MANAWATU ELECTION

Manawatu Standard, Volume IV, Issue 198, 18 July 1884, Page 2

MANAWATU ELECTION

MR MACARTUUR AT STONEY CREEK.

Mr Macartlmr mot the electors at the school-house Stoney Creek, on Wednesday, when a large and enthusiastic attendance was present. Mr Arthur Russell took the chair. The Chairman said he had the plea saut duty of introducing Mr Mac-Ar-thur, but prnl>iibly that gentleman was as well known to them a- himHelf. It seemed as though the subject of thejnresemg contested eK'ctiun was men and not measure-!. The thing narrowed down, when choosing a representative, to who would best serve their interests. He believed Mr Macartlmr would, so he should vote for him. He believed him lo he an energetic man, and oven his opponents said so. He had fought his own battle well, and it wasn't unreasonable to .suppose that he wouid do the Name for them. He had many interests m common with themselves, such as the G'»rge railway and bridge. He would work, the chairman believed, hard and well for the electors, and that Whs the most important thini;. He took a great interest m education, and their children would have to trust to what they had to do m the world to education more than anything else. (Applause.) The poor man as well as the rich man would be able to take advantage of "free education. He would introduce Mr Macartlmr tb speak for himself; (Applause.) Mr Macarthur was received wick applause and proceeded to lay his views before those present. He had met them, , he said, some six years ago m the same building, and he dared say some of them had not forgotten the hot discussion had taken placo on that occasion on the subject of the Gorge Bridge, when he and Mr Lintou and some others were present. He was sorry to say that no practical result had taken placo, however, as ye», but h« hoped it would m the very .near future. As their Chairman had said the subject of the election had narrowed down to a contest between Mr Fraser and himself. He didn't mention Mr Burr's name, beej«u.se he considered his candidature wan a farce. Mr Fraser had been bi ought forward | for what reason he didn't know, tie (Mr Fraser) had tried to differ from the speaker m some points at the commencement, but he had to draw round until his views were really the same as his own. Mr bYaser suid he was m favor of secular education, but would like to support the denominational as well, but this he couldn't do. RAILWAYS. He was averse to selling these as that would creato a great political power which would be dangerous, and lor other resous as wvll. He would use his best efforts to get the railway j junction at JPulinerstou.' There was a question of giving 1 compensation to holders of sections at Bunnythorpe, which had been brought forward by Mr Fraser. He believed it would, be furnishing an argument against himself, it' a men) her went and asked the junction to be altered and then asked for compensation to be made. The Government would at once refuse. •■■■■■■•' GORGE BRIDGE." Through his effort* to pfet this j bridge, he had offended all the Fitzherbert settlers, who said he had prevented them fro v getting their road. He had done nothing of the sort. By adopting the measure which he laid' before the settlers at ' Axharst wme weeks ago, they would be able to get this bridge made. Mr Fraser said if they would ask the Government properly they would build the bridge. Well, they had been trying to obtain it for a very long time, m conjunction with the Hawke's Bay members, and tlusy found it was impossible to get a grant, He thought therefore that they should take the chance of making it under the Roads and Bridges Construction Act, as they bad done. This was the Gist chance they had to work it under that Act, and it might be the last, so as one could accuse them of neglect. A FALSE CHARGE. There was one little matter that he had only been told of during that even ing. There were so many charges going abouc m electioneering times that he didn't take notice ot them, but one rumour had been spread abroad that he didn't care to leave unconected, whether he was a candidate for .Parliamentary honors or not. It had been suid he was an infidel. -This, hardly needed a denial to tho*e who knew him, but to those who didn't, he would say that it was utterly ttntruo. He bad belonged to the Church of England always, and he believed himself to.be as good a churchman as — well, as those who spread the report that he was an infidel at any rate. HIS CANDIDATURE. He had come forward m response to the large aud influential requisition that had been presented to hjui, asking him to do so. Since he h»d fir.st agreed to come forward, some other electors brought forward Mr Fraser. Well, he didn't wish to pick that gentleman to pieces, but they must have seen by the full reports of his speeches which had appeared m the Standard, that whereas he (Mr Macarthur) was thoroughly acquainted with every little requirement the district had, and had assisted ,ie for years, Mr Fraser was quite at sea with them, and had to feel his way amongst the electors, ho to speak, to ascertain, what would please them, before he could venture an opinion. (Applause.) qUgSTfONS,, On the chairman inviting questions Mr A. X. , Reed asked why the candidate had altored his views on the education system, iv regard to limiting free education up to the 4th Standard. Mr Macartlmr wished to be thoroughly understood. He had not altered his views at all, he thought Mr Reed must have mistaken him. Mr Reed admitted that perhaps he had. Would the candidate propose to give purchasing clauses to Crown leases ? Mr Macavtlmr would most certainly, and tiidn-t think anything; less would do. He wi&'bjetl . tii be pearly understood on the educajtion 'qu'estipn.

He would- only put fees oh Vlioao* receiving education m the sth and 6th Standard, as a last resort to reduce the expenditure. Mr JReed enquired if tho candidate wouldn't 1)6 m furor of completing the gap m the present line of railway ? Mr Macarthur would, certainly. Mr Hankins asked what amount ihe candidate would fix the houoririimi at ? Mr Mrtcarthur thought £150 the proper sum. Mr A. Ru»»sell : And the Legislative Council ? , . Mr Macurthur would abolish the honorarium from that body altogether ? . Mr A. Russell : Would you favor the abolishment of free passes ? Mr Macarthur would abolish those altogether too. (Applause. ) Mr Edward* asked. Did Mr Macarthur think Unnecessary to eucourage local industries ? Mr Macarthur would do so, but wouldn't favor protective industries. Mr EdwarJs then gave the candidate some valuable hints on Protection v. Free Trade. The Chairman requested that only questions be out to the candidate. Mr Keid enquired of the candidate would ho support free or nominated immigration? Mr Macarthur would only support the nominated system. ' Mr Hankins asked if the candidate agreed with the prenent Licensing Committee- ? Mr Macavthur replied Yes, on the whole. A reaction would bike place very soon, and care would be taken ( to put men on the Bench who had moderate views. . Mr Lin ton then said he had come there that evening as a ratepayer m the district, and had ad ways been accustomed to have a voice m all local matters. (Hear, hear,) He had been accused of having brought Mr Macarthur out. Well, if ho hud done so, he was very pleased indeed. Two years ago Mr Hulcombe and Mr Suelsou came forward, and he supported Mr fcsnelson, because he was a local man. Last year Mr Johnston had received his support because then* was no better man. Moreover they knew what his weak poiut was, and could always get at him. Al»o he was always to be found m office ia Wellington' whenever a deputation went to see him. He believed that Mr Johnston, as an absente« member, seived thorn all a great deal better than the absentee member which some of the electors were trying to fore« upon them now. If Mr Fra«er were to become their absentee member, they would have to send all their deputation* to Parawanui, to find him, and then the trouble wouldu't cud, for they would have to take him down afterwards to Wellington, aud iutroduce him to Ministers. Also they shouldn't take a man who had been rejected by his own people. That was Mr Fraser. Jle only spoke of him m the matter of politics. Also, when were they going to tiegin to put a local man m as their representative ? They would Imv6 had a railway made through the Gorge and a bridge too by this time, if .they had had a local man as representative. It was a wellknown fact that that i ail way had been started. It was a question of vital importance to them, and if they hadn't had an absentee? member they would have had it completed by. now. Also he thought that men m the district had a right to a seat m. the House, as representative of their own district.. H« had been asked, when m Wellington, if he would support Sir Julius Yogel. Would they believe it, many people m Manawatu would support him! And m Wellingtou they had told Yogel " Liuton would support him." But he >aid, No. He intended to support a local man, m preference to Sir Julius, and he hail been complimented, since on the straight way he had given his answer to Yogel. So long as they dtdu't send a local man to the House thero was a reproach on the district. When they wanted to borrow money for making roads or anything of the sort, they didn't want to send to Rangitikei to try and borrow a man to get it for them. He had always heard of a local m&n going down for it. Why he would be ashamed to go to Wellington, and he would lie ashamed to go into the House of Parliament;, and would be ashamed to ask Mr Fraserfor a ticket to go then*. He could say without fearing a mistake, that they had a hundted and fifty men who were far better political men than Mr Frascr, and had more a ility to represent the district m Parliament than Mr Fraser had. (Applause.). Also if they couldn't look after their interests themselves, no one else could be expected to do it for them- Then again, if their local man didn't do well* they could have him when he came home. They couldn't do that with an out side man. Mr Fraser would go to Rangitikei and they would not be able to get hold of him. If they asked him to come down to Palm.erston he wouldn't come, Then again, Mr Macarthur could claim to have done a great deal for the district, whereas Mr Fraser could only claim to have tried to bring the lailway round by another route, and had he succeeded, would have robbed. Palmerston of it altogether. . He didn't blame him for doing that, when he was a Parawauni man, but he objected to have to ask this same man to come and represent them. If such a calamity happened as Mr Fraser being returned, and he didn't for a moment believe it would, they ought all to be ashamed of it. He was supporting MrMacarthm because, through being mixed up with him for many years past both, |n public and prpa'fj matter*, he knew him well, and had found him to be so consistent aud honorable that he supported him. Also he was able to look after their interests, and that was something. He didn't believe m making a man a parson who couldn't preach, nor m sending a man as mes senger who couldn't deliver a message. He believed if they sent Mr MacarI thur to Wellington, he would very : soon show them that he was there to look after Palmerstoit, He believed Mr Macarthur could look after No. 1, and if he couldn't he would call him a fool. He had been doing all the County business, and m a first class manner. A map that aaine day ljad saicf Mr Maqartftur could <* euchre '*

■the. whole of ihem> Wel!> that man said more for him tban any of them had saidi If he could do that why he wan the liest man amongst them and they should have him. Then they said he was selfish, well that would still be the better for them, for whatever he did to benefit his own interests must benefit theirs. Then again somo «aid that as agent for the Corporation he would do all he could for Fell ding. Now this was nonsense. Feilding was a private township, W that the Government couldn't give votes of money to lie spent there at Mill. He was not going to 'propose a vote of confidence m If r Macarthur, although it would" give him much, pleasure m doing so. But he would let a local man do so. Mr A. K. Reed would like to hare the pleasant duty of proposing a rote of thanks and confidence m Mr Macarthur. Also he would like to say that Mr Fraser *eemed to be at xea iv most of the questions he wag asked, and instead of giving jnformalion to the eleotors, he had been trying to get as much a* he could out of them. Mr Macarthur was a man who had always worked well for the district, and himself, and therefore he thought they couldn't do better than have him for their member. An outride man was no good whatever for any district, and yet they saw electors bringing m an outride man like Mr Fraser. He proposed a hearty tote of thanks and confidence m Mr Macar•thur.- ■' • . ....-;.. ■:,- ■. >J '„.. • . Mr T. Stace seconded, and upon being put to the meeting it was carried almost unanimously, only one hand being held up against it. " About 60 people were present. A vote of thanks to the chairman terminated a most unanimous and enthusiastic meeting.