MR M'KENZIE'S SPEECH

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7181, 4 June 1891, Page 4

MR M'KENZIE'S SPEECH

— ♦ FURTHER COMMENT. [fbom oub own cobrespondent.] WELLINGTON, June~3. The following appeared in the New . Zealand Times this morning on the subject i of Mr M'Kenzie's speech :— i The preliminary portion of Mr M'Kenzie'a 1 speech is not new ; his statements of the Ministerial administration during the : recess, and of the Government policy now ' forming, having been, in the ordinary course of events, largely anticipated. The greater portion of the speech, which deals with the administration of Mr M'Kenzie'a own department, covers new ground, and is a triumphant categorical vindication of most of the things Mr M'Kenzie has done. No Minister charged with the settlement of public lands could have passed over the transfer of 15,000 acres in Canterbury, contrary to the intentions of the Legislature. No Minister with a spark of Eeiise of duty could have failed to bring to the notice of the Wellington Laud Board the 74A selections with two or three residents, and 195 settlers, who have partially com • plied with the conditions. In these latter matters Mr M'Kenzie has established hia case heavily against the Wellington Land Board. But HIS CEOWNING TMUIIPH was the detailed reply to Mr Spence, of Invercargill. The permitted malpractices of the Croydon sawmillers, the impudent monopoly of forest reserves, the improper sale of forest lands at one-fifth of their value, the total neglect by the rangers of their duty — these things, which are proved up to the hilt, make us wonder at Mr M'Kenzie's moderation in simply removing Mr Sp'eace when he might have dismissed him. The appointment of Ranger Campbell, of which so much baa been said, turns out to be the very best that could have been made. The documentary evidence is sc clear and full that nothing more should be heard of Mr Spence, at all events. Along the whole line of administration there is abundant proof to sustain the Minister's action. Looking to the future, we congratulate Mr M'Kenzie on having determined to recognise the freehold principle in THE IiAXD BILL he is framing. The main principle of that measure, we gather from his speech, is that a choice of all the tenures, from cash freehold to settlement leasehold, will be offered to intending settlers. Mr M'Kenzie has proved (1) that he has done right; (2) that the Laud Act must, in the interests of settlement, bo amended; (3) that the amendments he is devising are, in the main, right in principle.