THE WAIAPU ELECTION.

Gisborne Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1573, 2 October 1905, Page 3

THE WAIAPU ELECTION.

MR LISSANT CLAYTON AT TE KARAKA.

Thexa was a large attendance at tha To Karaka Public Hall on Saturday evening, when Mr Liseaot Clayton addressed the eleotors of Waiapu. Mr Julius C®3ar preaided. Mr Olayton’s address was mainly on the lines of the Patutahi speeoh. Ha was aocorded a moat attentive hearing, and was frequently applauded, hie remarks on the, land question and roads ana bridges being especially well received. Referring to the question of co-operative labor, he stated that in itself it wa3 not undesirable, but I the administration of it in New Zealand had been roitoo. It was to the interests of the country that the money should bo Well expended, but this was not being done. Instead of 00-ciperative labor, a system of small contrasts could be substituted. Passiog on, Mr Clayton contrasted the expenditure on roads and bridges in Hawke’s Bay and Waiapu, as compared to Westland, In tbe former district, it was 5s per head, and in Westland £2. The Waiapu electorate was merely looked upon as a pocket borough. At some length tbe candidate showed bow tbe debt had increased per head during the last nine years. Referring to the Times’ comments on his Patutahi speeoh, and I partcularly his reference to Captaia Bed doo, Mr Clayton said, “ 1 used Captain Soddon’B name merely as an illustration, and I cannot see any force in the criticism. It comes in no more than if I bad general terms referred to Brown, Jones, 'o'C Smith. Is appears, however, that I have touched someone on tbe ‘ raw.’ You will quite understand that I have to use names.”

Mr Devary : But why Captain Sed don's name ?

Mr Clayton : Bocause he ia tba son of the Premier.

A voioa : Yon might bar the son. Tackle the Premier fairly, bat leave his family out. Mr Clayton: That is what I want to do. 1 do not desire to attack Mr Beddon through any member of his family. You must, however, see that I must mention some names in illustration ; therefore, I shall say the son of Lord Salisbury or Mr Arlhar Balfour. (Laughter and applause.) A voice; Good enough, Mr Clayton. Continuing, the candidate referred to the great army of inspectors who bad been appointed by the Seddon Government, fits memory failed him to mention tbe lot. These inspectors were for tbe most pßtt not wanted, and ought to be dispensed with. After referring to what he termed " Mr Carroll’s want of energy and activity,” Mr Clayton said: ‘*Your member did not oven trouble to address you last eieotion. He merely sent a Wire congratulating you on retumiug him. He will not do that this time. I guarantee he will come to the Baraka, and 1 guarantee that I shall give him plenty of work to do. If the honorable gentleman is Dot returned he will still go to Wei'ington, for ho will either be exalted to tbe Upper House .or be will represent the Eastern Maori district, so you need have no fear of losing your member." In reply to questions, the candidate said he oould not slate the exact amount'received by the district for expenditure on pablio works daring recent years, but he knew . that it was not as much as the Opposition constituency adjoining received. In regard to the Chinese question, he was certainly not anxious to Bee a largo immigration of Celestials to the colony. Mr Carlile asked the candidate what other country in the world was governed as Hew Zealand was. He (Mr Carlile) considered the oountry was full of corruption from one end to the othor. " Yon reckon we are free," ho added. "I consider we are slaves; the mors a man improves his ground tbe more he is taxed.”

Mr Clayton agreed with the questioner that there was room for great improvement in the government of Hew Zealand. He was also at one with him in the ►opinion that preference should be given to English goods as against those of foreign manufacture. Mr McDonald proposed a vote of thanks and confidence ia the candidate, Mr Carlile seconding the motion. Tbe candidate asked that the vote should bo one of thanks only, as he bad no desire to anticipate the poll.. This was agreed to, and a hearty vote of thanks was carried, the usual vote being ftlso aooorded to the chairman,