The Ensign. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 198. MR ANDERSON'S CANDIDATURE.

Mataura Ensign, 7 November 1908, Page 2

The Ensign. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 198. MR ANDERSON'S CANDIDATURE.

Mr Anderson has every reason to feel gratified at the large measure, of success which has so far attended his candidature for Matauia. In the country distrkts he has been accepted with the utmost enthusiasm as a champion to do battle for the cause of the freehold against the insidious advances of the leasehold; no less succoss has attended him when, he has advanced his banner into the towns which his opponents fondly believe arc the impregnable citadels of the Minister of Lands. Roth at Matauia on Thursday evening and at Gore last night he received a flattering measure of support, which gives color to the confidence expressed by his supporters that lie will achieve a noteworthy victory on election day. Mr Anderson has many sterling qualities which will commend him to tho electors. He is emphatically a man of the people. He was not born yesterday, nor when that interesting event took place diil be have a silver spoon in the mouth. I'ioni an early age he has had to fend for himself and to engage in the healthy battle for existence. He is already well known locally in connection with the interest ho has taken and the positions he has filled in our local educational world. Wo cannot lay too much emphasis on tho vast importance to this district of having a local man whoso interests are bound up in local concerns. For many years,, on account of the aloofness and peculiar temperament of the sitting member, it cannot be disguised that local interests have been almost utterly neglected. The electorate since it first returned Mr McNab has been virtually disfranchised. Even when matters of the most vital concern to this district have been discussed in the House, such as the proposed GoreRoxburgh railway, no support at all, or only support of a half-hearted character, has been accorded them by the sitting member. We do not know whether •Mr McNab is too tired to attend to these district projects or whether, having now reached the quarterdeck of Janie and fortune, he simply doesn't care; but the fact remains that it is a serious defect in a representative if he is not always ready and eager to demand and secure justice for his constituency against its grasping neighbors. To the farming community, as we anticipated, Mr Anderson's candidature has been peculiarly acceptable. As .Mr Hugh Smith said, in seconding the motion of thanks and confidence last evening, the farmers feel sure that Mr Anderson will, if elected, '•run a straight course, and they' will know where to find him," and this is a tribute which cannot be paid to all politicians. The leasehold parly have never been the friends of the man on the land, and if proof were asked of their inattention to his interests we have only to point to Mr T. AY. Kirk's priceless agricultural museum (to farmers the most interesting feature of the Christchurch Exhibition), which is now lying mouldering in garrets and cellars at Wellington owing to the persistent refusal of the Minister for Agriculture to put a roof over its head, and thus allow the I armors of the Dominion to get knowledge by ocular demonstration. Much more important in the mind of the .Ministry is the gilded tourist who occasionally be-gems Rotorua with his presence. and thousands ot pounds are being frittered awav on this object, while the agricultural museum is being corrupted by moth and rust. We do not consider it necessary at this juncture to refer further to the merits of the two candidates, in placing Mr Anderson's claims before the electors, but wo wish once more to point to his long apprenticeship in local affairs as abundantly qualifying him for the more honorable position of member for this electorate.