ELECTION CAMPAIGN.

Gisborne Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1610, 24 November 1905, Page 3

ELECTION CAMPAIGN.

MR LISBANT.OLa.YTON AT GISBORNE.

' AN ENTHUSIASTIC MEETING. There was a largo attendance at His Majesty’s Theatre last evening, wbon Mr Lissaut Oiayton delivered his second address to a Gisborne audienoo. His Worship the Mayor presided. Mr Clayton, who was most cordially reooived, acknowledged the courteous hearing whioh ho reoeived when ho first ad“ dressed a town audionoe, and hoped to re-

ceive a fair and patient hearing that even ipgt (Applause.) He only asked for Bri tish fair play, and ho was euro that woulr ho aooorded him. (Applauso.) Unfor lunately for himself, ho could not olain the honor of being one of tho native born but ho was perhaps something hotter; he was a Now Zealander by choice, whilst the native born oonld not help themselves being ffl the position they were. (Applanse.) He hoped for nothing better than to live and die in the servioe of Now Zealand. He sinobrely hoped that some he would be worthy to reoeive the

floral and bouquets and compliments whioh had boon aooorded to others, A voioe : You haven’t got a hope. (Applanse.) Mr Clayton : A person at the baok says that I have net got a hope. I shall prove to him that I have got a hope. (Applanse). Continuing, tho candidate said that he did not depend upon packed houses in the

I manner that hie opponent, Mr Carroll, I had bed in some plaoes. He did not lake I brake loads from town in order to make a I meeting for himself. | A voice : Nothing of tbo sort. Mr Clayton: A gentleman at the baok says nothing of tbo sort. I know that [ there were two or throe brake loads of people from town, besides several private carriages. A voice: That is not true. Continuing, Mr Clayton briefly replied to the remarks of Mr W. L. Rees made at

I Mr Carroll’s meeting in Gisborne, justifyj ing his right, as a young man, to stand foi j Parliamentary honors. He instanced the oase of_ William Pitt, who at the age of 22, was Prime Minister of England. He (Mr ClaytoD) wanted to know who was this ! wild visionary (referring to Mr Rees) who would diotaie to the eleotors as to whom they should return to Parliament. (Applause.) His oppoaeat, the Native Minister, took him to taak because he

termed himself an Independent and I wanted to know what the latter stood for. I He, Mr ClaytoD, although an IndependI ent, was the reoognised candidate of the Opposition party. (Applause.) His opj ponent (Mr Carroll) did not know what I the term Independent meant beoanse he I was the servile follower of Mr Seddon. I (Applause.) { Continuing, Mr Clayton went on to deal I with the land question and native affairs, I his remarks being in the main on the lines lof his previous addresses. Touching on | the East Coast Trust Board affairs the I candidate severely oritioiaed the adminisI tration of that body. Referring to J a native blook of land whioh had been disposed of, he stated: " Why did tho Hon. gentleman not reply to the question whether it was true that for a blook of land which was sold at 16s there was an offer of 27s ? He did not reply to this question, He simply retorted and shuffled.” Why did he not reply, repli J Mr Clayton j he had a right to give yon a proper answer. The reason is to be found in the faot that he dare not reply. (Applause.) A voioe: He is the right man for Waiapn Bnyway. Mr Clayton: That gentleman at the back is very courageous, but let him oome on the platform.

A voice : Take no notice of him. He dare not stand on the platform. (Langhter and applause.) Three cheers were given for Mr Clayton, and heartily responded to. Passing on the candidate referred to Mr Carroll as having the confidence of the ignorant only, this remark being received with laughter. He (Mr Clayton) did not claim to have the silvery eloquence of this modern Cioero. (Laughter and applause.) The man (referring to the Hon. James Carroll) whom they oalled a Liberal was one of the rankest Conservatives. (Applause.) He was simply masquerading as a Liberal. (Applanse.) A voice : He is good enough for Waiapu. Mr Clayton : Come np here, and talk my friend; don’t stop down there. (Applause.) Continuing, the speaker said, “ This man (the Hon. James Carroll) is endeavoring to set np a system of Maori landlordism, and any man who sets up snoh a system is not a Liberal blit a Tory. We want no hereditary landlands in this oolony ; we want no hereditary aristooraoy ; we want an aristocracy of braios. (Cheers.) Mr Clayton then proceeded with the question of the Te Pnia springs lease, the Te Araroa township reserve and other matters, whioh he claimed the Hon. James Carroll had not replied to. Mr Carroll had Dot, he said, replied to his criticism of the Pnblio Revenues Act.

Beferriog to a pioDio wbiob a Ministerial party was alleged to bave had in tbe South recently, tbe candidate said that the cost to the country was a hundred pounds a day. He contended that this was a great wrong, if Ministers wanted to go piomoing they should do it at their own expense. (Applause.) It was wrong for Ministers to send press wires or congratulatory telegrams, and it was further wrong for a Minister’s daughter to wire to her young man and ask him to come and have after* noon tea with her. (Laughter and applause.) “If any young lady sent me a wire,” added Mr Clayton, “ and asked me to come and bave afternoon tea with her I should be only too pleased if she made it collect.” (Laughter and applause.) At some length Mr Clayton showed the audience that there were sixteen subjects to which he bad referred to at bis last meeting that Mr Carroll had not replied to. Mr Carroll had favored him with Dearly two columns in an address, which was very flattering to his vanity. Mr Carroll had likened him to Ananias. (Laughter.) But in this be showed his ignorance of scripture, because there were two Ananiaies and tbe'second was a most honorable man. A voice: It must have been the first he likened you to. (Applause.) Mr Clayton: 1 am even more modern than the last Ananias, and therefore I must leave you to draw your own conolusions. The honorable gentleman must have a little of the first Animas in him, because whilst he takes credit for being a native of tbis district, he was in reality born in Hawke’s Bay. (Laughter and app'ause.) •• He also likened me to a mosqm o, continued Mr Clayton, “ because he did not know me. I have, however, raised a hornet’s nest around him.” (Laughter and applause ) , 11 He also says that I am a political desperado, but I can assure the booorablo gentleman that if over he goes back to the House he will go baok wiDged.” (Laughter and applause.) Massing on, Mr Clayton alleged that the Native Minister had done his best to set class against class, which he oonsiJered was most unstatesmanlike. (Applause.) He bad endeavored to set the rioh against the poof and the poor against tbe rich, and a man who did this was entirely beneath contempt. (Applause.) Mr Carroll had B tated that he (Mr Clayton) was allied to the money bags, but ho assured tbe audience that bo had more supporters among the poor than the rich. (Applause.) But lee them look to tbe supporters of the Hcd. James Carroll aDd they would see who they were. The Native Minister was right ainoDgst the money bags ; they were his friends aud'ohief supporters. He (Mr Clayton) knew what he was talking about. He had been amongst the poor of London and elsewhere, and he had the utmost sympathy for sufforiog humanity, (Applause.) , . ! Harking bsok on tbe now famous trip to Patutabii' Mr Clayton stated that unlike his (opponent, the Native Minister, he sought for no spurious vote of confidence. He did not intend to cart three or more brakeloads of his supporters round the o OU ntry to get him such votes. He oould have worked up votes of confidents bv the score had he oared to do so, but hb deigned to do so. At Falutabi the Native MinUtet bad challenged to danoe or sing

with him, but he (Me Clayton) tfe(aso<3 ti do bo. Ho considered it dlsroputablo tha they should pay a man £I2OO u year ti mako a buffoon of himsolf, If they wantoc a down it was obvious to all prosent thai they oould got one for £IOO a year. A voioo: Who was tho buffoon at Patuiahl ? (Laughter and applause) In conclusion, Mr Clayton mode a strong appeal to thoso prosent to support honest administration and free tho country from tho ourse of Tammany wbioh was fast ooming over it. (Loud and ooutinued oheers.) ; ■ In reply to questions the oandidate expressed himself as opposed to preference to unionists; ho was in favor of a sooond Arbitration Court being established, and that magistrates should deal with broaches of award. Ho was in favor of a civil sorvioo superannuation schomo. Ho was not at present in favor of oompulsory volunteer service, but when the oaoasion arose he would support it. Mr P. Mobor: Did you state at Whata* lulu that 100 of Mr Carroll’s supportors went from town to attend his mooting, and if so will you put up £5 for tho hospital in support of your assertion ? (Cheers and oounter oheers.) Mr Clayton: I was not present myself, but I was informed ou most reliable authority that three broakloads went from town.

Mr Maher : s Will you pul up to the extent of £25 and prove the truth of that atalemenl ? (Applause.) Mr ClaytoD : A Parliamentary candidate cannot make beta.

Mr Maher: Wo are not going to bet. Tbo money is to go to the hospital. Mr Oiayton: It shows, ladies and gentlemen, what a lot of money Mr Garroll’s supporters have. (Applause.) I was not present at tbo meeting. A voioe: There was one brake and a oab thero. Mr Clayton; Well, that might be so, but I know that I ean prove that several local residents who desired to attend tbo meeting oould not do so on acoount of the number going from town. (Langhter and applanse.) On the motion of Mr M. MoKerrow, seoonded by Mr W. Guilfopd, a hearty vole of thanks was unanimously accorded the oandidate for his interesting address, and a vote of tbaDks to the chairman terminated a mrsi successful meeting.