of small farms. It sometimes took more than two years .to get information regarding the cost of loans. The Government al- ' ways gave'such information as soon as received. The number of Chineeo in New Zealand was diminishing, and therefore there was no necessity for increasing tho poll tax. An export duty should bo put on both white pine and kauri timber. A vote of thanks was passed to tho speaker on the motion of Mr. McQueen ; seconded by Mr. Slater.