PUBLIC MEETING AT ALEXANDRA.

Dunstan Times, Issue 750, 1 September 1876, Page 2

PUBLIC MEETING AT ALEXANDRA.

—0 On Tuesday lost a numerously attended public meeting was held in the Library Hall, Alexandra, for the purpose oi,considering, the action taken by Mr V. Pyko, MH.R., on the Separation resolutions. MrJ. Simraonds was elected chairman, and opened the proceedings by reading the advertisement convening the meeting. Ha then called upon Mr Forrest to propose the first resolution.

MrForrest, who addressed the meeting at some length, in the course of his remarks said—That he preferred to give a representative a general support, and to allow him considerable latitude on minor questions ; but there were some leading principles on which a candidate was expected to give distinct pledges, and which pledges no member can tamper with or break without political dishonour to himself, and making the constituency he represents an object of contempt, unless a strong protest is made against the action of their representative. The speaker read the Separation resolutions and said that he wished the meeting to distinctly understand the point at issue. The question was not, whether Separation would be beneficial to the Colony, or otherwise, —that ought to have been settled at the time of Mr Fyke’s election—but whether a candidate, who has pledged himself to a distinct course of action is justified in voting in direct opposition to his pledges. Mr Fyke had made a clever speech in defence of his vote, and had that speech been delivered when he was a candidate, it might have been considered as an able argument against separation ; but viewed as a justification of Mr Fyke’s breach of faith it was simply bunkum, as it carefully evaded the real question at issue. He considered that the electors ought to speak out on this matter, as there were other questions of great moment on which Mr Fyke had pledged himself, and if the electors permitted the present breach of faith to pass unnoticed, they might find that Mr Fyke would throw all his professions to the wind, and vote in direct opposition to the interests of his constituents whenever it suited his purposes to do so. The resolution he had to propose was as follows:—“ That in the opinion of this meeting, Mr Vincent Fyke, by voting against the Separation resolutions, and thus violating the pledges he made when a candidate for the representation of the district, has forfeited the confidence of the electors ; and we further consider that Mr Fyke, having voted against one of the leading principles which he professed to hold when a candidate for our suffrages, is bound as an honorable man to resign his seat, in order to give his constituents an opportunity to show whether they concur with his sudden conversion.” Mr E. Finlay briefly seconded the resolution, which, on being put to the meeting was carried unanimously. A vote of thanks to the Chairman terminated the proceedings.