THE POLITICAL SITUATION.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 9113, 19 December 1907, Page 2

THE POLITICAL SITUATION.

-r-a r— MR T. MACKENZIE'^ ALLEGI- . " ANCE. •■/■■■■_■ [Futon Ova Coa»Ttavovjx^fv._ DUNEDIN December 19. _ In an interview respecting the ppliti-' pal tatuation Mr Thon^as Mackenzie, M.P., eaid that forty-six members had pledged themselves to help tp rest Pre to the smth. its old seats, an 4 $ir J. Ward was ifl. favour -of tj^s also. A measure would, therefore, have gone through had no opposition been *-&Pwn. " Reprefsentation/ ■ said Mr Mackenzip, " will suffer severely in consequence. Some twenty years ago we had twelve country members, and four or five city members. Under last year's distribution the representatives will new be about equal, nominally five members each for the town and the country, and Port Chalmers will, at the election following, be absorbed in /Dunedin. On one point most of us are agreefl. : yiz., that many electorate^ now will be beyond the physical and financial means of a number of well-qualified men> fvd, further, thP Plectprp and tives are heartily sick of those everlasting changes,* involving, ihany of them do, the entire destruction pi all community of interest. In 1900 .1 wap returned as ( Independent.' With referencelto that portion of your question, regarding the continuing as aii dependent' member, I may say that I find on all hands the opinion, expressed that as long as a party system exist-s members oi Parliament, to accomplish most work, ought to attach themselves to cm© party pr tj*© pthp£. npw, regarding my future, two thoughts poour to nie. The finst isi Dpecf any .constituency.desire my services? There is hardly time for an expression of opinion yet. TJip second is : _4m Iby fighting alone' putting my time and strength, to the best use? My friends urge me strongly to increase my usefulness in the changed political situation by at^ taching myself to one pa-rty ptc the ■ptter. Very well, then, ii". geems ta me th^t the attitude I took up at kouaiti bn" Dominion i._i,y # thp right one. I eaid I believed that the W#r4 Cabinet was endeavouring' honestly to administer the affairs of this country,, and that I would suppqirt the Government that did co. It is aclmpwledged that in many matteiis Sir Joseph Ward has done well, notiqeably 'in tlie slaughtermen's strike, and in other cases which I heed not here enumerate. That ip my -view on the political situation as a whole. Ofoouise it is imTHKdble. to find; a perfect Govena-ftpnt. put what I think strange is tbat whilst we see a. Government liablp tff loisp support wlien it is ifeally active in. the \hejs_i interests of the <*puntry it does not, on account of the party -system, obtain the support which is ihs due. I, of oourse, can only .^peak fojr niyself, apd, therpfpre, I for ojrp, in of "tfte change tjiat has cpm^ pyej fche pcatipn/ •of ' publio affairs, intend to support Sir Joseph Ward, and "to enpourage him in every way in doing good' work for the people of this dominion. At this point my reply to your inquiry regarding my seeking re-election might be s made, and that is, if in any of the # newly-formed electorates a general * wish*, should .to© - expressed for my services;, I am willing to stand on' the lines indicated a mo-ment-ago. I said I speak entirely for myself, but I "cannot refrain from expressing the opinion tbat unless at this juncture, or in the near future, other Public men should "see their way to dp likewise it will, I fear, require no "gift q'f seppnd ®[ght to foresee intp. wft-ftsje bftnds the balance pf wwer ift ,*Gfejp ppuntfy will gjiortly fail. 5 ' <