THE MINISTER OF LANDS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14381, 26 November 1908, Page 8

THE MINISTER OF LANDS

HIS FAREWISLL TO THE PEOPIF * '• OF WELLINGTON. ' (Fgoa Our, Own Corresponds ) !, <™" , ,T. K F£ N £ rON ' 25. -. The fact that Mr Hajian, M.P.-for Inver cargill . has arrived in-. Wellington, and that this afternoon lie had a Jenirthv intnrview with Mr M'Nab, has led to some speculation as to v whether the former will resign his seat with a view to giving the Minister of Lands another chance of reentering the House of Representatives. Against this idea there may be two objectonld ht f firet , p,aM - , tl,e Government would, not by such a plan increase its majority while, on the other hand, in the event of a strong Opposition candidate coming" forward ,t, might even lose the self m v ' fi r ml • Pla . c °', M , r M ' Nab himself may be the v principal objector to, the suggested course. He has stated to some of his friends that he .would like to put h two or three-years in completing the'hisonca researches upon which he'has embarked With this. object in view it -was his intention to visit Sydney, and perhaps America, again. ■ * Speaking last night to the crowd' in Lambton .quay, Mr M'Nab made a,many r Ch Vr nd , th ° crowd ; " consequent cheered.hun hoar ,y. "I stand be r o] l e « tA *$■ m the P«iW of ■S& ' V who h " b <*« defeated at the polls. I want to say in connee ion with the contest that back to private life that I havo not a single complaint to make against the-polit-i----caJ party or against the political opponents who aro responsible for the positional now nent fought an honourable fight, and obtained an honourable victorv..-(Applause) I want to'give that testimony to him, and I venture to prophesy that if his careerfo politics ,s equal to his private life as a citizen, and as a business man, he has'a wide career p usefulness before him in the po . ,ca world. At the end of 13|' years of pub id life the decision of the country °s -Mat J. have to go back into private life, and I want' to show the people'of Wellington and the people of my electorate, ft (.Tu a S,- th . e pe °P' e ot New Zealand, hat tho Ministers of the -Liberal' party ■ fiu h °V° take a de[eat whc « «6mes at the po k-(Applause.) J,have to thank the people of Wellington for tha many kindnesses they have shown -to mo during those 13J years, .and I venture to say that' so far as I know, I, have not made onc : lu S t Inmyl nmy - 'P thii Em P»'e- City, and that I leave behind me none. but friends in tho House of Representatives.—(Applause.) I' desire, as the last act of my public life, to say farewell to a Wellington audience.'!—( Loud cheers.) The last sentence would seem- to indicate that Mr M'Nab has,. for the time at all events, retired from public life. On the other hand, in replying to a messago of regret from his supporters in Gore, he said,," Convey to those who were present my thanks for the .kind expression of opinion in regard to myself personally and. in regard to my future prospects. I shall always remember my 13i ! years' connection with the Mataura electorate and tho many friends I have made throughout that period, and shall take care that the abrupt termination of the relationship of members shall not break any friendships that havo .been created during that period 1 .. It is my earnest wish that, in regard to the future,'all electors of Mataura should join together and assist the new member in the onerous duties cast upon him? and, not to let any soreness exist in tho hour 'of defeat 'or stand in the way of good work being done for the' Mataura electorate by the representative of the people. What the future has in store for me, time will only show." : The last •sentence here might. bo taken to mean 'that Mr M'Nab is not yet done with politics. , Mr Hanan, in the event of his resigning his.seat ,in favour of Mr. M'Nab, could, of course, be translated to "another place.".; ', ■'