Mr Stevens at Foxton.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 442, 21 November 1908, Page 2

Mr Stevens at Foxton.

Mr John Stevens addressed a very large audience in the Public Hall last night. Mr P. Hennessy occupied the chair, and stated that at a previous meeting in the Masonic Hall he had intimated that he would not take the chair at future public meetings during the

campaign, but bad received a wire from Mr Stevens, asking him tc preside, and Mr Stevens would nol take a refusal, as he (Mr ; Stevens' considered Mr- Hennessy was bound to take the chair, and be (Mr Hennessy) was not sorry tc accede to the request. Mr Stevens, who was received with long and continued applause, said he was not going to delivei the orthodox political speech. He desired to thank the good people ol Foxton for the very substantia] majority polled for him at the first ballot, and he said that whether the liberal Party succeeded in the second contest, or not, the gratification to him of knowing how much he had been appreciated by the people of Foxton would be the greatest compensation that could be offered for the little service which he had rendered to the district. (Applause.) Irrespective of party politics, never had greater testimony been paid to him • than the great personal friendship which existed between himself and the people of Foxton. (Applause.) He referred to the fact that four candidates had been in the field. • Where triangular duels were to be fought, misunderstandings arose, and statements were made and written, the meanings of which were'hot fully comprehended by all who read them. We were all liable to err, and in regard to anything he had stated in respect to his opponents, in this or former contests, there was nothing further from bis thoughts than to cast any personal reflection upon any gentleman who was contesting the seat against him (applause). He could assure the people and his opponents that in the heat, and worry very often, in political contests, it was necessary to brush aside far more bitter things than he knew how to write. He had brushed them aside, and he was sure and confident that one candidate especially, whom he thought he could call his friend, notwithstanding the differences they had had, he could positively say they were political, and not personal. Whatever attitude Mr Frankland might take in the present contest, he hoped he might always have the pleasure of his personal friednship (applause). It was his right and privilege to show the other side of the question, and, knowing as his Mends did, that he suffered under an infirmity which led people to believe that he was incapable, and iucompetent of defending himself, or of faking his own part when it was necessary politically. Anything he had said on the platform, or written in the papers about Mr Frankland, was purely political, and in no sense for the purpose of casting reflections on his personal character, or any reflections on his friends or relations (applause). If he bad erred unwittingly, he had always the courage to acknowledge it, because no man was immaculate in this world. Greater was the man who made an error and acknowledged it, than he who made an error and tried by inuendo to cover it up; He considered he had done his duty to a gentleman who believed himself to be injured by him. He then explained the second ballot, and referred to the result of the first ballot. His prospects of making up the 300 odd votes which were required to win, were remarkably good, and in his opinion, every bit as good as his oponent’s. It behoved the liberal Party to use their best efforts to record their votes, and every voter favourable to his candidature, should be brought to the poll. He referred to the elimination of the local option poll. He explained the dairy regulations very fully, and showed the utter absurdity of the Opposition cry in reference to a cow tax. The Opposition candidate, Mr Newman, could not distinguish between a tax on cattle and a registration fee (laugh-ter-and applause). The statement made by Mr Newman throughout the electorate that a cow tax was to be imposed, was discreditable to any public man. Hither Mr Newman did not know better, or was it politically honest (cries of “No!” “ Yes!”) In regard to the Dominion’s finances, the Opposition said that they wanted clean government. The leader of the Opposition had delighted the hearers of his own party by saying that he had never known a dirtier election than the present one. All the speaker could say, was that he (Mr Massey) should foster local industries a little more, and they could get plenty of Pear’s soap and wash themselves, (daughter and applause. A voice: Sunlight’s alright). He then referred; to the cause of the financial depression and the liquid assets held by the Government in London, and his reference to Sir Joseph Ward as Minister of Finance was greeted with hearty applause, as was his reference to the Government action in saving the Bank of New Zealand and the small depositors from disaster. He dealt with the Native Lands Commission and said the cost of which together with the administration would be amply repaid. He dealt at length with the Foxton Harbour Board, and said it would be a great benefit to Foxton. He had nursed the Bill through Parliament and he would, be sorry to hand over the “ child ” to such a stepmother as Mr Newman. (Laughter). Mr Newman had said he could master the Bill in two hours, but talk was cheap. Mr Stevens said he would ask every elector in Foxton to take this view of the question : First, would it be a benefit to have an improved harbour for Foxton ? If they said “ No,” he had no argument. If they said “ Yes ” he had to suggest means by which the project of the Chamber of Commerce and carried into Effect by him (Mr Stevens) through Parliament ; might be furthered.. • Mr Newman had volunteered the stater

ment that he, Mr Newman, could master the details of the movement in two hours. After devoting two hours to it he thought that Mr Newman would begin to discover that he would like to know something. It was necessary that the greatest possible careful attention should be devoted to it in order that the Government might be induced to do that which he was sure it would do if properly approached, viz., to provide adequate provision for the Harbour Board to be properly financed when brought into existence. He was sorry to say that for party purposes, the Rangitikei Advocate in its issue of Friday had stated that a rate would be levied. Such a statement was incorrect because there was no district in existence and without a district no rate could be levied. He and the promoters always strenuously opposed anything in the nature of a rate being collected, while the Government were collecting the wharfage dues and paying them into the coffers of the railway service. (Applause). There was | no chance of a change iu the Government at this election, and if the electors looked at the mailer in the interests of the locality in which they lived, they would not go iu for the chimerical and the mythical iu the political clouds, but they would look at the hard facts and say are we going to better ourselves by turning out “ Old Jack,” and putting iu a new man. (Cries of “No ” and laughter). If so let us do so by all means. If not, he asked them to do as was done in all places that desired progress. Now that the point had been reached that it was impossible to turn out the Government should they desire to do so, they should consider whether it was better to have one who had an experience of fifteen years Parliamentary life, or to change to an untried colt who might or might not develop this, that or the other political disease. Mr Stevens then detailed his action in advocating in regard to the Levin-Martou or Greatford railway as a result of which a survey was to be made and estimates prepared. Mr Stevens dealt fully with a number of Opposition misstatements, and 1 refuted them, particularly in connection with Government Build- > ings.

Mr Hennessy said that before a resolution was moved, he would like to draw attention .to one thing. That was the remark in the Raugitikei Advocate with reference to a rate in connection with our Harbour Board. He had fully determined not to say a word in favour of either candidate, but immediately the interests of Foxton were touched upon he was forced to fight for them. If the Editor of the Rangitikei Advocate did not know it was the intention of the Foxton Harbour Board not to levy a rate, he should, for the Rangitikei Advocate had published a letter from him (Mr Hennessy) denying that they intended to strike a rate. He said that if they were the tactics by which the Opposition sought to oust the Government they were going the wrong way. He had been a resident of New Zealand for over 30 years, and never had he loved the land of his - birth as Manawatu, and as a man he would stand by the interest of his district. (Loud applause). He had heard Mr Newman state the other night that he could learn all about the Harbour Board iu two hours, well if that were so Sir Joseph Ward should take him up and put Mr Newman in his place (Sir Joseph’s) as Prime Minister. They knew the hand he had taken iu the matter of the Foxton Harbour Board, because everyone who had afoot of ground was interested in it as well as the man who had more. Then there was the Levin railway. Mr Field was returned for Otaki, and if Mr Stevens were returned for Manawatu, they would be iu the running with regard to these local matters. He characterised the statement as to a rate being levied by the Harbour Board as an “infamous lie ” (applause). Two questions were asked the candidate. One was : Is It a fact that as freely rumoured in town a member of your firm has stated that if you are not returned, you will close Moutoa estate, as revenge on the workers? —Mr Stevens said the question was too ridiculous. Did they think he or his partners were lunatics ? They were not going to cut off their nose to spite their face. Nothing had been suggested as to ceasing work. They would render every assistance to the workers, millers and Foxton.

He explained, in reply to a query, the proper course re sending indigent invalids to Rotorua or other Government health resorts.

Mr Jenks moved, and Mr Hynes seconded, a vote of thanks and confidence which was suitably acknowledged by the candidate.