SUMMARY.

Colonist, Volume LIII, Issue 13168, 26 July 1911, Page 5 (Supplement)

SUMMARY.

THE MINISTER OF PUBLIC WORKS.

(From "The Colonist," July 13.) Hon R. McKenzie has earned the thanks of the LiberaLParty by his admirable" speech at Wakefield last night in defence of the present Administration against the'criticism levelled at it by.Mr Massey and his colleague ■Mr Herries during their respective visits to this district. The speech was characteristic of the man. It was a plain and straightforward exposition of a plain and straightforward case, and an effective reply to the endeavours of Conservative politicians to depreciate the achievements of twenty years of Liberal statesmanship. A short time since we had occasion to recapitulate some of the more recent features of Liberal policy in combatting the assertion of a contemporary 'that the "wave of Liberalism" ..on which Mr Balhince came to office is Spent, and that the country-requires a change of Government and a fresh start. If the country desires a change it obviously is only necessary for the country to express its desire to obtain it. The very decided manner in which tho country has expressed its convictions at election after election ever "since the "wave of Liberalism" started upon its course is ascribed by our Conservative friends to the electors' provoking perverseness in resolutely declining to turn their backs upon tho proved servant and set up in its place the substitute they have to offer. By the more rabid Conservative Press the unabated confidence of the country in the Party that rescued it from the unfortunate plight into which it had drifted under a regime to which they. desire it to revert, is ascribed to another cause less creditable to those who suggest it. We have no doubt as to what tho answer of the country will be in November next to the Opposition's appeal to bo "given a chance" on the Treasury benches. During the campaign which is now in progress more misrepresentation than usual has been indulged in by Opposition speakers regarding the Government and its works, but in every rose the facts have received prompt publication at the hands of Ministers, and the misstatonients of the former have recoiled upon themselves. They have had very littlo if any effect in the direction intended, but on the other hand they have given the champions of Liberalism not a few opportunities which might otherwise have been overlooked of pointing their lesson. It was left for the Minister, of Public Works last night to scotch similar unfair criticism of the administration of his department on the part of tho Leader of the Opposition. Dealing as it did with practically the same subjects, Mr McKenzie's address was naturally to some extent on similar linos to tho addresses delivered at Dunedin, Christclmrch, and elsewhere by the acting-Premier, to whose notable vindication of the Government's financial policy we referred a few days ago. Mr McKenzio went further into detail, however, to demonstrate tho absurdity of the "taxation bogey" created by the Leader of the Opposition, and in this connection Mr McKenzie's comparison of the Customs revenue last year with the sum .which would have been collected had the tariff of 1891 remained in force was particularly effective. Remission of taxation amounting to £5,322,048 in twenty years is an argument, the force of which to people with whom the cost of living is an ever present problem, no amount of declamation can diminish. The lengthy list of remissions quoted by Mr MeKon/.ie upon articles in evenday use in.every home in tho land represents a more practical effort to deal with pressing economic problems than Mr Massey's speculations at Wellington the other day on the subject of death duties ar.d taxation of banks and racing clubs,' which by some obscure process of reasoning he held to bo accountable for the disadvantages borne by the poorer classes of the Community. Probably, however, the portion of Mr McKcuzio's address that was of the deepest interest to his hearers was that in which ho dealt with the operations of his own departments. When Mr McKenzio was selected by the Prime Minister to undertake the portfolios of Public Works and Mines, it was felt by his friends, and also by not a few who in a political sense are far from being his friends, that a wise appointment had been made. The new Minister brought to bear upon the problems confronting those departments a wealth of practical experience, and it was expected that under his guidance tho forward policy of development which had been pursued for many years would be expanded and directed to even hotter advantage. That, expectation is being fulfilled. Tho Government is, as Mr McKenzie said last night, straining every norve to assist "the settlers who laid the foundations of civilisation in the backblocks, people of tho sturdy, independent type, who were determined to make homes for themselves and provide for their declining years." They are, to quote tho Minister's words again, the class of people who make a young country great and prosperous, and the removal of the disabilities under which such people lab-, our isa matter of national obligation high above the disputes of party politics. In Mr McKenzie we have a Minister of Public Works whoso heart is with tho sottlers ho is striving to assist, and it will bo no fault of his if the programme he outlined last night to meet the needs of the situation does not proceed with tho rapidity lie.has planned for it. On tho whole it was an encouraging story Mr McKenzie had to tell of the operations of the department which is more intimately concerned than any other with tho development of the country, a story of vast undertakings making steady progress towards completion, and opening up great possibilities of future settlement and production. Such a recital of cold facts is the best possible refutation of the familiar slander: that the Liberalism of to-day falls short of the Liberalism of earlier years in vigour, initiative, and resource in any of the functions of government,.- and no administration can base its claim to the continued confidence of the people on a stronger ground than such a record of* achievement: as that which stands to the credit'of Liberal policy in New Zealand.