THE MOTUEKA SEAT.

Colonist, Volume LIV, Issue 13262, 13 November 1911, Page 3

THE MOTUEKA SEAT.

MR, McKENZIE'S CANDIDATURE

On Friday night the Hon. R. McKenzio addressed one of the best attended meetings ever held in the Tadmor Hall, about ninety electors being present in spite of the exceedingly wot nitrht, many having travelled long distances to attend. During thp evening the rain was so heavy that tho speaker's voice was at times almost drowned. Mr. S. Moffitt, who was in the chair, said Mr. McKenzie required no introduction from him,

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*s he was well «ad favoitrabJy fciiowu io ttJl of them. Mr. McKcnziu, who was received with applauso, said that ho had represented the district for 18 yoars, and he believed he retained their confidence. He regretted that the pressure of Itis duties prevented him from coming to their district us often as i he would like to, but as ho held the portfolios of Public Works, Mines, iloads and Bridges, and Customs the amount of work entailed necessarily kept him continually occupied. Referring to tho Nelson-Midland railway Mr. McKenzie said that when ho told them a few years ago that there would, bo a railway to Tadtnor they no doubt thought he .was romancing, but it was now an accomplished tact as well as a boon to the settlers of the district. The Government proposed to carry on the railway still further because' there wore settlers further ou who wanted it quite as much as the Tadmor people had dono 14 years ago. In tho event of the Opposition getting into power, which, however, he did not believe lor a- monipnt they would the extension of tho railway to the Inangahua Junction would, undoubtedly stop. As it was it had taken him all his time, energy and persistency to get the railway to tho Hope, If the amount of money to be borrowed was to be reduced as demanded by the Opposition, ranway construction would cease or be much curtailed. Personally he believed it was a profitable business to open up the country and develop its latent resources, and he saw no good reason why tho Liberal Party's progressive policy should cease. If borrowing was to cease, a large number of »en in the country would bo put out of employment. A good many of those now settled on the land had started on co-operative, works. Having saved a little money they had either taken up a section or taken advantage of the workers' home scheme to obtain their own holdings and they wore now making some of the very best colonists they had. In regard to tho sysj tern of small contracts, with a nominal deposit, he intended to give it a trial at tho Hope Valley before long, and the people of the district would bo able to see for themselves | how it worked. Mr. McKenzie mentioned as an instance of the contract, system, that a contract was advertised iii Otago some time ago and the tenders received were very much higher than the Department's engineers considered they should cost. 'Hie lowest being £12,000 above the engineer's estimate. Tho Government were now carrying out the work themselves and lie had not the slightest doubt that it would be carried through within the engineer's estimate. Under tho small eontrac-f system tho men would be each more free than they were now, but outside of that he was going to keep to the co--1 operative system. In conclusion, Mr. iVLcKonzie said he believed he was personally known to every person in the district. Ho had had their confidence for 18 years and claimed that He liad^done justice to them on cadi and every occasion, therefore lie did not think they would support anyone else as against him. Nor did he know anybody who could represent them better than lie had done. He was quite satisfied to leave the issue to'their judgment. Mr. McKenzie concluded his speech, which occupied an hour and 48 minutes, amidst prolonged applause. On the motion ol Messrs. T. Hodgkins«n and J. Cusack the Minister was accorded a hearty vote of thanks and confidence. A vote of thanks to the chairman concluded tho meeting. On Saturday night Mr. MoKenzio had a very successful meeting at Upper Moutero and yesterday proceeded overland to Collingwood, where ho will address meetings this week .