WAIAPU ELECTION.

Gisborne Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1587, 18 October 1905, Page 3

WAIAPU ELECTION.

MB H. H. WALL AT TOLAGO BAY

A BPLIT IN THE OPPOSITION,

Mr H. H. Wall, tho Prohibitionist ' Opposition candidate, addressed a orowdod meeting in tho Tolago Bay aohoolroom on Monday evoniDg, Mr J. Shoridan, of Gisborne, presiding. Tho candidate, who was accorded a moat attentive hoariDg, gave a vory vigoroua oritioiam of tho Government policy, hie remarks on tho land and native land questions mooting with a groat deal of opposition. Tho address was, in the main, on the linos of those delivered at Wae-renga-a-kari and Patutohi. Mr Wall ex- ; pressed hlmsalf in favor of light railways, | and strongly emphasised the right of leaseholders to acquire their holdings at the priee at whioh the land was taken np. The aandidate was asked a large number of questions, all of whioh wero most satisfactorily answered. Mr Wall expressed himself as favorable to the establishment of a Civil Service Board, so as to remove those appointments oat of tho hands of the Government. He was opposed to taxing baoholors, believing ovory man ahonld bo free to follow his own inclination. Mr Somerville : Are yon the recognised representative o( the No-lioense party ? Mr Wall: How do yon mean ? lam a prohibitionist. Mr Somerville: Bat have you boon aeleoted officially by tho Loagne ? Mr Wall : No, I have not. Tho League

I aro not selecting a candidate. I Mr Somerville: Do you consider, Mr I Wall, that there is any possibio ohance for either you or Mr Clayton beating a man like Mr Carroll, who has each a strong hold on the oonstituenoy ? Mr Wall: No, 1 don't suppose there is muoh ohanoe. Mr Somerville : If you think there is no possible ohance for either of you beating him, why should not one of you stand down ? Let a meeting of your oommittee and Mr Clayton’s oommittee ba called, and let a decision bo arrived at bo that there shall only be one to fight Mr Carroll. The contest woold then be a fair one. I

I (Applause.) I Mr Wall: Had this suggestion been I put before me at an earlier stage, in a J proper manner and in the right spirit, I I should have been prepared to fall in with I your views. But every attempt has been I made by Mr Clayton’s committee—l will I not say by Mr Clayton himself—to foroo I me to retire, but I am determined not to do I so. Unfair means were taken at my first I meeting, and men were sent to my meetings to try to get mo out. If I oared to do so lean give you the names of the men. Every attempt was made to block mo, and I was not allowed to speak. It has gone I too far new for me to think of withdrawing. I have promised more than two thousand people that I will contest the seat. As you know, Mr Carroll is a Minister, I am an Oppositionist, and Mr Ciayton is only a go-between. (Great applause). An elector: Don’t you think, Mr Wall, there would bo a great deal more interest in the election if there were onlytwo oandiclqlqs ? I Mr Wall: Yes, I do, but I shall not back down for Mr Clayton nor anyone I else. If I did withdraw another candidate would at once be put up. I had a deputation of ladies waited npon me the other day, and they declared that if I stood down I thi.y would surely bring anothor man into I the field.

An elector: Oh, how nice! God bless the ladies ! (Applause). Mr Wall expressed himself in favor of placing a poll tax on Chinese, and offering restrictions in regard to foreign immigra* tioD. He desired to see a white New Zealand.

An eleotor: But what of the Maori raoe ? Are they black or white ? Mr Wall: Yes, they are all white men. (Applause), Another eleotor: Don’t you think that there are a great many of those leaseholders who you talk about, who might just as well keep their leases and be shepherds ‘for Dick Seddon as for the moneylenders? Mr Wall: Every man should have the right to make his holding a freehold. An electertj You have stated that Westland could get what it wanted, and Gisborne could not. Do you think that the people of Gisborne really (know what they do want? They have a breakwater, and they have been talking about a water supply for years. (Laughter). Mr Wall: The Chairman may enlighten you on that question. (Laughter). On the motion of Mr G, Williams, seconded by Mr E. Mulligan, a hearty vote of thanks was accorded to Mr Wall for his address, and a vote of thanks to the Chairman terminated a most successful meeting.

Mr Wall addressed tho eleotors at Tokomaru last evening, and received a good reception. He made a vigorous speech, and was accorded a vote of thanke. He speaks at Waipiro to-night, and at Tuparoa to-morrow.

MR CLAYTON AT WHATATUTU

Mr Lis3ant Clayton addressed a wellattended meeting at Wbatatutu last night. Mr A. Heggarty presided. The address was on oimilar lines to the candidate's previous speeches. A number of questions were asked, “ Do you approve of Government enter* ing t or trying to enter into competition with private insurance companies ? ” The reply was similar to his remarks at Gisborne on State fire insurance. ii Are you in favor of granting hotels compensation if no-license is carried ? " The candidate said be was in favor of the present law being carried out, but thought politicians should bo absolutely neutral on tho subjeot, so that they could go into the House absolutely without bias towards one party or the other. H Would you, if elected, do your utmost to have a Bill brought in to impoee a tax on bachelors and old maids ? ” Mr Clayton eaid this was a question banded to him at almost every meeting, and his reply was similar to that at Gisborno. . "If oleoted. would you try and got an improved train service between Gisborne and To Karaka?” He replied that no member should interfere more than was necessary with any particular b aooh of the State Departments, but if elected he would do life best in the interests of the P °" Is'it true you intend to support the Now Liberal party ?” be was asked, and roplied that ho would be independent of any party, although against the Governm -‘Doyou approve of the Government i buying big stations instead of putting . people on native land?" *as another l question. The candidate replied that with ! one or two rare exceptions he waste lands of the colony should be settled fit Tbo meoting coocluded with throe cheers for Mr Clayton.