TELEGRAMS.

West Coast Times, 25 June 1912, Page 3

TELEGRAMS.

RODDY MACKENZIE SPEIKSiOUT TOO MANY WOBBLERS ABOUT. OUT OF SYMPATHY WITH PRESENT GOVERNMENT. [PEE PP.ESB ASSOCIATION..—COPYRIGHT.] NELSON, Juno 24. Speaking at a social in his honour in Collingwood, tho Hon. Roderick McKenzie said tho non-party men were the curse of the present Parliament. Ho could not foreshadow the immediate results of the present situation, but he thought it would mean an appeal to the country again in the near future. There were many who would sooner put the, country to the expense of another election than accept the present position and lot po-

lilies drift. No one in New Zealand could say what would happen within tl.<> next two or three weeks, but tho present Government would probably go out. Ho was in favour of coalition or an appeal to tho country. Others must bo made to recognise their responsibility. If he felt bound to force a dissolution ho would do so, but he had no idea yet what would happen.

Mr. McKenzie could have been in the present Ministry if ho had desired, but felt it his duty to himself and to the country to decline. There

wore too many independents there, with whom ho was out of sympathy. Every wobbler had, of late years, tacked himself on to the tail of the Liberals in order to get into mid remain in Parliament. The political

parties should be recast and revised. Ho did not propose to attach himself to any rank Tory or ultra-Liboral, but ho believed there were enough good men in the House to form a strong Government. The High Commissionership had not been offered to Mr. McKenzie. If it should he would have to seriously consider his position in tho present crisis.