CAVERSHAM NOMINATION.

Evening Star, Issue 3895, 18 August 1875, Page 2

CAVERSHAM NOMINATION.

The nomination of candidates to represent the Caversham district in the House of Uepreseutatives, in the place of Mr Tolmie, deceased, was Ivld at the schoolhouse, Caversham, today. There were about forty electors present. t'he Returning Officer (Mr ->treet) having read the writ authorising the election, Mr Hothbbfobd said he had to propose a candidate who he thought would suit them, He referred to Mr Robert Stout, who he believed had courage enough to express himseli, and not only that, but to do what he promised. He would, no Jdoubt, make their wants well known, and had not only by his conduct shown that he was capable of representing them, but had from time to tune shown that he studied not only his own interests but also those of his constituents. Some people said he was not a practical man, but to his (Mr Rutherford’s) mind his feelings were above those of selfinterest, It had been said that because of the log-rolling and place-hunting In the Provincial Council—but which was not so great as that i. rhe General Assembly—they snould foifeit their rights of local government. He regarded abolition as a step towards practical despotism. Mr J. T. Roberts seconded the nomination. Mr --Vm. Robertson, in proposing Mr W. J. M. Larnach, said that it must be vain for him to say anything on behalf of the candidate he proposed ; a good article merely wanted to be shown to commend itself to customers, and the same might be said of Mr Larnach.—(Hear, hear). One reason he (the speaker) supported that gentleman was because lie had a very large stake in the country; he was a bond fide settler in every sense of the word. Mr Larnach would do everything in his power to ke p down taxation— (applause) —which was looming in the distance, and they would soon feel tbat taxation was the solving power towards the dissolution of Provincial Governments. He (the speaker) had years ago advocated separation, and he supposed separation came out of dissolving the Provinces. If they returned Mr Larnach, they would have an independent gentleman who did not seek or require a Government position. While the British Government were doing everyth!) g in their power to prevent bribery and corruption at elections, he found that in their very midst telegrams advising electors how to vote were being circulated—a greater disgrace than to tell them they w ere not tit to select the best man could not be imagined.—(A Voice ; Did you read the telegram from the Government, to-day ?)

Mr P. Bkadt. in seconding Mr Larnach’a nomination, said that he could find no fault with Mr Stout, who was as good a representative the district could have; but at the same time his views did not coincide with those of the speaker, consequently he was obliged to oppose him on this occasion. He was certainly in favor of separation or abolishing the Provinces —(A Voice : Which of them?) He was in favor of abolishing ihe Provinces, and went in for Mr Larnach wholly and solely on those grounds. Mr Stout promised to address the electors of Caversham at length this evening, lie was glad that, Mr Brady had put the issue so broadly before them, and he did not ask anyone to vote except on the distinct issue— Abolition or not Abolition? He wished the electors to decide that matter. It had bee«, said that this abolishiug the Provinces would rid the country of expense, but while not an adept at figures, he challenged anyone whether on a public platform or otherwise to prove this. He would coi'V nee them that so far as money was coucerned they could not save a single sixpence, bat would be the losers. The proposer and seconder of Mr Larnach evidently wished separation, but that could never be expected from the present Ministry; but if thy stopped the abolishing they might get separation oriany other reform thev thought necessary. Mr Lloyd ; What will you lose by the abolishing of the Provincial form of Government ?

Mr Stout; I do not know of anything except my seat in the Provincial Council. Mr Lloyd : Do you not receive L6OO a-year as Provincial Solicitor?

Mr Stout : I am Provincial Solicitor, but I consider my salary too low foi the amount ©f wotk I have to do.

In answer to a question re the new Representation Bill, Mr Stout said that the Caversham district had, both in the Assembly and Provincial Council, the largest voting power of any place returning one member. The Government knew that he was opposed to them, otherwise they would not have sent down telegrams requesting ratepayer to vote against him. These were probably the telegrams referred to by Mr Robertson. The new local Government Bill providing for franchise was almost an exact tr«nscrip', of the Bill before the Provincial Council in 1871. . council

Mr Labnach, who was received with continued applause, said that it was with some reluctance he appeared before the electors and also with some diffidence that he opposed a gentleman whom he regarded with great resifect and one he ever hoped to regard as a friend’ Their views however, were so widely different that he felt bound, as oue holding a large stake xnthe country, to come forward and protect not only the interests of himself but those of his fellow-wtizens. He was in favor of the_ abolition of Provinces, the time having arrived when they should cheapen endl^ e - K A«y compared the cost oi the Colony through its Provincial forms Wl * h that of Victoria or of .New bouth Wales they would find that they WtWfi° nly domg to themselves, but that they were spending much more money than they had any right to do. By abolishing Provincialism, although they did away with fcho name still they had a local Government as before, but without the pageantry and pomp °\ * House of Commons. He disagreed with the clause giving the Governor power to appoint a delegate, and would oppose it. Head Boards should be allowed -O nominate their own representative, and the Governor should be compelled to appoint him. —(Applause.) He hud been spoken of as a squatter and a runholder, but he was as large au employer as there was in the Colony—employing as he did five hundred men. After explaining that he was forced into the purchase of Moa Flat by the then impecunious Government, Mr JLainach referred to the injunction in the mutter. of the Heriot Hun- *

dred, and with which hia name had been mixed up, saying that he Was simply au instrument of others, and that when set m motion he could not l>e stopped. He was merely the agent for some persons absent from the Colony, and the landowners’ solicitors had told him that his name must bo used to the mjuncti n. He said fearlessly that if it hijd been bis own property ho should have declined to get the injn. ction, and had told bt« solicitor.-* so, is ho w- uld do injury to his own interests by not opening the haul to bond Me 4 settlers, ftlr Larnach briefly referred 'the ' Abolition proposals, saying that it was a singular thing that the principal opponents of the measure were gentlemen receiving good pay ; and concluded by saying that his interests and those of the electors were so dove-tailed that protection of his own interests must also be a protection of their*. Mr Fish ; Is it within your knowledge that telegrams have been sent down to the district from the opi*onents of the present Government telling the electors how to vote ? Mr Larnach ; I have seen such a telegram. Mr Fish: Do you think it right that gentle* men at Wellington should dictate to the free and independent, electors of this place ? Mr Larnach : I think it an m:uli to our intelligence.—(Applause.) • ’ Mr M‘lnode : uo you think the Government of this ci>Ui try should send telegrams down to (he ‘ I> i’v " ieics ’ asking the electors oppose Mr Stout Mr Larnach : decidedly not, I have not seen the telegram. Other questions having been answered, a show of hands was taken with the following result: —Stout 13, Larnach 19. Mr Stout demanded a poll, which wi'J bo taken on Fiiday.