MR PURNELL AT CHERTSEY.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume III, Issue 492, 15 November 1881, Page 2

MR PURNELL AT CHERTSEY.

Mr Purnell addressed the electors of Wakanui at Chertsey schoolhouse yesterday evening About twenty-five electors were present. Mr L. Mangham was voted to the chair.

Mr Purnell, in opening his remarks, said he came forward as a candidate in the Liberal interest. The Liberalism which he advocated was the Liberalism of the great leaders of the Liberal party in England, which sought the improvement of the welfare of the community by the paths of justice and order, and he repudiated all sympathy with those dangerous doctrines which were now being advocated in the name of Liberalism, but were in reality alien to it, and were more akin to the extreme views of the Continental Socialists. These doctrines, too, were put forward professedly in the interests of the working man, whereas the working man would be the chief sufferer from their application, since a stoppage of industrial enterprises and a dearth of employment would be their inevitable effect. Mr Purnell then proceeded to discuss the native question, local government, finance, railway management, and other political topics, and sat down amidst loud applause. In reply to questions, Mr Purnell said that if the present county system were maintained he should be in favor of giving the county councils the management of , waste lands, the police, charitable and other matters. If the Legislative Council continued to be composed of rich men he should not be in favor of paying them a honorarium, but if it were popularised, as he desired it to be, he thought the honorarium should still bo paid. The Chairman, in asking if any elector had any resolution to propose, said that Mr Purnell’s address had been very satisfactory to himself, and he believed Mr Purnell’s views would be found to be in accord with those of the majority of the electors.

Mr Wilkinson moved a vote of thanks and confidence in the candidate, with a pledge that the electors present would use their utmost endeavors to secure his return.

Mr R. Campbell seconded the resolution, which was carried unanimously. A vote of thanks to the Chairman terminated the proceedings.