The Gisborne Standard AND COOK COUNTY GAZETTE Published very Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday Morning. Tuesday, June 9, 1891. McKENZIE’S REFUTATION.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume V, Issue 618, 9 June 1891, Page 2

The Gisborne Standard AND COOK COUNTY GAZETTE Published very Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday Morning.

Tuesday, June 9, 1891. McKENZIE’S REFUTATION.

Be just and fear not; Let all the ends thou aim’st at be thy country’s, Thy God’s, and truth’s.;

Slanders are very useful sometimes. When there is a definite charge made there is a chance of refuting it which is not given when inuendo is sown broadcast. The Spence affair, oufof which the Opposition has attempted to make so much capital,, has proved a curse to them instead of ‘ a blessing as they had hoped. A full report of the speech is now to hand, with comments upon it by leading journals, even the Opposition section of which has to admit, however ungracefully, that the Hon. Mr McKenzie has completely vindicated himself, while Mr Spence does not shine as the wingless angel that certain busybodies tried to pass him as. However, it is not our purpose to detract from Mr Spence’s character more than he has done himself. “ The shepherd of the hillside," as the Hon. Mr MeKenzie is still admiringly called by his friends, despite the sneers of certain fossils, scored an undeniable point against those foolish speakers and writers who have striven to make a party cry of the personal quarrel of a man who had been so long favored with an excellent position that he thought he could dictate the most extravagant terms. What amazes us is that writers, in the face of the people’s demand for genuine retrenchment, should stoop to such paltry means to try and harass Ministers in their most unpleasant work.

Mr McKenzie was given an opening to show how badly heeded was reform in the Land Department. In Canterbury alone dummyism prevailed to such an extent that in a few months a total number of 37 purchasers actually transferred 13,587 acres to two banking companies, one mortgage company, and two individuals. In Wellington things were drifting the same way until the Minister took a firm stand against the Board’s misconduct. Then, when Mr McKenzie came to the Spence affair, he in temperate language that was in strong contrast to the other’s abusive utterances, completely justified himself, and it is safe to say that the Opposition will drop Mr Spence without much gratitude towards him. The .Minister sensibly said that he would ignore the scandalous way in which his own family had been dragged into notice—those whom he was addressing would be well aware there was no truth in the reports. He then went on to show how necessary was reform in the Stock Department when he took office. Instead of having one head officer responsible to the Minister, there were six chief inspectors, who had each spent over ,£2OOO above what was authorised last session 1 Each year thousands of pounds had been spent by these inspectors, in keeping down rabbits on the Crown lands (from which they spread and harassed the wealthy sheepfarmers). This money was entirely uncontrolled from Wellington I—enough money to make homes for hundreds of industrious settlers. He (Mr McKenzie) had not time to devote to the practical management of the Department, and finding no one in it in whom he could place sufficient confidence to appoint as head, he decided to look beyond the Department, and then selected Mr Ritchie, whom he knew to be an energetic, trustworthy, and economical man, well qualified for the position. Mr Ritchie had effected a clear annual saving to the colony of /■3500 above his salary, and he had confidence that in twelve months a still greater saving would be shown. In the unpleasant work of retrenchment the Government did their utmost to retain the most able and deserving men, and after between fifty and sixty thousand pounds had been saved, the work was being carried on as efficiently as when they took office. As to the Spence affair, that gentleman would have done better by quietly retiring into obscurity. It was shown that in his district some sawmillers had been allowed, uncontradicted, to publicly advertise, warning individuals against entering and cutting from forest lands, while everyone had that liberty by law and the company was most impudently seeking to establish a monopoly in defiance of the law. Forest reserves had been impudently monopolised, forest lands had been improperly sold at a fifth of their value, the duties of the rangers had been shamefully neglected, and abundance of proof was given to show that great leniency had been allowed by the Government, in merely transferring Mr Spence in the ordinary course, instead of dismissing him. When wanting to resign, Mr Spence asked for terms that the law did not allow, Among other things he wanted six months' leave on full pay, as well as some hundreds of pounds for compensation. He was liberally treated, but of course did not get what he asked for. Then came this mockery of a hole-and-corner arrangement to denounce the Government 1 We feel sure that the sensible men on the Conservative side heartily regret the shabby attempt to work these affairs (in the proper management of which all are equally interested) into a miserable party cry, founded upon disgraceful aspersions. As things have been allowed to go, Mr McKenzie has in a temperate and gentlemanly way exposed the affair in all its naked shamelessness, without making personal allusions that Could be avoided, and some leading Opposition journals have frankly acknowledged

that he has completely triumphed in the matter. Some pettifoggers will of course '‘play it low,” as usual, but neither side will pay much heed to them.