Wellington Election.

Manawatu Herald, 12 March 1898, Page 2

Wellington Election.

THE FINAL SPEECHES. Mr Kirk, speaking from the verandah of the Trades Hall.expresaed his thanks to those who had fought to hard for him. Ho had said at the beginning of the fight that he would not descend to personalities— thai if | he could not get into the Houce without personalities he would not go there at all —and he was proud to say that he had not broken feat pledge, and that he had not said anything that would prevent him mm. taking his opponent's hand. TJSijy were friends yet, though they wore as far apart politically as they possibly could be. (Loud applause*) He did not feel (hat this had been a personal defeat ; he had doneM* best and was dot ashamed oPthaK He had plenty of time before him, and he would take the opportunity of coming before them on another occasion. (Applause.) It would be suggested that the membeas of the Labour Party had not stood firm ami compact in this contest. He refuned to believe that. (Cheers.) He believed that the Labour Party stood by them. (" No," uproar ami j cheer?.) But he recognised that there wao a large number of peraoaa who had no objection to him aa ft candidate, but who thought it wan in the interests of the colony tiiiat the Government should not be ua« fluly strengthened and the Opposi* tion further weakened. (Cbeera.) He again thanked them for tha sun* port they had given him in thii con* test. (Applause.) Mr Andrew Collins said if tins Labour Party had stood firm lit Duthie could never have won lh« election. Mr John Dithie appeartd on a balcony in front of his committal** rooms, in Willis street, shortly afttt the poll was declared, and was received with tremendous cheering by an immense assemblage. He commenced a short address by thanking the electors sincerely for electing him by so handsome a majority. The ■ honour was not merely a personal one— the electors hid honoured him certainly, bat they bad honoured themselves a, great deal more. (Cheers.) His victory bad not only a local but a national signifiguiMi, because the people of the colony had looked to the electors of Wellingtons for guidance on tht3 ocoaitoo. knowing that they were in a central position and at the seat of Government, and that therefore they w«r# i eminently qualified to speak their mmdi in reference to the methods of ; Mr Seddon and those associated witjt him. (Loud cheers.) The (Jl*Uoii before the country bad not been ; Duthie as against Kirk, it had bifn j a fight for pure and honast govern* ment as against Seddonism. (Applause.) The question at isstyii bad been whether this system off personal government and bo9sUnii was to continue without any restraint, or whether the repreßenjjßvei of the people were to be aty^d to govern the country, on proper business lines and in accordant with constitutional usage. (ApplansfV The electors of this city had declared : for liberty, and at the same time ex- I pressed their confidence in him as a public man, and he thanked fchaft* i! most heartily for placing hiqpftLtiw !i proud position they had that nffht. ; (Loud and prolonged charing.) Speaking from a carriage in front of the Times office at about 9 p.m«i the Prtmier said he wonld stand by (he voice pf the people. Mr DatfeiiJ

had been returned, but be (the Premier) was still of opinion that the better man for the electors would have been Mr Kirk. (Applause and cries of " No,") There were a good many persons who now said they were Duthieitts who on the previous night would not have dared te say bo. Of course, there had been an inducement during the last four or firs days ; but, notwithstanding that, tht Liberal Party had fought a good fight, and the result showed that there still were over six thousand electors in the city of Wellington who believed in progress and enlightenment and in the prosperity of the place. Tho majority of that day did not cars one jot what might happen to Wellington. However, the decision must be accepted in a good spirit. The battle had bern fought fairly. His opinion was that in the next fight the decision of that day would be reversed. (Conflicting cries and applause) They had fought hard under adverse circum stanoes, and although for the time being they had suffered defeat, when called upon to fight again they would fight to the death for the people. He conld do no more now than tender his best thanks to those who supported the Liberal candidate. Those who opposed Mr Kirk would, he hoped, have seen by the time another election came round that they had made a gross mistake. Mingled cheers and groans from the crowd greeted tha conclusion of the Premier's speech.