Correspondence.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XVI, Issue 5080, 16 September 1891, Page 2

Correspondence.

MB DONALDSON AND THE MINIS TER OF LANDS. TO THE EDITOR.

Sin, —Do evil that good may come. So the reading in the House of Mr Donaldson's letter to the Ofrago Daily Times, reflecting on the Minister of Lands, resulted in the Opposition losing their leader. Let us hope that many of his friends will thus follow the good example set before them, so that the place that now knows them may henceforth know them no more for ever. Mr Donaldson says he has not the least doubt that the Hon. John M'Kenzie, as Minister for Lands, is a sad disappointment to the majority of his constituents, who like himself, have supported him for the last ten years through thick and thin. Ah ! it is men of the Donaldson type that have ruined New Zealand. This expression of Mr Donaldson's caps anything the Ofcago Daily Times has said about the hon. gentleman since he came into office for impertinence. Why, he has dared to measure the intelligence of the Waitaki electors by his own weak standard. The majority of the Waitaki electors, for Mr Donaldson's information, have not turned their backs on this needed land reformer ; but I might not be far wrong if I stated that Mr M'Kenzie is esteemed more than ever. The electors of Waitaki knew who they were supporting when they returned the lion, gentleman with such an overwhelming majority, and, if he had acted otherwise than as he has done in his capacity as Minister of Lands, he certainly would have forfeited the confidence of the majority of the electors. The whole of New Zealand owes a debt of gratitude to the electors of Waitaki for giving to the colony of New Zealand the best Minister for Lands she ever had. If a plebiscite of the colonists of New Zealand were taken to-morrow as to the fittest man for Minister of Lands, it would not be in favor of one of the "Twelve Apostles" or of Mr Donaldson, but in favor of the Hon. John M'Kenzie, the member for Waitaki. I feel proud to be numbered as a supporter of such a man. Mr Donaldson may be one of those who is in want of a large estate. I would advise him not to go to Mr M'Kenzie for it. The motto now is " The land for the people," not for one or two for all. On December sth, 1890, the people of New Zealand declared for land reform, and who can have the effrontery to say that it was not wanted. I would remind Mr Donaldson that reformers are nearly always men of humble origin ; even a shepherd was king over Israel, and why should not a shepherd bo Minister of Lands for the colony of New Zealand. I am, etc., Waitaki Elector. Kurow, September 14th, 1891.