THE MEMBER FOR WAIKOUAITI.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14156, 7 March 1908, Page 14

THE MEMBER FOR WAIKOUAITI.

£lm, —The relatione of Mr Thomas' Mackenzie, M.P., with his Waikouaiti constituents are, to my mind, interesting, ; unique, and instructive. Mr Mackenzie was, I understand, returned to Parliament ,by the 'Waikouaiti electorate at the last 'election as an " Independent" with strong Opposition leanings. During this recess ho' <(ecided_ to cast in his lot with the party in power. Instead, however, as most men would have done, of consulting His constituents 'before performing his political somersault, and talking loudly about conviotions, resignation, political suicide, etc., Mr Mackenzie coolly turns his somersault, and then' oalls his constituents together and "persuades them to do likewise, as is proved by the enthusiastic reception and unanimous vote of confidence accorded him at the Waikouaiti meeting. He should indeed be a "prood mon the day," for not to many is given tho gift he wifclds. The American candidate's idea of politics—'" Gentlemen, them's my sentiments; if tliey do not suit, they kin be altered"—are not his. Mr Mackenzie says to his constituents, " Gentlemen, I have changed my sentiments; kindly alter yours"—which in. all haste they at once proceed to do. Moral: Give Mr Mackenzie a few Highlandmen at his back (among them, of ixmree, a piper), 6ome sprigs of heather, a mull; hot forgetting* a copy of the Prohibitionist and a drop of real Glenlivet, and I don't believe it woulu be possible to keep, him out of —— well, I know, though I won't say where; but I do.—l am, etc., Onlooker.