THE OTAKI SEAT.

Otaki Mail, Volume 26, 19 September 1919, Page 3

THE OTAKI SEAT.

i. ■me j. mckenzie at otaki. BRANCH OF- LABOUR PARTY FORMED. Mr J. McKenzie, who has been chosen as the Labour candidate for the Otaki seat, addressed a meeting at the Otaki Theatre" meeting-room last evening, when there Was a satisfactory attendance.

Mr A. E. Rudkin, who occupied the chair, explained that the meeting was called so that Mr McKenzie might be introduced to the people of Otaki, and to-form the nucleus, of a branch of the Labour Party to carry on campaign work in this district. He had known Air AlcKenzie personally for some time, knew that he came as a faithful representative of labour, and that it would be hard to find a better man to carry the Labour banner. (Applause.)

Mr McKenzie said it was not desirable'to give an address at length, but he wished to state that he happened to be the Labour candidate at tho request of branches of tho Labour Parly in this district. Others had been nominated, including Mr ,T. Robertson, cxM.P., who had withdrawn, while, he himself had been regarded as a suitable candidate. He had been in Levin with Mr. Peter Fraser, had visited the Packakariki branch, which was a particui larly strong one for a small place, ho j was due at the Hutt to form a branch, J and afterwards would go on to JohnI sonville. lie stated very few were | satisfied with the way in which the country had been governed during tho past five years, and considered the constitution of the country had been violated, and huge sums of money wasted. There was no doubt that the Government of the country had been bad, while noth leaders had boon taken to task for leaving the I country at a critical, period. He held I there was no need for the repeated | trips to the Old Country, which had | been made ostensibly for the. signing of the pease treaty. There was no need for their presence, their signatures were useless, and tlic money spent on' the trip was absolutely wasted. The excursions were purely pleasure ones, and ‘while the Empire was trembling in the balaneo our leaders were renewing old acquaintances. The public business neglected was more serious than tho money wasted. Air McKenzie then dealt on profiteering, and contended that Air Massey knew it was going on. and that instead of gadding about the country should have been giving the matter his attention. He considered the Union S.S. Co. could have been purchased for £1,000,000, yet the Government had paid about £3,000,000 for the charter of some of the ships. In face of all this Air Alassey made believe there was no profiteering. Again in the flour-milling industry the Government had paid out enough to secure plants, and £300,000 of the people’s'money had | gone and there was nothing tangible to show for it. Profiteering, he considered, was to a large extent the cause of the increased cost of living. Air McKenzie maintained there was also profiteering in land, especially as regards settling soldiers, and stated that money went into tho pockets of landowners while soldiers did not get the land. They wore only allowed to go on with heavy mortgages, and to provide C or 7 per cent interest and sinking fund. He considered everything was done with the connivance of the Government, and that if butter fell only 3d per lb it would mean wholesale bankruptcy among the soldiers who held land. Mr McKenzie considered the case of profiteering against a AA’eilington firm for a few yards of flannel was a joke, especially when it was taken into consideration that the shipping companies had carried on profiteering expensively. The Labour Party, he said, stood for the national ownership of great monopolies and to pass the benefit on to the community. At present, he said, profits went into the pockets of a small section of the'community. Mr AlcKenzie dealt with-tho coal question, and stated the trouble existed because miners and owners could not agree. On this account the whole community was penalised. He considered the Government should own such an industry, which was of vital importance, and pointed out that shipping companies made huge profits in the carrying of coal. This meant that the consumer had to pay high prices. The remedy j was that the public should own the | industries. In conclusion he asked who ruled the country—the Union S.S. Co. or members of Parliament?

In answer to questions, tlie candidate stated he believed it to be a fact that the Union S.S. Co. had sold out, and that in future there would.be more than one combine, and in consequence charges for ocean carriage would not bo reduced; that it would be to the Labour Party’s interest to get our own ships to do our own work. He said a working man was a man who rendered useful service to the community, and people living on interest were nothing but drones. He thought it best io take the Savings Bank as a nucleus to establish a State Bank. He considered the Government should be capable Or rying on successfully all big industries. He said that the railways had been run successfully, and added that the Government was not favourable to State enterprise, and three years ago threatcnee to sell State coal mines. The ! Government discouraged State enterprises and might even wish to sell the . railways. The go-slow policy was praet tiealy a strike, but it was unfair to J S unfiirly criticise the miners who had' | realy done well and during the recent I strew had increased the output corn? 1 sidetablv. The liquor problem wasSffiie • for the people to decide, and a new jli'siß should be included in the new ibalht papers. On th 6 last occasion he- ' had voted continuance,' bufcapersanaliy I he believed in .State cnnffoL although ! he was not against prohibition. He did 'nobthink prohibition would be a sue--1 cels, as sly-grog depots would mean, the appointment of scores of spies. Ho

thought the press were to blame-for the friction between Labour and' Capital,

-and considered articles in the AVeUington paper scurrilous. He thought it fair to have a flat rate for all soldiers • —he.believed in no distinction between officers And men. If they elected him he eomd not say where he would take up residence; but it was quite possible lie would live in the constituency. He was not esnversant xvith co-operative labour, but would make it a matter of consideration. He thought the soldier should be placed on the same footing as the civilian when selling land, and considered it tvrong to place restrictions on soldiers. " He considered the Government conniving and encouraging tho high prices of land, and contended there was something wrong in the land laws.

At this stage the Chairman pointed out that-the hour was late, and. asked some one to move to form a brunch ot the Labour Party in Otaki.

Air Wesley Kuight then moved in that direction, which was seconded by Air Wells and carried. Mr F. J. Ryder said he would hand in bis name as. a member if Air McKenzie would assune him he was out for the welfare of the country. He (the speaker) had started life as a worker and had more feeling with the worker than with the capitalist. He had no time for combines and none •for-Red Feds.

Air F. Coley said if Air AlcKenzie was not a Red Fed or an extreme capitalist and willing to work on moderate lines, lie would give liim support. Mr J. Jlackie said lie would do likewise. Air AlcKenzie said he did not stand for direct action, and would do his best for the country; he was not an extreme capitalist or a Red Fed. Air F. ,T. Ryder was then appointed chairman and Air A. I?. Rudkin secretary of (lie branch, while the following were-elected an executive: Messrs Wesley Knight, .1. Alackie, Tom Wells, Geo. Brantley, li. Webby, and W. Vaughan.

Air Ryder said when he came to the meeting lie had no thought of being elected chairman, and now that he had been appointed) ho wished to say he had been.one of tho founders of New- Zealand. He had been prosperous—few had been more so —and he had the welfare of the country at heart. Unless the system of government was altered ho predicted serious trouble, and considered every man who worked, whether with pen or spade, was essential. He looked upon those who did nothing as drones, and all know liow a hive of bees dealt with such in winter. He considered the “cocky” the hardestworked man —he had long and teuous hours and oftimes had to employ his ■wife and family. It was a fact that people were flocking from the country into toivn, and soon the country would not bo able to feed the city dwellors. He had much feeling for a good working man, and he advised man and master to be loyal to each other. As chairman of the local branch he was going to scrutinise their candidate, and sec what was in him. If. ho had proved a good man, well and good; if not, then something would be done. Air Ryder then instanced how he -had purchased a large holding, how hard he had worked on u, and how the rate of interest on money borrowed had been increased because of his labours.

Votes of thanks were then accorded tho candidate and chairman.