THE MATAURA ELECTION.

Evening Post, Volume LV, Issue 124, 27 May 1898, Page 4

THE MATAURA ELECTION.

As we conjectured, the various local influences in Mr. M'Nab's favour have ensured his return for the Mataura seat. J.n. such a constituency the personal popularity that would naturally fall to a Scot and a Presbyterian would have as much weight iv deciding the result of an election as broader political consideration?. But even this popularity would probably have proved ineffectual on Mr. M'Nab's behalf had the Premier and his Ministerial henchmen attempted to play the same game in Mataura that they played so disastrously iv Wellington. We can better appreciate the Mr. M'Nab of this Parliament than the Mr. M'Nab of the List. Tlion ho was understood, so to speak, to have solemnly signed, sealed, and delivered a bond which tied him hand and foot as the slave of his political master. In the interval ho has at least learnt to enjoy the luxury of having opinions of his own on minor matters, and there are hopes that a politician with such a keen sensitiveness of awakened conscience may sometimes find the courage to abstain from voting on a question of no-confidence when an active support of the Government would be inconsistent with the principles he professes. We have the satisfaction of believing that, so far, at any rate, Mr. M'Nab has not executed any deed of assignment of his person and vote to the Premier, and since he is a gentleman who only speaks when he has • something to say, aud then generally to the point, his advent to the House need not call for a#jr deep regret. Should he, however, lapse into the mere voting machine of a previous Parliament, alwaj's moving to the Seddonian step-dance, the House would scarcely be a gainer by his presence.