HON T. MACKENZIE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 136, 30 November 1911, Page 6

HON T. MACKENZIE.

THE "DAIRYMAN'S" POSITION. Writes the New Zealand Dairyman in its latest issue:—The Taranaki News recently referred to this journal as an Opposition paper and made a strong point of the fact that we were nevertheless supporting Mr. Mackenzie's candidature for the Egmont seat. We should have hardly thought it necessary to have to reiterate that this journal is in no sense allied to either political party. Our policy is to do all in our power to advance the interests of the dairying industry. That is why we are anxious to see Mr. Mackenzie elected as ft representative of a Taranaki electorate, a representative of this great dairying district of New Zealand. What would be more fitting and proper than this? We have no quarrel with Mr. Dive, who is, no doubt, in many respects a most estimable man. Surely even the most biassed partisan must admit that the Hon. Thos. Mackenzie, as a member of the Cabinet and Minister for Agriculture, will do more for Taranaki's great industry than Mr. Dive can possibly do. We doubt if Mr. Massey, in his. most sanguine moments, has ever pictured himself with the majority at the coming elections. He is shrewd enough to see that the tide is not drifting his way. Poiltics is at bed rock a selfish game, and it is quite clear that the legislation that will suit the big squatter is not what will generally best advance the best interests of the masses of the people. The present ruling political party have always professed to legislate for the masses, and certainly their legislation has been quite in keeping with their professions. As long as party Government continues the people will support the party which will best look after their interests.

This journal would like to see the whole question raised to a higher plane, and let every elector say to himself, "I will vote for the test man irrespective of party." There is no one who has the interest of the dairy industry at heart but will admit that to lose the present Minister would he the greatest set-back the industry has had for many a long day. The previous Ministers have no doubt been men of good character, and have been actuated by the best intentions. Everyone of them we have had to criticise; in fact, we seemed to be always finding fault. The late Sir John Mackenzie, the Hon. Tom. Duncan, the Hon. R. McNab, that is the procession, all honorable men, but unsuccessful all the same, as far as the dairying industry was concerned. -We were in opposition to those men, and rightly so, because wo. would have been neglecting our duty to have failed to condemn an administration which, instead of helping the dairy fanner, was to a degree harrassing him. With the assumption of office by the Hon. Thomaa Mackenzie a new era set in. We were quick to recognise that in him we had a man keenly alive to the importance of his office, and capable of fulfilling his responsibilities. Therefore, Mr. Mackenzie got our support. That is why we,want him returned as member for Egmont. We do not want any break in his administration. It would, perhaps, have been too much to have expected that Egmont would have paid Mr. Mackenzie the compliment of electing him without a contest. "Such a compliment,, however, is what the dairying industry owes Mr. Mackenzie for the good that he has done in the past, and that he will do in tlie future. That influential and independent paper, the Wellington Post, takes practically the same stand as we do on this question. In the eourse of a leader dealing with Mr. Massey's hurried swoop into the Egmont electorate, the -Post says:—" . . . He (Mr. Mac-

kenzie) lias been at pains to get an intelligent, useful knowledge of the varied activities associated with his portfolio, and his aim is to he something much better than a Minister to perfunctorily sign bundles of papers. He is working on plans to improve the productive power of some large tracts of poor country: he is well aware of the importance of bettering the educational machinery to equip young men for life on the land; he is watching a wide horizon for new openings for this country's produce. In brief, his policy, which can be supported by evidence, is to increase the quantity and quality of this country's primary produce. Such a worker is well worth a place in any New Zealand Ministry."