POLITICAL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1612, 27 November 1905, Page 3

POLITICAL.

MR W. HBSANT CLAYTON AT V". s TOLAGO BAY. [(Prom Our Own Correspondent.)

Id spile of very shoct notice, and tho fact of ad important local meeting being held hero at the same hoar, a large num< her of Tolago Bay residents aesombled at the aehool-hoaee on Saturday evening to hear Mr W. JL Clayton's second political address. Mr W. F. Somerville was voted to tho obalr. Mr Olayton, in an exceedingly abb and foroible speech lasting about an hoar and a half, chiefly on the linos of bis Gisborne address, replied in detail to tbe remarks of Mr Carroll hero and in other places. He proved oonolosivoly that the obargoe bo bad made against the Government as a whole, and Mr Carroll as Native Minister and tbe sitting member in particular, were I supported by unassailable facts. Ha alluded to the misrepresentations of the Herald, to which he briefly replied. Ho would, however, he said, deal at length with the matter on a later oooasion when Herald’s reporters were present. Ho Stated that he was fighting against very long odds—against orators, old politicians, and tho press. Too many of Mr Carroll’s supporters prided themselves that he was a Liberal, but Mr Clayton olearly demonstrated from his aotiona that Mr Carroll was anything but one, and that those supporters were in reality grasping tho shadow and losing the Bnbetanoe. From tbe tenor of the immensely largo number of questions put to the speaker at the oonolusion of his addross, it was evident that there was an earnest desire on the part of the questioners, after bearing both sides, to arrive at the troth. From the applause wbioh greeted eaoh reply, it was clear that every question was answered to tbe entire satisfaction of his audience. Amongst Others Mr S. Boland asked what would be the polioy of the Opposition if returned. Jl®r Clayton explained that their principle wait by no moans a destructive one. Legislation hitherto enaotod would be maintained, bat regard must bo paid more to tbe interests of the whole community. Altbongb it was not usually recognised ae constitutional for an opposition to declare its polioy, Mr Clayton mentioned that a manifesto of the polioy of the Opposition bad been published, that all who wished might read it, and piovo to themselves that the Opposition possessed a very decided polioy. He was oloscly questioned .'by Mr M. Murphy on the subject of tbe Botokare Domain Aot Repeal Aot wbioh apparently Mr Oarroll bad attempted to deal with when here, and hie reply entirely upheld his former contention that a gross injustice had beon dono to the settlers, and that the Aot struck at the/ root of one of the greatest principles of British constitution, Mr Murphy also asked eeveral questions with reference to the Land rl: Tenure, which were apparently answered i' lti his entire eatiafaction. In answer to fjfje Reekie the paucity of the grants to V'.vibis district as compared with those ropre/Rented by Opposition members was fully Jeall with, end Hansard was quoted to j'.gbow tbe apologetie attitude of Mr Carroll admitting the fact. Other questions by Messrs Reeves, Lockwood and Others were answered to the apparent ■atiafaetioo of the questioners. The seconder of the vote of thanks desired to add a vote of confidence. Although there was every indication on the pars of the audienoe of the latter being carried, Mr Clayton declined to aocept it on tbe grounds •t that the proper plaoe for oonfidence was the ballot box. He mentioned incidentally that from all accounts Mr Oarroll had received when speaking here a vote of oonfidence which existed only in the fertile imagination of the person who reported the meeting by telephone to the Press. The usual vote of thanks to the chair ter*

urinated a very Buccaaeful and enthusiastic meeting. j

£ION. J. CARROL AT WAERENGA*f.' AHIKA. ,

Tbore was a crowded attendance at the Waereoga a hika sohoolroam on Saturday evening, when the Hon. James Carroll addressed the eleotors of Waiapu at that place. Mr Longher presided. Mr Carroll, * who was most cordially received, mode an excellent speech, ohiefly on the lines of his town address. He said that as there was more than one Richmond in the field he would point out that he was a member of the present Liberal and Labor Administration. The Government had tried to harmonise the relations "between all seotiona of the community and to give relief where relief was neces •ary. The Government bad the reputation for being experimental, for beiog advanced, and for trying to solve problems that had proved stumbling blocks to the statesmen of the Old World. The speaker dealt at some length with the question of manhood suffrage. The other side did not recognise the rights of every man. The workman then had no status. When universal manhood euffrage was adopted there was a big battle as to whether every man ehould have a vote or whether property should t* a qualification. Now the other side had changed their opinions. Then it was the sacred rights of property as against the rights of the people. To-day the people ruled. He pomted out that it had been the endeavor of the Government to avoid the unhappy state of affairs such as existed in Ireland and Russia. There was a screw loose somewhere. He spoke of the mode of attack of at least one of hie'opponents, which had a tendency to develop into gutter politics, and dealt humorously with some of their contentions, while ho satisfactorily explained away many of the chargos made. He again explained the position with reference to the Rotokare Domain, and pointed ont that the local body, and not the Government, was responsible for the trouble that had occurred. Ho defended the cooperative system as compared with contract.

Mr Carroll invited questions, and said that they oftea olearod up points that were not oloarly understood. Nono were a«ked, bo waver, and the meeting terminated wjth a vote of thanks and confidence in Mr Carroll and the Government, proposed by Mr Maoßrittany, and •oondod by Mrs Dinan , amidst cheers. !":1 ======