The Evening Star WEDNESDAY, JUNE 18, 1902.

Evening Star, Issue 11607, 18 June 1902, Page 4

The Evening Star WEDNESDAY, JUNE 18, 1902.

Mr M'Nab, the member for Mataura, occupies a position in the House A Coming which renders his accession Man. to Ministerial rank only a matter of time. It is quite on the cards that after the election of the new Parliament there will be a reconstruction of the Cabinet, in which case the honorable gentleman may fairly be expected to be entrusted with a portfolio—probably that of Minister of Lands, for which he is especially well qualified. It may be taken for granted that Mr M'Nab, although not an unreasoning Ministerialist,, is in the confidence of the Acting-Premier, and that the remarks on the politics of the future in his address at Gore on Monday evening were, if not inspired, at least dictated by authoritative presumption. Referring 1o the prophetic visions of some peop'e, whose wishes were father to the thought, as to the bursting up in the near future of the present dominant party, Mr M'Nab declared that he failed to see this could take place. Mr Seddon might be absent, but his lientenant was quite capable of leading. "With " the Cabinet he might select there would " lie a combination, and such a strong one, u that would hold the reins of power a con- " siderable 'time. So far as he could see, "' the removal of the Premier would not '• mean the dismemberment of the party, " although there might be changes in the

"personnel of the Cabinet.' - A wink is as good as a nod to a blind horse, arid this wink of the honorable gentleman is significantly suggestive. There is prima facie evidence in the Gore address that Mr M'Nab has closely analysed existing conditions, and was speaking under a clue sense of responsibility, and in close sympathy with Sir Joseph Ward. Two organisations which agitated the Colony were the Farmers' Union and the Labor Unions. At the time Parliament was prorogued it appeared to the casual observer as if the Farmers' Union were a political organisation, constituted with the purpose of ousting the Ministry, and it was therefore regarded with much suspicion. Personally, he could not see why, if the workers formed their unions, the fanners had not the same right, lie believed the organisation would aid the farmers greatly, and play an important part in the affairs of the Colony. There was no class which acted independently of each other, and Uie Union would result, among other things, in the cohesion of the farmers, which would take an immense amount of work off the shoulders of their representatives in Parliament, and also lead to much more being done by the Government in regard to legislation in the interests of the agricultural industry, owing to the farmers knowing their own mind and expressing their united opinions after deliberation and discussion as to what I hey desired should be doue. In respect to Labor matters, Mr M'Nab referred to the present Agitation in Wellington as to the unsatistory operation of the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act. He did not think, he said, that the impression that the Labor Unions were turning against the Government had anything to justify it. The honorable gentleman is perhaps right so far, but there is good reason, nevertheless, to believe, from many recent indications, that their loyalty is hardly to be depended upon, and they are ready to resent against Ministers any interpretation of the Labor laws which is not absolutely i;i favor of the workers. That is the practical danger which has to be faced so long as the Government are dependent on the Labor vote —a state of things by no means conducive to the best interests of the community as a whole. With regard to the future, Mr M'Nab expressed his approval of a vigorous Public Works policv. even if this necessitated borrowing money to a reasonable extent for really colonial works. Too large a sum should not, he said, be raised from year to year, as this would naturally dis'ocate the labor market; therefore there should be - a limit to the amount. He would pursue, r.e stated, the present policy of advances to settlers and purchase of puvato and native land for settlements. It was not reasonable to find fault with the Acting-Premier with not making new departures in policy. His constitutional duty was to carry out the policy measures of his leader. Mr M'Nab would support the Referendum, but he affirmed that it would not accomplish all that people thought it. would. If all questions had to be thus settled, more harm than good would be done. Amendments, he proceeded to say, had been promised in the electoral laws, but if these included a Second Ballot Bill he would oppose such a measure to the extent of his power. The Elective Executive Bill would have bis support, but he did not expect much new legislation this session.