POLITICAL

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 124, 16 November 1911, Page 2

POLITICAL

THE ROTOKAIIE DOMAIN. iSOME EXCITING PASSAGES. Tn connection with Mr. Mackenzie's meeting at Rawhitiroa on Monday night, the atmosphere at one period during questions became somewhat charged with electricity, and interest was worked up to a high pitch. The cause was some questions asked by Mr. O'Shea regarding the Rotokare Domain. Addressing the Minister, Mr. O'Shea said: "If you are the great champion for the settler, why did you, on June 21st, 1902, vote against the leaseholder of Rotokare Domain having the chance of going before a court of justice and having his case tried?" The Minister: Do you say I did so? Mr. O'Shea: Yes. The Minister: Do you mean to say that by a vote I gave in Parliament I opposed your ease having the chance of going before a court of justice? Mr. O'Shea: Yes, The Minister: I never gave any such vote. Mr. O'Shea, excitedly: Yes, you did. I have Hansard here and will prove it. Mr. O'Shea followed this remark up by undoing a bundle of papers he had with him, and he took therefrom a copy of Hansard and made his way to the plat■forni. A* lie was doing this, Mr. Mackenzie remarked, "So far as my recollection goes, the -only division I voted on was one opposing its going before the Waste Lands Committee." Mr. O'Shea reached the platform, and, turning over some pages of Hansard, remarked, "There it is." Mr. Mackenzie: There is no division list on this page. "Turn over and you will find it further on," said Mr. O'Shea. "Oh, no," replied Mr. Mackenzie, "you said it was tkere, Show ine the division." The interest in the matter by this time had become very keen indeed. Mr. O'Shea took Hansard and hurriedly turned over some pages, and, finding the division he was looking for, said, •"There it is." ' Mr. Mackenzie, solemnly: '"Do you mean to tell the audience,' Mr. O'Shea, tliat on that division list you assert that I voted against you having a chance to go before a court of justice?" Mr. O'Shea: Yes. Mr. Mackenzie: On that division I voted against it going to the Waste Lands Committee. I will read the motion you have pointed out to me, upon which you say I voted against its going to a court of justice. This motion was to refer it to the Waste Lands Committee, and I voted against that. The motion is as follows: "Hansard, volume j 121!, page 631.—The House is divided on the question 'that the Bill be referred to the Waste Lands Committee for consideration and report.' There is not a word about a court of justice in the motion. Mr. O'Shea: It is in the Bill. The .Minister: One thing at a time, Mr. O'Shea. Yon said this was the motion I voted against. It is the only division I voted on. Mr. O'Shea: You are shuffling. Mr. Mackenzie: I will hand it to the chairman of the meeting to read. 1 The chairman read the motion and confirmed the statement made by Mr. Mackenzie. .Mr. O'Shea then asked if it were right to hurry a Bill affecting the interests of private persons through Parliament in one night and not refer it to the Waste Unids Committee. Mr. Mackenzie said the Bill was taken by Mr. Seddon as a matter of urgency, and it was supported by the member for the district. Mr. O'Shea pressed the candidate on several other points, which elicited the following replies: The interest of the community was greater than that of the individual. The measure was put through quickly to save delay, because that delay would have resulted in the destruction for all time of the beautiful forest surrounding tin; lake. The member for the district supported the Bill. The land was held under lease for 21 years, and the Bill provided for compensation to the lessors j up to double the amount of what they had expended on the property. It was true, as stated by Mr. O'Shea, that the Opposition voted against the GovernI ment in connection with the matter. "I do not hold myself responsible to this district," continued Mr. Mackenzie, "to explain all votes \ have recorded in Parliament during the last 8, 16 or 24 years, but in connection with this Bill T voted to preserve to the people for all time the beauty of the place and its preservation from destruction, and I will do the same again to-morrow if it is required." (Applause). While the incident lasted, the interest it gave rise to was certainly intens-e. MR. FORBES AT FITZROY. Mt. W. Forbes addressed a large gathering of electors at Fitzroy on Tuesday evening, and received a most attentive hearing. Mr. Tiseh was voted to the chair, and, in introducing the candidate, said that politically he was a stranger amongst thorn, but he was sure they would give him the hearing which he deserved. Mr. Forbes, who was received with applause, opened his speech .by a review of the political situation, and assuring the electors that although he was opposed to the Ward Ministry, he would show them that he was not opposed to Liberal principles. lie was opposed to the Government because of its extravagant finance and inefficient administration, and in a. speech which lasted over an hour and a quarter he was frequently applauded. In answer to questions, he did not consider the Government had done their duty in the Mokau question. ]t had not'practised what it preached. He was in favor of giving the Daylight Saving Bill a trial. A vote of thanks, proposed by Mr. A. Falthrow, seconded by Mr. J. Shaw, and a vote of thanks to the chair, proposed by the candidate, brought the meeting to a close. THE PATEA SEAT. MR. O'DEA AT MOI'MAHAKT. Mr. O'Dea addressed a large meeting of employees anil neighboring settlers at the Monmahaki State Farm on Monday, Mr. Lonsdale presiding. The candidate had an enthusiastic reception, and at the conclusion was accorded a unanimous vote of thanks and confidence. THE EG MONT ELECTION 7 . To the Editor. Sir,—Mr. Field's "reply" is, if possible, more rambling and incoherent than his tirst letter, and equally as deficient in logic and coiimionscnse.' To take his last letter seriatim: Firstly, he says he is not aggrieved at "Mr. Smith's change of political opinion." As I have made no such change, his magnanimity is uncalled for. Secondly, "Wither Mr. Wright's nor Mr. Smith's political opinions concern me." Quite so, but by innuendo he applied the epitliet "turncoat" to Mr. Wright. Therefore the inference that he felt aggrieved (and concerned) is justified. Thirdly: As to his "three statements." The first is abundantly

disproved by the fact that farmers all j through the district are working energetically on the Hon. T. Mackenzie's committees—a fact of which Mr. Field is perfectly well aware, bitter though it he to him. The second and third ".state-: merits," viz., that the Dairyman had, some months ago, talked too much, and, finally, Mr. Field's own ponderous ''state-. ment" (how lie loves this word), that, he ''does not think Mr .Mackenzie has done enough for the dairying industry to convert an idle talker into a very valuable acquisition." I said the article referred to was irrelevant, as indeed is sufficiently obvious, because the Dairyman, in its final summing-up, comes to the conclusion that the best interests of the fanners, the dairying industry, and the Dominion would be served by returning the Hon. T. Mackenzie as Minister for Agriculture, which was exactly Mr. Wright's point. Lastly, with regard to Mr. 'Field's personal unbelief in Mr. Mackenzie, to this "statement" I am compelled to acknowledge my inability to offer a. "refutation." The Opposition pap'ers, of which no doubt he has been an assiduous reader up till now, have failed to convert hiin to a belief in the Minister's ability—and, in fact, so little does he appreciate their efforts that he advises your readers to treat them with "scorn and contempt." That being so, and I, being a modest man, have to admit the impossible, Mr. Field is afflicted with political opthalainia in a most virulent form, but time will heal it. His hopeless confusion of mind, exhibited in parte of Mr. Wright's letter arc attributed to me, anil vice-versa, shows his incapacity to intelligently continue this correspondence. Consequently, Sir, I shall not trespass on your kindness and space in this connection again.—l am, etc., T. J. SMITH. Rahotu, 13/11/11.