LABOUR AND DUNEDIN WEST.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14357, 29 October 1908, Page 8

LABOUR AND DUNEDIN WEST.

Sir.—Those members of the Ministry who are so fearlessly predicting the success of Government, candidates all over the Dominion would be well advised lo save some of I heir breath for possible requirements in t.ho way of denunciation of what they may t-hon fee plnsi-:rd to t"rin the unwisdom of ihe electors after the pells are declared.. Th? Hon. R. M'Nab, the latest, to assume ihe role of prophet, is reported to liave stated that "Ihe opposition to the Hon. •I. A. Millar could only bo callcd such by courtesy." Now, I suppose tho fate of Dunedin West is one of the most uncertain of any electorate in Mew Zealand; indeed, no one whose opinion was worth liming would vonturo to offer any opinion as to the result. The whole que.-.!ion .binges c-n tlm way the Labour vote is given. Should it l:e loyally accorded to t-ha workers' candidate, Mr tl. W. Munro, then that. gentleman, who will undoubtedly obtain t.ho bulk of i;ho no-lieeii'-e vote, must be 'returned by a strlfstant-.ia.l majority. Jf, on Ihe othor hand, l.he workers give their votes to tho Hoii. J. A. Millar (though there is certainly no indication of iheni doing so up lo now— rafjter the reverse if outward signs are to be trusted) then, with the Conservative vole, and also tho Liberal vote, his return should bn assured, Those gent lemon, therefore, who are. predicting 'his success would appear to ho rolying on Iho disloyalty of tho workers to (heir own comrade, and it remains to bo seen whether this estimate of their shallowness will be justified. Personally, I fancy that, with t'lo prophets tho wish is father to the thought.—l am, etc., JUSTITIA.