POLITICAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 70, 13 September 1911, Page 5

POLITICAL.

lION. T. MACKENZIE IN A QUANDARY. By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, Tuesday. Speaking to a Post reporter to-day in reference to the seat he was likely to at the coming elections, t?ie Hon. "T.. Mackenzie said the pftsition that the alterations of the Taieri seat appeared to him to be so absurd that he could hardly believe but that the commissioners will put it right. Should this be done, or the old constituency even largely restored, he was forced to stand ■f«r that seat. If, however, nothing were done in the direction indicated he might stand for some country seat in New Zealand that might wish his services. He was naturally desirous of continuing the work of the Department with which he was associated. He could see tfcaft with the intelligent scientific forward tnowemont in agriculture there was a prospect of doing much good for this community. The two and a-half years he had been a Minister had been a period of preparation for greater effort. "I naturally wish," added the Minister, "to represent a farming community, and hope that such may be available for me at next election."

INTERVIEW WITH MR. FOWLDS. Auckland, Tuesday. The Hon. G. Fowlds, on his arrival from Wellington, was asked if he thought his withdrawal from the Government meant the emergence, of a new party.! lie replied that he hoped that it would not be necessary. He would like to see the reorganisation of the Liberal Party on a more democratic basis. They could not brush aside the traditions and achievements of the Liberal Party of New Zealand without a great and lasting loss to the people of this country, but the party could not live on traditions and name labels alone. There was a danger of the party, after long years of prosperity and dominance, losing sight of its fundamental principles. The adhesion of people attracted by the hope of gain instead of love of principle had a paralysing effect on the Party. Parties adhere to names, while they entirely reversed their principles. Mr. Massey and the Opposition were advocating one or two progressive reforms, and under a new leader might easily step in and leave the Liberal Party sidetracked. What was wanted was to get back to fundamental principles formulated by Sir George Grey and Mr. Ballance, the founders of the Liberal Party, which were capable of almost indefinite extension, and would solve many of our pressing social problems. Some of his enemies had been dangling the old I bogies of single-tax and free trade as the j new evangel which the Liberal Party needed. The policy required did not necessarily include either single tax or free trade, as many people understood these names* but did necessarily include increased land values, taxation and further remission of duties on the necessaries of life.

THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Wellington, Last Night. Questioned on the subject this evening, the Prime Minister stated that no appointments would be made until after the general election. He added! that no consideration would be given to the subject until after the elections. The Waimate Witness says it has the best authority 'for stating that Mr. O'Dea has been adopted as the (Ministerial candidate for the Patea electorate, and will receive the Liberal support throughout the electorate. The position now is that, it will be a light to a fihish between Mr. Pearce, the sitting member, and Mr. O'Dea, and beyond question it will be one of the keenest and most interesting contests in the 'Paranalei district. Mr. O'Dea opens his campaign in 'Hawera. on. the 19th inst., when he will expound his full political programme and submit himself without reserve to the judgment of the electors. Sir John Findlay has announced that he intendsi to contest a seat in the ■popular chamber (says the Eltham Argus). We are pleased that be has resolved to .take this course. He lias done good work for the Dominion in the Legislative Council, but he is a young man yet, witli all liis mental activities in full flow, and on the floor of the House is where he should be. There, iii the hurly-burly of active political conflict, the public will more readily appreciate his great mental powers, and in that place he will be better enabled to deal with his critics. It is not announced yet what constituency he will stand for. He has had private requests from many quarters (Egmorit included) asking! him to offer his services. He must quickly make his choice—for election day draw® night; but whatever ■seat he stands for he will afford the electors an opportunity of securing as their representative one of the brightest, intellects in the Dominion—a youn« New Zealander of whom any electorate°would have reason to be proud.