MR M'KENZIE'S SPEECH

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7180, 3 June 1891, Page 4

MR M'KENZIE'S SPEECH

WELLINGTON OPINION. TyBOM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.] WELLINGTON, June 2. The speech, of the Minister for Lands las been remarkably well received here. A shrewd observer remarked to me, early in the day, that the present Government never gets on to a platform without scor <ng. That represents a rather generalfeeling here ■with all sorts and conditions of men. The speech at Palmeraton has told very strongly. I send you a few extracts from the article in the Post. OF MR m'KBNZIB'S LAND PROPOSALS we can speak generally with favour. He has now made himself clear on the question of tenure, and we are glad xo find that his policy is wiser and more acceptable than his prsvioua utterances and some of his actions had led people generally to suppose it to be. It i 3 satisfactory to find that he is not determined to absolutely bar the acquisition of Treehoma by persons Who debta to see their families grow up beneath their, own and fig tree, and so Ifrrtg aa MIS I?Sehol<J tenure is. left* \ro have no objection whatever to tliS other tenures which Mr M'KenZie himself prefers. Eegarding the -reform of the Legislative Council, the electoral laws, and the reduction of poatage rates, the Minister for Lands told the Colony nothing now. The greatest part of the speech was taken up in vindication of the Ministerial action in the past, and his own conduct in particular. Here MR M'KENZIK UNDOUBTEDLY SCORED HEATILY. Hie defence of the Ministry from responsibility for the two sessions was absolutely complete ; and so far as assertions go, co was his vindication of the manner in which lie Civil Service retrenchments have been carried out. Undoubtedly powerful, and In a large degree conclusive, he makes a bettor case out in justification of his interference with the Wellington Land Board than we conceived possible. The figures given as to dummyism in Canterbury are sufficiently startling, and fully justify Mr M'Kenzie'a contention that an amendment of the law to prevent such transactions is Absolutely necessary. The remedy he proposes is a drastic one, but no* more severe than the circumstances would seem to justify. From THE BITTER ATTACK MADE ON HIM recently at Invercargill by If r Spence, the Minuter for Lands emerged triumphant. flia reply is thoroughly circumstantial, and is supported by indisputable evidence that the action taken by him, which Mr Spence so unequivocally impugned, was entirely justifiable, and taken in the public interest. We did not republish or lay any stress upon Mr Spence's accusations, because on their very face they bore the stamp of improbability and were evidently the utterances and imaginings of a disappointed and angry man. We congratulate the Minister for jjanda on the complete answer he has been able to make in self -vindication. It is, we think, to be regretted that Mr M'Kenzie marred his otherwise moderate and excellent speech by his concluding onslaught on the Otago Daily Times and its proprietary. No one can deny that he received considerable provocation, for the manner in which he has been written of -and referred to in that paper has exceeded all the bounds of fair criticism or political «ourtesy. Still, Mr M'Kenzie could have -afforded to let the matter pass, and would, we think, have acted more wisely had he -done so. Altogether, the speech of the Minister for Lands should strengthen the Ministry throughout the Colony.