MACKENVIE v. DIVE.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 143647, 15 November 1911, Page 2

MACKENVIE v. DIVE.

Sir. Dive made a good point against the Hon. T. Mackenzie at Kaponga on Monday night. Speaking of the methods being adopted to secure the Minister’s return for Egmont, he said that a circular had been sent round to the various dairy companies for signature by the chairman, extolling the wonderful progress made in tho Minister’s department. The fact of tho matter was, Mr. Dire said, that Taranaki was in advance of tho department. Where, he asked, was there a district which owned its own freezing works and manufactured its own butter boxes. AVhat sort of a place would Taranaki bo if, in the past, Mr. Mackenzie had had his way? The FJgmont electors are now asked to support Mr. Mackenzie because ho is Minister of Agriculture, who bases his claims for support on what he will be able to do by virtue of that position. And in order to enable him to assist tho dairy industry he has been sending the officers of his department to Taranaki to buy the best dairy stock ho can procure, buying it, too, above tho heaas ot tne farmers, running tho prices up to figures they cannot afford to pay, and taking some of tho best animals away to build up a dairy herd in the Wellington province. That is tho way he is helping the dairy industry of Taranaki. Mr. Dive, on the other hand, has for very many years taken an active part in building up the industry in Taranaki, and in bringing about the very condition of things which furnishes an object lesson to the whole Dominion and to tho Minister who now seeks to supplant him. Mr. Dive has taken in the very past an active part in the establishment of freezing works and butter box factory, which also are object lessons to the Dominion. As a private member he is, of course, unable to make promises such as a Minister of the Crown can make, but he has tho advantage of a long career of great usefulness to tho dairy industry of Taranaki to set against the Minister’s promises of what he will do to help tho industry, if the electors of Egmont will send him back to Parliament in tho place of their proved friend, the sitting member. If, however, Mr. Mackenzie does not retain the portfolio of Agriculture, what can he do to help the industry? And judging from what Mr. M'Nab said at Palmerston the other day he also aspires to the portfolio.