THE GENERAL ELECTION.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3246, 26 November 1881, Page 3

THE GENERAL ELECTION.

MR BUTTON" AT HASTINGS

A crowded meeting of electors assembled to hoar Mv Button at tho Public Hall, Olive, last night. Mr Sutton moved that Mr E. "Wood take the chair. Mr Wood, in introducing Mv Sutton, said that ho (Mr Suttop) had always done his best for tho district. As Chairman of tho County Council his actions were known to the public, and had always been in favour of the interests of the ratepayers. He had pleasure in taking the chair, although his doing so did not pledge him in any .way. He then called upon Mr Sutton to address the meeting. Mr Sutton, on rising, was received with loud cheers. He commenced by saying that a friend had asked him, a week ago, if ho wore going to speak in the enemy's camp. He did not see tbtit Hastings was the enemy's camp. He built tho first house in the township, and carted the first load of wood into the place. He would carefully avoid importing anything like personality into an election contest. There was an amount of ill-feeling engendered by a political contest which was to be regretted ; ho intended to carry on the contest in a straightforward manner, and refer to public matters only. Of the three candidates standing at the last election he claimed to be the only one who had carried out his pledges. He was prepared to-night to defend every vote he had given in tho House. (Loud applause.) His services in connection with the County Council of Hawke's Bay had been sxa- i knowledged even by his enemies. He had been connected with tho County Council for three years. At the time lie accepted the Chairmanship there was an overdraft of £1500, there or there abouts, in addition to a large liability on account of tho Ngaruroro bridge. There was trouble for some time after ho took office, but when ho gave up the office there was a credit balance of £2000. The Council, in their wisdom, had appointed another chairman, but they had accorded him a most hearty vote of thanks. Good work had been done, and done for nothing, all tho members having been unpaid. Captain Bussell, in a recent speech, had almost omitted to express his views on direct taxation. Ho (Mr Sutton) would not avoid tho question, but desired to have his opinion clearly and distinctly understood. (Loud applause). Ono of Captain Russell's arguments against tho property tax was that tho money was not spent locally. Could the audience tell him what other tax was spent locally ? Tho whole went into the colonial revenue. If lie were returned to the House he would go back as a firm supporter of the present Government if they continued to be worthy of confidence. Ho did not believe in a man who sat upon a rail in political matters. He thought that a well-defined opposition was desirable. The native policy of tho Government was a good one, and he believed that Mr Bryce was a man thoroughly capable and willing to deal with the rative difficulty. He had heard considerable rogret expressed that he and Captain Russell could not agree in reference to contesting the constituencies. Captain Russell was a much better man than any of those who were standing for the Napier electorate. On the question of the Representation Bill ho had differed from his colleague. Captain Russell opposed the bill tooth and nail. Captain Russell said that in tho matter of local government ho was at one with Mr Ormond. He would read them a motion which he (Mr Sutton) proposed in tho House in June, 1880 : — (1.) That the Counties Act bo amonded, and all Boacl Board or Highway Provincial Acts repealed, and Highway Districts abolished ; (2). That each county shall be sub-divided into ridings, and each riding re-constituted into a Road Board; (3.) That the Road Board shall be the only rating body, and that its duties shall bo the construction and repair of all roads and drains within its borders, tho construction of all small bridges, and all other works of a local nature ; (4.) That tho County Council shall consist of tho Chairman of each Road Board, by virtue of his position; (5.) That the revenue of the county shall bo rents, licenses, fees, &c, at present payable, and a right to levy pro rata upon all the Road Boards for such further amounts as may bo required ; (6.) That the duties of the Council shall bo the construction of largo bridges, assisting the Eoad Boards by providing engineering assistance when required, to provide for the local contribution to hospitals and charitable institutions, with power to alter the boundaries of ridings, and exercise a general supervision of the Road Boards ; (7.) That tho Government bo requested to bring in a bill during the session to give effect to these resolutions. (Loud applause.) He considered that such a motion as that would do away with the difficulties existing between County Councils and Road Boards. Mr Sutton then proceeded to refer to the property tax in very much the same terms ho used on a previous occasion. The Napier lino of railway was going to be carried on to Tahoraitc, and he reminded his hearers that tho land along tho lino would be trebled in value by this continuation of the line. Why should not those possessing land along the line pay something towards the cost of tho lino. If they thought of making Hastings into a municipality they ought to consider the probable cost of such action, and to make sure that they would derive benefit from such change. After alluding to a letter which appeared in a local print signed " Eunholder," Mr Sutton referred to the fact that all the large runholders were banded against him. iiis object had never been to set class against class, but to treat all classes fairly. Mr Sutton sat clown amidst loud cheers. Mr Collingc asked Mr Sutton if he was opposed to the introduction of the Bible into schools. Mr Sutton replied that he would oppose the introduction of tlio Bible into schools. Mr Wellwood questioned Mr Sutton in reference 'o the property tax, and its effect upon improvements. Mr Sutton said ho had already referred to the property tax and it 3 probablo results. Ho could only repeat what ho had formerly said. Mr McLcod then asked Mr Sutton as to whether ho would approve of the Hoad Boards or the County Councils being tho taxing body. Mr Sutton said that there was much to bo said on both sides of the question. In 1880 he proposed that tho Road Boards should be the rating bodies. He was still in favor of Road Boards being the rating bodies, but it was not a matter of much coneoquence. Mr Collinge then moved a vote of thanks to Mr Sutton. Mr Beilby seconded tho motion, which was carried amidst loud cheering. Mr Sutton moved a vote of thanks to Mr Wood for so worthily occupying the chair, and tho meeting concluded.

(BY TET/EGKAni.) Kumata, November 26. Mr Edwin Blake ia a third candidate for the Kumara electoral district,