Mr McDonald at Wairoa.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume I, Issue 27, 13 August 1887, Page 2

Mr McDonald at Wairoa.

VOTE OF CONFIDENCE. (Special to the Standard.) Wairoa, August 11. Mb Allan McDonald, one of the three candidates for the East Coast, addressed a meeting of electors in Mayo’s hall, last night. In spite of the stormy weather nver one hundred electors were present, Mr Carroll, County chairman, presided. Mr McDonald first explained bis action when going Home and denied the statement that he had de. ceived his constituents. He produced the apology published by the Poverty Bay Herald for statements made reflecting on him, Which apology he had accepted and would now advertise far and Hear. He claimed to belong to no particular party, and said, if returned, •' measures, not men.’i would be his motto. He admitted giving two wrong votes, namely, in voting for the Property tax against a Lund and Inoome tax, and for Triennial Parliaments. In the case of the latter he said a rich man could contest an election every three yearr, a poor man could not; otherwise he supported liberal measures, favoured the settlement of people on land even if it had to be given them, and would advocate a land boar ! for East Cpast to effect more rapid settlement, He advocated free trade in native landreservation of ample lands for the natives allowing them to sell the balance. While he disapproved of Mr Ballance's native bill he defended him from the charge of spending £72,000 in excess of vote, plainly assorting the House gave the Goveruor-in-Council power to authorize expenditure to the extent of £lOO,OOO. The statement tnat £72,000 had been spent without authority had no foundation, and was an Opposition cry. He thought the sitting member should have tried to get a tew settlements scattered over the East Coast. He opposed any radical alteration in the Education Act, but said the man who could afford it should educate his own children, He favoured retrenchment in the “ big wooden building ” by means of a board and not through the Government, but said very little retrenchment could be effected in the country dialriots, He favoured protection to a moderate extent to encourage local in. dustries, In reply to questions, Mr McDonald said he was inclined to favor Vaile’s railway scheme it the Government kept control of the railways, but he preferred to see them sold to help in the reduction of the colonial debt He would extend the property tax, if this system of taxation were maintained, to shipping The Union Company had as much right to pay the tax on their property as he had to do so on his run. He would be in favor of reducing tbe Governor’s salary, of lowering the honorarium to £lOO, and making the Upper House elective. He would not support Mr Ballance in his native land schemes. On a vote of no confidence being raised his support would depend on the policy introduced by the mover, but he would not support Bryce, the man who shook hands and rubbed noses with the greatest murderer that was ever known in New Zealand ! (Loud and continued applause.) Continuing his replies Mr McDonald said he was in favor of repealing the Gaming and Lotteries Act, and if it could not be repealed half the per centage now going to the racing clubs should go to the construction of local and public works. He would stop borrowing, on business principles, until the unfinished works in the colony were completed.

In conclusion Mr McDonald alluded to Mr Locke’s circular asking his old supporters to vote for Mr Graham. He considered it an insult to the electors for Mr Locke to try and hand them over in a body to his nominee. The electo-B would know how to deal with him.

A vote ot confidence in Mr McDonald was carried unanimously.