THE RAIL SITTER.

Mataura Ensign, Issue 211, 5 November 1896, Page 5

THE RAIL SITTER.

TO THE EDITOR. Sib, —Since hearing Mr McNab's speech on Monday I am more convinced than ever of his utter hollowness —a Government man last time, a pretended Independent this; a nominee of Seddon and a pledged supporter, he turned deceiver; as an Independent he wants to catch votes from each side, and will deceive supporters; once the tool of a non-borrowing self-reliant policy, now the other way about; a Prcsbyteriua by profession, he is against the Bible-in-schools to placate Socialists and Wesleyans; Seddon came to Gore last time, Mr McNab voted in his favor on a sinking fund seizure and want of confidence motion; for periodical revaluation of land he voted for and against alternately ; his tariff votes were three-fourths in favor of Mr Ward, the balance against; and so on, and showing the opinion of a fellow member of Mr McNab and his Licensing Bill, allow me to quote from a speech in the I House by Mr Lawry on 15th June, 1895: '• I look upon this Bill of the member for Mataura as the legitimate bantling of the I Emperor of Humbug and the Empress of Cant or the Queen of Hypocrisy. I say, without any hesitation, it is the most | iniquitous proposal 1 have ever seen brought j before this House. What does it mean? The honorable gentleman, in his opening ' remarks, said the people are requiring a measure of this nature. Let the honorable gentleman cast his eye over the newspaper tiles in which are recorded the result of elections which have just taken place in Great Britain. Sir, it is fanaticism such as that introduced into this Bill which the honorable gentleman wishes to have placed on the Statute Book which has killed the great Liberal party in Great Britain. The honorable gentleman said that honorable members of this House, who felt strongly on this question, were bound by election pledges. Ido not think the Premier, and certainly not myself or any of the real temperance party acting with me, would ask honorable gentlemen to break any election pledges. I would point out to the honorable member for Mataura, and to the House, that ■ the honorable gentleman was not elected through any pledges he gave to support the so-called ' temperance party.' I ask .him, if he had declared himself for the so-called ' temperance party' and against the Premier and his colleagues and the Ministeriil policy—l ask him, could he ever, under those circumstances, have beaten the moderate, the sensible, the capable G. F. Eichardson ? Sir, the honorable member would have remained in political oblivion as long as he lived had he not declared himself for the Government and the Government policy. The other thing was an absolute ' side issue.'" I need add no more. —Yours, etc., Hansahd. ; l