POLITICAL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2272, 27 October 1891, Page 3

POLITICAL.

The Hon, J. McKenzie, Minister of Lands, addressed a meeting of his con-' stituents in Palmerston. He devoted the first part of his speech to answering the charges made by Mr Richardson the previous evening at Wyndham. He said that Mr Richardson had carefully avoided any reference to dummyism in his own district; his (Mr Richardson’s) administration of the stock department, the Spence affair, and the reason Duncan Campbell was not in gaol, Mr McKenzie contended that the statements made in his speech at Palmerston before were not refuted, and although Mr Richardson in the House had tried to entrap him he was unable to do so. He had been accused of endeavoring to prevent the people acquiring a freehold. This was not true. All he had done was to prevent the lands on goldfields bding sold, because they were of value to the State. Both Mr Richardson and the Press had made all sorts of accusations against him, but he would challenge them to disprove the statements he had made. It had been said that nothing had been done last session. He read a return of the business done by the House and the Ministry. It had been said that the present Ministry had not retrenched. He contended that although the estimates had been reduced by over £45,000 they had to find several thousands for which their predecessors were responsible. Regarding the supplementary estimates large sums had to be found for defence purposes, the Railway Commissioners, the Government Insurance, and amounts voted by Committees of the House, all of which the Government could not object to. So it could hardly be said that they were extravagant. . In his own department, although the estimates were some £2OOO higher than last year, he had in reality saved over £BOOO, as he had to find money for road surveyors and dairy instructors which were not previously charged to his department, as well as a large amount for back, survey work. Under Mr Ritchie’s management £4OOO would be saved in the Stock Department. In defending the Land and Income Tax he stated that the small settlers; or even fanners owning land up to £I2OO would be better off than under the Property Tax. He gave numerous instances showing the working of the Bill, also to prove that additional revenue would come from the pockets of the large owners who benefited most by the roads, bridges, and the railways. He reviewed the amendments proposed in the Legislative Council on his Land Bill, and gave his reasons for not agreeing to them. Having explained, the provisions of the Land for Settlement Bill he defended the Payment of Members Bill. He contended that £l5O was insufficient, and that the Legislative Council threw out the Bill in order to punish the representatives of the people and to try and prevent them returning to Wellington. He concluded by stating that the Government were endeavoring to legislate for the mass of the people and their descendants, and althouph they might not be perfect each member of it was trying to do his best for the colony. He then answered a number of questions, and was unanimously awarded a hearty vote of thanks and confidence.