MR M'NAB'S DEFEAT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14380, 25 November 1908, Page 5

MR M'NAB'S DEFEAT.

Snt,—l would not noticeyour correspon. ;• ■ dente,_ "Tweedledum"", atidV'.T'ffeeaiedee," were it not they are guessers, and in assum* ; kg they toow my identity they may' pro-:: bably be _eaddling the wrong home, '. and I do not wish that anyone BhouW be'blamed for what they did not do.- ',< I can assui» them lam not anjeleotor of Mataura,'and ■', that I live a long'' distance fromi Gore; I can further assure them.:;l'.have no'S'personal, animosity against Mr fflPNabVas, £ man, tut regarding hito. as .Minister: of Lands, I think' what I have stated'.would be endorsed by the majority l of electojß ,• from the North Cape to the Bluff.' It must ' be quM evident that no. one; except a , blind partisan, or one seeking political favours, would condone in. such' aii offence '■':'. as clause 80 in the Land Act, which caused the Ocekaike scandal, and the Culverdeii episode, whereby all prizes and no blanks were,obtained by employees pn the estate. It is surprising the whole Government, was not turned out on such evidence, for tho: outrage on the publio sense of justice, Was' as demoralising aa Mr Edohandsott's ;buhgla over the Otekaike Run, whpn he was Muw ister of Lands, which was mainly the canae of the ejectior from office of the Atkinson Government. As it is too late in tl\e. day for,further ' controversy, and is no §ood results could!'; be achieved on either side, I respectfully, beg to decline to eigri my name, or take further notice of any effusion from the pen of. your correspondents. In conclusion,; I hope when nest election comes tround they will be on tlie side of the olean majors-TV ' I am, etc., • Frseholdeb/ \. Sin —The Hon. Mr Jowlds haa made the statement that the Hon,. Mr M'Nab lost • his seat through the strong feeling existing in tlie Mataura electorate about the Meikle business. This has; been, wired all over the Dominion. 'No one knows'batten than Mr IWlds that it was over the Land!' Bill that Mr M'Nab lost bis seat, but,' of, course, it does not suit either of these . gentlemen to acknowledge it. This is how Mr Anderson, in a'Jetter,; puts; I '*,; and I think he. is right:." It's a lor the advocates of the leasewith, 'right tci purchase tenure." The dairy of course, lost), Mr M'Nab a few votes, but a great many farmers, I think, looked upon tiiem -as a,' stop--.'V' the right direction* However, I am sure the electors of Mataura are much beholden to".Mr Fotrfds for the above of opinion.' Mr M'Nab can thank -him' for his present position, for. he it must have bean who,led Mr'M'Nab astray on the land question since last election.—l am, eto.,. -■■'...' : "'''.'. / Jno. D. Trottkr, Chairman -Woodlands Branoh Farmers' • v Union.'. Woodlands, November ■ ], ~. ■ • Slß,—ln all the reasons given indifferent . newspapers for Mr .M'Nab'e defeat not: one.,". ■ has mentioned the Labour'question. It is a, well-known fact that the present Labour laws, tiie inspector nuisance, and the Shope Act; so prevalent througlhout this country, had a great deal to 1 do with his defeat. It would be well for the Liberal Government' to amend a good many laireif it wishes to retain power in the future.—l am, etc., MiTitJBA BIBOTOR. v Gore, November 22. ' V