MR J. W. KELLY.

Press, Volume LI, Issue 8895, 11 September 1894, Page 5

MR J. W. KELLY.

Speak when you're spoken to; Do as you're bid ; Vote as Seddon tells you. And you'll never Dβ chid. The 1392 "Political Portrait" of Mr Kelly concludes afe follows :— '* If posterity is at any time anxious to know more concerning the gentleman in question, I will ask him to supply some interesting particulars, or if he will supply the interesting particulars, I will endeavour to make them interesting." Since those words were written there has been no phenomenal demand on the part of posterity for further biographical particulars concerning Mr Kelly. This may arise from the fact that posterity have not yet had time to get up any very keen interest on the subject—or the subject may remain uninterestiug. But since 1892, Mr Kelly has placed New Zealand in general, and Invercargill in particular, under a deep obligation by defeating Mr Joseph 'Atch at the general election. It would, therefore, savour of ingratitude to pass tbe victor over without some further notice. Mr Kelly is despite his name, a Scotchman. Hβ doesn't look it, however. He was born in Lanarkshire some forty years ago. Left an orphan at an early- age he bad bo figbt the battle of life single-handed, It ie greatly to bis credit that he has foughc it -so eocoeeafuDy. At the same time it might have been expected that the mental discipline of hie early training would have brought out his political independence and selfreliance. It ia no less strange than true that, if we except Messrs Eunshaw Pinkerton, and one or two more, those very members from whom, if we take into consideration their early environments, the greatest mental eturdiness might be naturally expected, have developed the most disheartening mental flabbiness. No one can blame Mr Kelly and the others for faithfulness to party; but they can and may be justly reprobated for setting the claims of party as a fetish, while practically ignoring the claims of the country. Mr Kelly is a prominent official of the Southland trades and labour organisations, and may conceive he is faithfully working in their interests. He lor gets, however, that he was elected as the representative of his district not es the mere nominee of a Class, though no one talks more bitterly against class legislation. He is a tailor.