THE ELECTIONS.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2353, 18 October 1881, Page 3

THE ELECTIONS.

Mr W. P. Oowlwhaw addresses the elestors of Stanmore at the Phillipstown school thisevening. Mr PiHiat annources himaa'f as a candidate for the Stunmore electorate, and will address the electors at Bingslaud school on Friday next. Mr Anderson addresses the electors of Ohristchurch South at the Oddfellows' Hall on Friday next, and Mr H. W. Pcrjman those of Lincoln at the Prebbleton schoolroom on the same evening. The name of Sir G. M. O'Eorke has been mentioned as a possible candidate for Napier. Mr G. G. Fitz Gerald, who was recently defeated by Mr Weston for Grey Valley, has. announced himself as a candidate for Hokitika, in opposition to Mr B. O. Beid. The Hon. Walter Johnston has declared himself a candidate for Manawatu. The Palmerston " Standard " gives as a rumor that two, if not three, candidates will oppose him, but no names are mentioned. Mr John Thomson Petrie was presented with a requisition on Thursday, largely signed by the Totara electors, asking him to contest the Hokitika seat in the forthcoming general election ; but he refused. Mr J. H. Perkins, of Tuturau, will be a candidate for the Mataura. Already over 200 candidates have been announced in different parts of the colony. Mr J. Abraham is a candidate for Dunedin East. Mr John A. Barr, solicitor, who contested Boslyn against Mr Driver at last election, it again a candidate Beferring to the approaching elections and the "Working man cry," the "Rangitikei Advocate " says :—" Now, we take it that nine-tenths of the people of New Zealand are, in the proper sense of the term, ' working men.' They have not been born with silver spoons in their mouths, but rather with wooden ladles, and all that they possess, whether much or little, has been acquired by their own unassisted efforts as ' working men.' We would give a word of warning to ' working men 'of all grades—Beware of the politician who comes forward as the champion of the ' working man;' for be sure that, in the words of ' Poor Biohard,' he has an axe to grind, and he wants you to turn the grindstone."

ME FLESHEB AT BINGSLAND. A meeting of the electors of the Stanmore district was held last evening in the Binge* land schoolroom to receive the report of the committee appointed to secure an eligible candidate for the representation of that district in the General Assembly. The chairman of committee (Sir Kerr) reported that Mr 0. W. Turner had been requested to come forward for the district, but had been compelled to decline on the soore of domestic bereavement. Mr Oowlishaw had also beea seen, and, as they were aware, had announced his candidature. At present three candidates were before them, and possibly a fourth, might seek their suffrages. He had only to add that the committee considered they had discharged the duties devolving upon them. In reply to Mr Olephane, the chairman said that none of the committee were pledgedgto support either of the candidates. The preliminary meeting then closed, aid Mr S 3. Swann being voted to the chair, he called on Mr Flether to state his views, bespeaking a fair hearing for that gentleman. Mr Flesher, who was well received, asfeed the indulgence of the meeting whilst he explained a personal matter. He referred to a letter of Mr Olephane's in the public prints, which accused him of double shuffling, whatever that might mean. His newspaper reply to this was brief, leaving fuller details to a public meeting. In concert with Mr Olephane, he arranged for the preliminary meeting of October sth, and up to a certain point they acted in accord. Mr Olephane asked him to draw up a programme for that meeting, but that gentleman, failing to keep his appointment, was not sc;n by the speaker till the hour of the meeting, when he was asked to accept unreservedly the sixplank platform, subsequently promulgated by Mr Olephane, to which he demurred, as he considered that the meeting was called to consider the selection of a candidate for the Stanmore district. After the business had been stated, the meeting had as much right to do as it liked as Mr Olephane had to promulgate Lis platform. [Mr Olephane—" I only read my platform in answer to a question of what was a liberal."} His (Mr Flesher's) conduct was open and above board, and there was no double-shuffling about him. [Cheers.] He distinctly told Mr Olephane that the meeting was not to be fettered in any way, and allowed himself to be proposed as a candidate in a perfectly open and straightforward manner. His chief desire in seeking election was that the electors might have the opportunity of returning a member veil acquainted with, the district, who had a stake in it, and could represent their interests in the House. For these reasons he had allowed himself to be nominated, although he felt somewhat diffident, and would rather that a man of more experience than himself should be chosen. But he wu forward now, and would leave it for the ballot-box to decide. As for his opinions, when in England eighteen years ago his sympathies were in accord with that great Liberal party which included Lord John, Russell, W. E. Gladstone, John Bright, and others, and they were in accord with those principles now. But the broad points and marked distinctions of party as defiued at home did not exist here, for in Now Zealand almost every man could possess the franchise if he liked to register. From what he could gather, parties at Wellington meant either for men to obtain something for themselves or else for their several districts, and therefore there were some strange combinations in that House, to the utter defeat of the good of the colony at large. The time was fast approaching when party distinctions would have to be made. He would ask, what was the condition of the House of Representatives during the past session ? Why, it was simply this, as they had been told, that the people were not represented when men were found who, for petty reasons, stonewalled a measure that they believed in with their whole hearts. For hio part, if he were returned he would go pledged -to no leader, but determined to vote for any measure having for its object the good of the people. The education question was of the utmost importance, and it would be a fatal mistake to interfere with the system as at present carried out in New Zealand. The question of higher education involved a danger, and he feared that it would become a class interest. The reason was, that most youths had to leave school at the age when higher education should begin, therefore he feared that its benefits would be monopolised by those who could well afford to pay for their children's education. Considering the new buildings that the Canterbury College were erecting, he thought that it was wrong to have raised the fee to the Public Library ; indeed, it should have been made free. As regarded representation, a question was asked Mr Toomer the other night if he would give a swagger a vote. Now, he thought every man who paid taxes ought to have a voioe in making the laws by which he is governed. It would be unwise to abolish the property qualification to vote, as it would virtually reduce the man o£ thrift to the level of the unthrifty. But, still, plural voting should have a limit. He thought some such solution as the following might be wisely resorted to. The day was coming when the Upper House would be an elected not a nominated body, and property votes might be diverted to electing the members of that body. To his mind, property meant not land only, and he thought an income and property tax ought to be imposed. He thought, whilst trying to settle the Maori lands they Bhould also deal with the European obstructionists, as the state was thus robbed of inoome. The question of borrowing money would also have to be considered in the ensuing Parliament, and would need careful legislation, so as not to be spent on unprodnctive works. As for taxation, he thought no Government worthy of support that did not try to keep it down.

Mr Flesher then quoted instances of the unfair working of the land tax and alio the property tax, and also distinctly expressed bis intention to oppose further powers being given to the Drainage Board. In reply to Various question!, Mr Flesher said he was opposed to immigration at the present time. He thought the present Customs duties very fairly adjusted. If the Bible were read in schools the people should speak through the school'committees. He would give compensation to publicans losing their lioenses in certain cases, but only so far as the value of the buildings. As for the Lottery Bill, he did not think people could be made moral or religious by Act of Parliament. He did not think the Government should make the West Coast Railway. He had not fully considered the Native difficulty. Ho thought that subsidies to Road Boards meant taxation. He would not abolish the beer tax. On the motion of Mr Beatty, seconded by Mr Cooper, senior, a vote of thanks was recorded to Mr Flesher, a vote of confidenoe being deemed premature, and lost when put to the vote. A similar compliment was passed to the chairmrn, and the meeting terminated. MR TREAD WELL AT MONTREAL STREET SOUTH. Mr Treadwell mot the electors as above laat evening, the room being nearly full. He itated his opinions, viz.—That the statutes against mortmain should be enforoed in New Zealand, and the mortmain properties be restored to the State ; that the scorned deficit from 1873 amounted to three millions ; that a land tax and inoomo tax (doubled on absentees) should be imposed to oure these evils; that the property tax should be reJioaled, beoanse it is unjust to farmers, aborers and traders ; that a statute of shires, as published by him in July last, would give proper local Government to all New Zealand; that the Local Finanoe Bill of the Hall Ministry was a breach of the Aot of Settlement. After many questions had been asked and satisfactorily answered, a vote of confidence was put and osrried unanimously. Mr Lawrence was in the ohair.

f/PRBSS ASSOCIATION TBLBaBAMS/] AUCKLAND, October 17. Mr John Shepherd has announced himself for Rodney against Mr George. Mr Richard Hobbs addressed a meeting of electors at Kawakawa, Bay of Islands, and was well received.

Mr Miohelson has finally deoided to stand for Marsden.

THAMES, Ootober 17. Mr Wilkinson, the Mayor, has been asked to content the Thames seat, but declined. TAURANGA, Ootober 17. Mr G. Y. Stewart addressed the eleotora of Opotiki on Friday evening, and was well received. A hearty vote of thanks was passed to the candidate. WELLINGTON, Ootober 17. Mr O. J. Johnston has consented to contest Te Aro. Mr P. Ooffey declines to stand for South Wellington. Mr M. L. Marks contests the Hutt seat. Mr Rookshorn has withdrawn from Foxton in favor of Mr W. G. Russell. BLENHEIM, Ootober 17. Mr E. T. Connolly is a candidate for Pioten. O AMARU, Ootober 17. Mr T. Duncan is out for Waitaki, and Mr James Ashoroft, editor of the "Daily Times" is mentioned as a probable candidate for Oamaru. Mr Shrimski will also, stand for Oameru. DUNEDIN, October 17. Mr Jago has declined to oontest the Penininla seat on account of business engagements. INYEROARGILL, Ootober 17 In response to an influential invitation, Mr J. T. Thomson, late Surveyor-General, will contest the seat for the Mataura. Ovar 200 names were during the oourse of Friday and Saturday added to the Invercargill roll.