The Mataura Election. TO THE EDITOR.

Otago Witness, Issue 2230, 26 November 1896, Page 15

The Mataura Election. TO THE EDITOR.

Sir,— Our present member, Mr-M'Nab, went to Parliament as a supporter of Mr Seddou's Government. At Fortrose he tried to shuffle out of that, although we know that he gave a written pledge to Mr Ward and Mr Seddon came all the way i from Auckland to Gore to speak in his favour. Why did he not produce a copy of his letter to Mr Ward when spea'xiug at Fortrose 1 Simply because he dared not do so. Now, lam a Liberal, and I like a man to be straight out, whatever he 1 is, and not only did Mr M'Nab at Fortrose deny that he h pledged to support Mr Seddon, but at Groydon, I am sorry to sco, he said he was willing to follow Sir Robert Stout. I can't think ha meant it, but.perhap3 he was bidding for the Pine Company's vote in the Seaward Bush. When the sawmill hands know that Mr M'Nab is absolutely pledged in writing to Mr Seddon they will knot? how to value his statement that he will follow Sir Robert. We all know that Seddon likes Stout politically about as much as the devil likes holy water. But there is a much more serious charge against Mr M'Nab. We now learn on first-class authority that Mr M'Nab in 1893 wrote to Captain Russell and asked him to support him as a Conservative candidate for Mataura ; that Captain Russell said he could not run him (M Nab) against the Hon. G. F., but would support him for Invercargill. Mr- M'Nab thought that too far from Knapdale, and / went straight over to Seddon. Although a Liberal, I prefer a moderate but straight man like Mr Richardson to a political weather • cook like Mr M'Nab, who yesterday was an admirer of Captain Russell, to-day pledges himaelfi to Mv Seddon, and to-morrow is ready to follow Sit Robert Stout.— l am, etc., November 24. Disgusted. No fewer than 576 architects entered the competition for the preparation of plans for the projected Paris Exhibition in 1900. Kimmo and Blair's " Standard " turnip seed are reliblo both as to growth and strain, and should be sown by all f»rmerfl.— Advb,