ELECTION CAMPAIGN.

Gisborne Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1600, 13 November 1905, Page 3

ELECTION CAMPAIGN.

HON. J. CARROLL AT PATUTAHI

A LIVELY MEETING. MR W. K. CHAMBERS TAKES A HAND.

Paokea to iho doors ana standing thiok ontsido was the condition of affairs at Patutahl on Saturday evening, whon ihe Hon. James Carroll addressed tho eleotors of that place. Attracted by the announcement that there was also to bo a social after the meeting, a large party left town in brakes and other oonveyanoes, and wore amply rewardod by a somewhat liyely and interesting meeting. Upon entering the hall Mr Carroll was greeted with load and continued applause. Mr Owen Gallagher was voted to the ohair, and bespoke a fair bearing for the candidate. After introducing tbe Native Minister, Mr Gallagher made a short and vigorous apeeoh, pointing oat that they had three candidates in tbe field, and he was sure any.oonstiluenoy in New Zealand would bo pleased to have any one of the three to represent them. (Applause.) But they oonld only ohoose one, and it was

their duty to look carefully into the matter and see whioh banner they could fly. Tbe banner of the Opposition was too ninety and oorroded to aland inspection, whilst the term- Independent Oppositionist was too self glorious and ineffective to bo productive of good. Ths only banner that they oonld support was that of Iho Liberal party, and this he asked them lo view carefully and try to piok out a flaw in. They would find that that banner waved as proudly to-Dight as it did 28 years ago. (Applause.) He was sure they would bo

pleased to bear from Mr Carroll an aooount of hie stewardship. , The Native Minister, who was most oordially received, thanked the meeting for the reception acoordad him. He thought that a mistake had been made in not haviog a fourth candidate in the field in the parson of their worthy ohairman, as be (Mr Carroll) felt like tbe oandidate who, after hearing his chairman expound at length tbo virtues of the cause he advooated, announced that there was really nothing left for him to say. (Laughter.) Referring to the large number of ladies present Mr Carroll said that no matter what might be the fanlts of the present administration it had been successful in one thing, and that was to bring men and women together to take an interest in politios. Continuing, Mr Carroll spoke mainly on Ihe liaos of his town address, referring at length to the different political parsioa. There was, ho said, always inherent,in tho human breast a desire for change, but he oonld see no reason for sueb, and he hoped that Ihe claims of the Government would be carofally considered by tbe eleotors before they gave their deoision at the ballot box. (Applause,) His two opponents were oapable and intelligent iubd, who had every right to come forward for the conntry’s oause, but they were in their novitiate, and he did not. think that either of them could do as much for the conslitu•noy as one who had had yes,rs of experience j;ia Parliament. (Applause.) How* ever that was for the electors to decide.

Passing on, Mr Carroll said that fortunately for himself he was standing alone on ihe side of the Liberal and progressive party, whilst the Opposition had two candidates. He was a poor orphan. (Laughter and applause.) One of. his opponents was a straight-out Oppositionist, whilst the other termed himself an Independent with a strong leaning towards Mr Massey. He had heard of Liberals, Progressives,-Whigs, Tories, and all manner of polities, bnt never of Massey politios. It was a sort of subdued order, a sort of massaged order of polities. They knew that Mr Massey was Leader of the Opposition and that he had tried to wear the olothes of the working man, of tbe miner, the oooky, and similar sections, but they all knew how badly they suited him. If Mr Massey’s party were to get into power to-morrow they would not rescind one measure passed by the Seddon Government. Ab Mr Carroll proceeded, the meeting became very lively and interjections frequent. The oandidate pointed out that the hope of the Opposition was to get baok to the old conservative order of things; they wanted to turn the Government ou J and the first step was to oust the present member. Voioes: "They never will,” and applause. „ ~ Eleotor: They want to turn Seddon out, Mr Carroll: What harm has Seddon ever done you ? Can you put another in his place ? Can you find one on the Opposition side fit to lace his boots ? Oao you find one so well fitted to carry ou the affairs of the State as the same Diok Seddon ? Cries of “ No," and applause. Mr Carroll: What do they want to turn the present Government out for ? What harm has the present Government. done you? Ido not believe that there is one in this room who can point to one single fact showing any injury or harm done to this country by the Government. (Cheers.) The workers cannot say it, and the farmers cannot say it. „„ A voice : What about the big " bugs ”? Mr Carroll: No, the big M bugs " cannot even say it. To say so would be a spurious assumption on their part. (ApProceeding, Mr Carroll spoke warmly on the question of the advantages of universal suffrage, saying tho latter had placed all on the Bame political plane; one was as good as another, and Jack was as good as his master. The oardinal featare of universal suffrage was that property should not rule as against human beings. The oandidate was challenged by Mr Chambers to deal with tbe Opposition manifesto, which he immediately proceeded to do, Ihe different planks being criticised seriatim, the speaker discounting tbe Opposition’s olaims to. originality, staling that they were stealing the political olothes of the Liberal party. The comparison drawn by the speaker gave nse tc great laughter, and provoked continual in tsnections from Mr Chambers. Towards the c’ose of the meeting, the proceeding! grew still more lively, and the Chairmac had to repeatedly call for order- Upor the gentleman, who was responsible to: most of the interruptions, expressing re

Bred to Mr Carroll and those present, the Native Minister said, “ I will reply to my friend, by asking you to sing,' For He s a Jolly Good Fellow,” wbioh was done in a most spirited manner, | ; A large number of questions were asked and satisfactorily answered. Koferring to I the amount reoeived by the district in re» aard to public works expenditure, Mr Carroll stated that he bad done his utmost for the district, and whilst he woald have been glad had it been poss'ble to have Ob* tained more he thought, all things considered, there was not a great deal to com--1 plain of. In answer to Mr Obambois the candidate said that it was true he had re

oommeaueu meu iui • fereot railways. If » man came to him he deemed it his duty to try and get hicc work. He would be pleased to recommem Mr Chambers for employment on the rail wav. (Laughter.) He favored oloioi . .iTi w thn flat, and thought the |

ictilement on me u»v, Government should acquire Mr Randall Johnson’s property for this purpose. A voto of thanks and confidence was oarriod amidst prolongei cheers. At the conclusion of the speech Me Oarroll was presented wiih a handsome ravelling companion by Mr A, Tuohy on behalf oi the native bors resiaents of Patatahi, tho addreia bdngjß.B fallows: '« Xo the Hon. J Oarroll. We, the native-

born residents of Patutahi, desire to express our appreciation of the services which you hava rendered to the colony, and to this district in particular. DuriDg the yoars you have been in Parliament we have watched your oareer with the utmost interest and p'easure, and your advoosoy of the Liberal’cause has always been marked with statesmanlike ability and won from us our keenest admiration. We I therefore beg of vou to acoept this small memento as a token of our esteem end I regard.” Then follow the signatures.

Mr Oarroll suitably replied. | The social whioh followed the meeting was very largely attended. An abundant supply of refreshments was provided by the ladies of the district, tbe tables being I presided over by Mesdsmes Gallagher, W. I Atkins, Doherty, and Wall, Misses GalI lagher and Wall, and others. The music 1 was supplied by Messrs R. Oaulton (piano) I and W. Robb (aooora«oo). I The proceedings terminated at midnight with “ Auld Lang Syne "