“ LIKE STEEL FILINGS TO THEM.’

Gisborne Times, Volume XXX, Issue 3459, 27 February 1912, Page 5

“ LIKE STEEL FILINGS TO THEM.’

WHY THE OPPOSITION COULD NOT DIGEST THE SPEECH. MR. T. MACKENZIE’S OPINIONS. Hon. T Mackenzie, who resumed the Debate, said that the Opposition in this Debate had ignored the Governor’s Speed?. calling it an insult. Was it an insult tc the workers to take the duty off tobacco and to make ail the other concessions outlined in the Speech? The real reason why they ignored the Speech was because they could not digest it. In nas like steel filings to them. He cited Mr Massey with (having changed the terms upon which he would grant the freehold to the crown tenants. A Novelty in Defence. Mr Massey had hit below the belt in the (proceedings, taunting the Government with the fact that some sons of farmers had gone abroad in search of holdings. The Government should be given credit for this condition, tor tiie men who had gone were the sons of those who had done exceedingly well in this country. But for this thensons ecu la not have gone abroad io seek larger areas and wider territories than were open to them here. Mr. Mackenzie challenged a statement by the member for AVeiiington North that investors were being discouraged in this country and contended that it offered ample scope for investments.

The forecast of the Chairman of Directors of the Bank of New Zealand that the Dominion would have to face a period of low prices had not been justified. An attempt had been made throughout the length and. breadth of New Zealand to assassinate -politically the Leader of the House (Sir Joseph W r ard). Some of his opponents had already made their furnace so hot that they had singed l themselves. Nothing was more regrettable in the political life of New Zealand than the campaign of slander that had been carried on, but when the history of this .country came to be rewritten the name of the Prime Minister would stand out in clear and strong colors as that of one .who had done great tilings m the interests of its people. Mr Mackenzie defended the administration of Iris Department, descending even to such details as the amount of milk given by a qow per day- He reproached the member for Waitemata, for saying “What has labor to thank the Government for?” and ‘Said that if Mr Harris looked down the “co-rridors of time” he would see that which would cause him to alter his views. Mr Harris was bred in a fortunate age when people were apt to forget what had been done for Labor in the past. An Appeal to Labor.

Big estates must he broken up, *nd if the present graduated tax would not serve to break them up it must be increased. A new political era was dawning and a new political economy was required under which a greater share of wealth would be given to the people now poorly requited wlio did so much to produce it. The man who required the care of a State was the man who was struggling with a family and the present Government had done what it could to assist people of this description.

Mr Mackenzie ridiculed the idea that the Opposition represented a . majority of the electors in the Dominion, and twitted ft with having lacked courage to nominate a candidate for the Speakership. /If they won in the pending division by one or two what a victory it would be when it was considered that they had refused a pair to a sick man compelled to go Home and undergo an operation in order to save his life! Defeat compared with such a victory would be an honor.

The Opposition was now seeking to caprire some of the occupants or tfce cross benches, whom they bad failed to kill during the election campaign. The very wealth of the Conservative Party dehumanised it. Mr Mackenzie added that Mr Massey might be a Liberal, but expressed doubt as to whether his followers would permit him to promote progressive legislation.