EDITORIAL NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXIII, Issue 7372, 21 November 1898, Page 1

EDITORIAL NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Writing of Waikakahi on Saturday naturally enough reminded us of the Hon. John M'Kenzie,- to whose* good judgment -and* persistent) efforts in'the interests '.of the people we are indebted' for this and many other estates. We observe that he wired from Palinerston on Friday expressing hisregret that he was not able; to attend the Show. Everybody would have been £ . to see him there as usual, and their ■disappointment at his absence was all the keener because it was consequent 'upon the unsatisfactory state of his -health; Tbe session fust closed imposed a very : serious strain on Mr M'Eenzie, but he was-in the House so long as he was able to get about at-all,' and it : was-this fact and his irrepressibility when; duty called 7 that aggravated his painful complaint and delayed his recovery. May we not hope that now that the session is over, he willbeable to give such reßt to his mirid'abd body "as will enable nature to recover its equilibrium 1 ? One thing is certain : Mr. M'Kenzie could never go through another session like the last, with his health in so unsatisfactory a state, and this fact has given rise to the rumors that he will shortly resign. There are many more unlikely contingencies. For his own and his family's sake, and, indeed, in the interest of the colony, to which he is capable of rendering valuable service as a private i citizen, if not as a Minister of the Crown, it it is desiTable that he Bhould take rest from the drudgery and excitement of political life. He has, for many years, been looking forward to the time when he would be able to visit the scenes of his boyhood, and now is the time tc carry his dear wish into execution. The trip would do more than all the doctor's physic in Christendom to reestablish his health and to give him courage and strength to flourish his claymore in the face of the enemy. It is to be regretted that such a respite should be rendered necessary by such a cause; but, under the circumstances regrets are vain- There is nothing like looking a difficulty straight in the face, and that ; is •what we.hope Mr his advisers will do in deciding this matter. Where the : colony is to look for a successor if Mr M'Kenzie should go into retirement, at least.for a time, is a question which must.be seriously considered. We unfortunately know from experience that Ministers for Lands are born, not made, .and that a spurious specimen may be as disastrous as a bull in a china shop. vVe also have a shrewd; suspicion that Mr M'Kenzie has been something more than a Minister for Lands as one of the component parts of the present Administration. When the Liberals required to be stiffened up, he was there to cry IVo Surrender ! There never has been a more honorable, self-sacrificing, conscientious administrator than the Hon. John M'Kenzie, and even those who, through circumstances, are obliged to pose as his enemies, know and secretly acknowledge it; and, if he were treated by the colony as he richly deserves to be, he would be permitted to retain his position and be gicen a year's holiday in which to endeavor to undo some of the constitutional mischief which he has personally incurred in his valiant struggling for the rights of the people.