MINISTERIAL SPEECHES. THE HON. R. M'NAB.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVI, Issue 125, 25 November 1908, Page 3

MINISTERIAL SPEECHES. THE HON. R. M'NAB.

There were loud calls for the Hon. R. M'Nab, who, in reply, made a few remarks. "I stand before you to-night," he said, "in the position of being the only Minister who has been defeated at the polls. I want to say, in connection with the contest that has sent me back to privates life, that I havo not a (single complaint to muke against the political

party or against the political opponents who are responsible for the position I now occupy. (Applause.) My successful opponent fought an honourable fight, and obtained an honourable victory. (Applause.) I want to give that testimony to him, and I venture lo prophesy that if his career in politics is equal to his private life as a citizen and as a business mnn, he has a wide career of usefulness befors him in the political world.. At the end of thirteen and a half years of public life, tho decision of the country is that I have to go back into private life, and I want to show ttos people of Wellington and the people of my electorate, as well as the people "of New Zsaland, that while tho Ministers of the Liberal party know how to take a victory, they also, know how to talc© a defeat when it "Monies at the polls. (Applause.) I have to thank the people of Wellington for the many kindnesses they have shown to me during those thirteen and a half years, and I venture to say that, so far as I know, I have not made one single enemy in the Empire City, and that I leave behind me none but friends in the House of Representatives. (Applause.) I desire as the last act of my public life to say farewell to a Wellington audience." (Loud cheers.) THE HON. W. HALL-JONES. Three loud cheers were given for Mr. M.Nab, and thcn_the Hon. W. HallJones had to respond to a call. He congratulated them* on the position in which they were placed that day. They knew as well as he did the good work that had been done in past years, and it was a pleasure to him to feel that he was going away leaving that good work to be continued. He knew the men with whom he had been working, and he I knew what they wera capable of, and I when he thought of the people of New Zealand in thaf> far land to which he was going, he would know that the work j of progress and development was being j continued. He congratulated them and j his chief upon the successful conclusion ! of the contest, which had been Sir Joseph Ward's first general election as Prime Minister, and he asked them to give Sir Joseph Ward three cheers. These were heartily given, and were followed by cheers for Lady Ward, Mr. Hall-Jones, and the defeated candidates.