COOK COUNTY LIBERAL ASSOCIATION.

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 400, 26 April 1902, Page 2

COOK COUNTY LIBERAL ASSOCIATION.

MUTUAL EXPLANATIONS.

ADDRESS BY MR CARROLL.

PREMIER AND “POVERTY.”

The annual meeting of the Liberal Association was held last night, the President (Mr Joyce) being in the chair. The Hon. J. Carroll was present. At the outset a discussion tool; place as to a motion that hud been passed at a previous meeting, tantamount to a censure ul Mr Carroll for not having attended the meeting. An explanation was given of Mr Carroll’s non attendance that he had not been invited until the day of the meeting, and that he had another important appointment which he could not at that hour forego. Strong exception was taken to the spreading far and wide through the press a statement that Mr Carroll cast a slight on the Association. In the mutual explanations that ensued, Mr Cogar said that it was the President and Secretary upon whom the blame had been east for not having, immediately on Mr Carroll's arrival, notified him of .the meeting, and that Mr Carroll’s name had not been mentioned in the resolution, and he was surprised that it had got into the newspaper in that form. The President said that as far as he recollected there was no vote of censure mentioned. Inadvertently or somehow the statement had slipped into the Times’ report. Messrs Birrell and Cogar had both coino to him next day, and were very irritated that sueli a statement should be made. No such thing was intended. Mr Birrell : It was never mentioned. Continuing the President said that before calling on Mr Carroll to address them he would like to say something in regard to a statement made by Mr Matthews (as reported in-the Times) anent the Premier’s statement's to ‘ Poverty ’ Bay. He (the President) could give that an emphatic denial. Mr Seddon had never had any such idea. His statement was a reiteration of what Mr Seddon had said to him and others on a previous visit, when at the Karaka. He had thou said what a pity it was that the name of the beautiful Bay was not changed from such a name as 1 Poverty.’ Mr Matthews had said, according to the Times report, that he had authority for making the statement, and he (Mr Joyce) had authority for saying that the Premier never had such a thought as that imputed to him. As a matter of fact Mr Seddon did not know whether there were subscriptions or not to the testimonial, and it was a pity that a gentleman in such a position as President of the Chamber of Commerce and a former President of the Liberal Association should have made such a statement, which he considered was a slur that foil not only upon Mr Seddon, but upon all who had got up the petition and upon the whole fraternity in general. Though the Liberals had invited Mr Seddon, it was a great national welcome in which Conservatives also joined. No Liberal introduced politics or any political subject during the time Mr Seddon was here. They had worked with unanimity, and it was a great shame that such an inuendo should have been allowed to get into the papers to be circulated outside, as coming from the President of the Chamber of Commerce. He gave the statement a most emphatic denial. The President of the Association then went on to refer to the presence of. the Hon. J. Carroll, and invited him to address the meeting. Hon. J. Carroll, who was received with applause, said ho did not intend to make many remarks beyond expressing pleasure at meeting them all again. His visits to the district in which he resided were less frequent than formerly, and he could only put forward the excuse that he had his Ministerial duties to attend to. On his last visit a certain amount of feeling had occurred because some had thought that he had purposoly kept away from the meeting. He freely accepted the explanation offered, He had asked them to accept his assurance that he was quite unavoidably absent, 3ue to the shortness of the notice and that he had previously made other arrangements. This was the first opportunity he had to explain. The farthest thing from his mind was to otl'er ail affront to the members ; if that were possible he did not think it would be in his nature to do so. It had been circulated throughout the colony that members had taken exception to an insult offered by him. Some of the Southern members had been perturbed about it and when he told then; that he did not believe it still they were not satisfied. From their past relations he was satisfied that they would not take such a step, or at least that they would have given him some opportunity before doing so to show why it should not be done. The standard of the Association, he contended, was of the highest. People did ill-advised things, but where one made mistakes others were ready to repair them—that was a duty they owed to each other. Many things he did might be looked on as not being right, “and many things he should do he did not do. (Laughter!) But he was not singular in that respect and a fair percentage of faults should be allowed for. There was no reason why they should stand off from each other. It was quite right that they should point out each other’s faults without necessarily allowing it to go into the newspapers. They could always give the press what they desired to have public, If they had principles to maintain they should not allow any little differences to interfere with them. The main cause could only be attained by working together. In reference to the remark as to Mr Seddon, | he regretted that such a remark was made ; he hoped that if so it was done in i fit of absent-mindedness, qnd was not meant seriously, Ho would' be sorry that ’ anyone connected with the Association should so reflect on the good name of a man in the position of the Premier. It might have simply been made as a sarcastic joke, and some day the gentleman might explain why. In the meantime, they rpjghlj oyer- ! look it. It certainly npj hurt Mr Seddon. He certainly could noi have called for more than pity frqiQ (he pr'-- , that a man occupying the Seddgp di() in pukin' - bltlo P been auihv . - esteeuJ . should have

- . ... such a puerile statement. L-udiing to themselves, many, no doubt, thought he should address his constituents, and he intended to do so—he thought the most suitable time would be when he came back, prior to the function in regard to the railway. He admitted that he should have addressed them before, but the Ministers had been verybusy, and he himself had been very busy in getting the new Native legislation into working order. Such a new departure required constant care and attention, besides one’s attention in different parts of the colony. He trusted that when the time arrived as indicated he would be able to give a satisfactory account to his constituents, and particularly to them to whom he owed the honor of the position he held. Referring to the railway he said it would, without question, be opened on Coronation Day. It would at least be a living fact, showing that so much had been done, short as the distance to Ormond was. It would all the more enhance the early construction of the balance of the line to the Karaka. By the time it reached that it would be able to account for itself. It would tap a large area of country, and would mean

saving carting for at least twenty miles. It would place the work beyond criticism as to its merits, and would concentrate their agitation for the prosecution of the line to the Motu and to other lines by which they would get a means of inland conveyance to othercentres. As a first step in railway progression the opening of the line to Ormond must be considered very important, and the nest step should- be to the ICaraka. They could not stop there, and would have gone too far to come back. A great

deal of our land was suitable for dairying, and they should have areas cut up suitable for that. The railway would help the dairy industry, and the dairy industry would help the railway. As to the form the function of opening the railway would take, he would leave that to the local minds to think out. He had received a communication from Mr Hall-Jones, who said that though he might not get the work fully complete, it would be so far ad-

vanced that it could be opened for traffic. From the Traffic Department he had re-

ceived a communication that the rolling stock would be ready. Owing to the difficulty of landing, sis D carriages would be

sent injthe first instance, and would do for a start. These arrangements would ensure that there would be no public inconvenience. He hoped that ill would do their best to make the celebration a successful one. Suggestions would no doubt be made as to what should be done, and the Association should also think the matter out. Mr Carroll concluded by warmly thanking the members. Whenever misunderstandings arose ho hoped they would be cleared up to the satisfaction of all parties. As there was other business to do, he would now conclude, but would be glad to answer any questions or give any information.

Mr Birrell said that the present e»gine was antiquated. Mr Carroll said lie thought that would be made all right. Besides he intended to point out to his colleague (Sir J. G, Ward), that the difficulty of landing was not so great as supposed. Mr Cogar : Now that Mr Cuddie, the dairy expert, is here, is it intended to acquire and oiien up lands for dairying ? Mr Carroll said he would like to see something of the kind done, and he suggested that the Association should help the Department by pointing out areas that would be suitable. Only the question of price would stop the Government. He mentioned an instance of Native land tnat nad been recommended ; he had to advise against it as it would be simply purchasing a lawsuit. In reply to the President, Mr Carroll said that it would, he thought, be possible to buy a portion of a block. Mr R. M. Birrell moved

“ That this Association expresses its continued confidence in the sitting member (Hon. J. Carroll), and trusts that he may be successful in his strenuous’ efforts as Native Minister to bring into useful and beneficial occupation Die vast areas of waste Native lands throughout the North island.''

It was, he said, unnecessary to qualify this with any remarks. The acquirement of the .Native lands meant prosperity. Mr Carroll had been very zealous, and he thought th'.'y might safely leave it to Mr Carroll to continue his energies in that way., Mr Cogar seconded the motion, again specially mentioning the subject of dairying. He felt sure that the Association would adopt Mr Carroll’s suggestion in the matter, and mane a recommendation to the Government.

The motion was carried unanimously with applause. Mr Carroll, in returning thanks, said that he thought the motion was too eulogistic of himself. He believed, lie said, that the. future of this district was bound up intimately with the settlement of the Native land question The country had, as it were, been living on the fruitfulness and strength and productiveness, but until the large area of Native lands lying idie were turned to account they could not expect to increase in population and productiveness as they should. We should develop a consumptive power within ourselves, and not only look to foreign markets for our produce, and that could only be done by utilising the waste lands now lying unproductive in the colony, and a large portion of which was Native land. Therefore he acknowledged the terms of the resolution, and assured the Association that it would not be his fault if a change did not come about in the aspect of Native lands, and that very soon. He believed that they were on the right track, and he was certain that if he got the support of the majority of the people of the coiony, as he had the support of the majority of the Native population, there would be no reason to be grieved at the result. Going on to the subject of dairying, it was, he said, a most important industry in the colony. In this district and in others there was much land suitable for dairying, and the people and the Government should spare no effort to increase that industry. He was sure that it would mean a lasting benefit to the district and to the colony. (Applause.) The balance-sheet showed the liabilities nil, and the assets nil. The following officers were elected President, Mr E. P, Joyce ; Vice-* Presidents, Mrs Maynard and Messrs Harris and Birrell; Executive, Mes J dames Scott, Fox, Fraser, and Maekie, and Messrs Patterson, Dower, Sigley, Dickson, Ryan, Griffin, Hansen, Henderson, Gallagher, Liddell, Wade, G. Maher, P. Maher, A. Y. Ross, Mooney, Brown, Matthewson, Scott, Cogar, Elmsley ; hon. secretary, Mr R. N. Jones. Mr Joyce, in returning thanks, said that the members were scattered all over the district, and it was impossible to have largely-attended monthly meetings. The few in that case must represent the many, and they should have unity. The manner in which the resolution in favor of Mr Carroll had been passed he was sure would be upheld by all the members. He hoped they would all work amicably together. This was? fiis third term of office, hut he would have been quite willing to step aside for any other member. He would, however, continue to do his best, and would he pleased to give any information or help that he could. On the motion of Mr R. N, Jones, seconded by Mr Birrell, it was resolved that active steps bo taken to get the names o$ all persons legible placed on hhe roll before the general election. The statement that there might not l>e an election was received with expressions of opinion, in which Mr Carroll joined, that there was sure to, be an election.