LIBERALISM CRITICISED.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIV, Issue 81, 30 November 1912, Page 7

LIBERALISM CRITICISED.

THE MEMBER FOR CHALMERS.

At the smoke concert held on i uesdav night to celebrate the ceremony of" officially turning on the mater sovicc for the Borough of W est Harhoni, Mr E. H. Clark, ALP. for Chalmers, in responding to the toast me I ailiamcnt of New Zealand, took tin. opportunity of making an explanation or why he voted against the Mackeny,ie Covermcnt in the division \v incli brought about its defeat. Mi- Clark said the politic! situation of New Zealand had caused very great interest during the last 12 months. When one had to judge what lie was to do in taking up a decided stand, when it came to voting for or against a party, tie had to take into consideration the information he had in Ids possession—both inside and outside information. Mr Clark said he would like to explain one little thing which greatly impressed him. A few years ago the Railway Department had issued a circular intimating that none of its employees should enter into competition in any way with outs.de employment, and quoted a case in which sucli employees had been prevented selling milk in competition with outsiders. Ho maintained that the department was perfectly .justified in not allowing such competition. But what had he found in fossicking round recently? That a gentleman in Now Zealand who was getting £725 a year and travelling expenses from the Government had been drawing a salary of £4OO or £SOO a year at the same time from an outside source. When they knew one or two little things like that it made them feel that a change could be no worse. He thought if they were to have a leader of a Liberal party he must he a Liberal. Now some six years ago lie stood against the late Prime Minister, the Hon. T. Mackenzie. Mr Mackenzie was then a supporter of the Conservative party. The late Air Seddon had come to his town on two occasions to get him to stand against Mr Mackenzie, and he had done so. Air Clark said lie had found that Air Mackenzie had opposed every Liberal measure which has "helped to make New Zealand what it was at the present time. He had voted against tiie cutting up of the large estates; against the advances to settlers and workers; against the Covernment coming to the assistance of the Bank of New Zealand. Jf they turned over the pages of Hansard they would find that a gentleman had moved twice to reduce the poll tax on Chinamen, as they would then have cheap labour in New Zealand—that, gentleman was Tom Alackenzie.— (Laughter.) When one knew what was going on—when they fount! the temptation to retain office was so keen, irrespective of results—-then he maintained he was justified in going for a change.—(“Hear, hear.”) And he was quite prepared to stand by what he had done.—(“Hear, hear.”) He was going to vote for Liberal measures every time, and as soon as lie saw any sign of faltering iii this direction they would hear from him. He would leave himself in the hands of the electors, continued the speaker, but he intended to always work in the interests of the people as a whole, and if the people did not get the legislation they imped for and desired, they would, of course, show their own judgment when they went to the poll.—(“Hear, hear.”)