By default, Mate 1.24 has 2 panels, 1 on top (with start launcher menu and clock), and another with bottom (with opened windows list).
The start launcher menu is actually an applet named Brisk Menu which you can add to the panel. Right click on the bottom panel, click Add to Panel, select Brisk Menu and click Add. You can reposition in by middle-click on the icon/applet and drag it around.
You can remove the top panel by right click and select Delete this panel.