THE ELECTION.

Manawatu Times, Volume III, Issue 67, 20 August 1879, Page 2

THE ELECTION.

MR, SNELSON AT FOXTON. Mr. Snelson addressed the electors at Foxton on Monda^y erening. Tho mooting was held m Whyle's Hall, and ccnsidering the short notice given a much larger number of voters were present than could hare been expected. Mr. Thynne was voted to the chair. The Chairman, m opening the proceedings, observed that the meeting had been called by Mr, Snelson as a candidate for theii\suffrages at the ensuing election. As a friend of Mr. Snelson, he had consented to. take the chair that ov,eping,.but he had given Mr. Snelspn to understand that by doing so he by no means pledged himself to vote for him. He hoped that all present would hear all the candidates, and give themselves time to reflect before making up their minds which they would vofc<* for. He would not detain them with remarks of his own, but would call upon Mr. Snelson to address the meeting. (Applause.) Mr. SxEtsoN then came forward. lie Raid that he had taken the first occasion that had presented ii sell' to place his political views before them. He did so with' considerable diflidence and hesitation, knowing what able men were opposed to him. Still he had every confidence m the electors of Manawatu, as he felt sure they would not expect him to address them at such length, or so well as experienced politicians. During the nine years he had been m Palmorston he had seen a little of public life, but his political career had not been conflued to the Highway Board and Bonmgh Council. During the time he had been a public servant his exertions on behalf of his immediate district had met with some praise. It might be argued that it was presumptuous m a man hailing from Palmorston — almost the centre of the County — coming before them. But he thought otherwise, as his whole heart wa3 m the district. In appealing to them, ho appealed to them m the Liberal cause. He avowed himself a decided Liberal, not m tlie claptrap sense m which the term had come to be used, but as one bent on promoting the progress and advancement of the country by advocating truly liberal measures.. He was quite m accord with the programme enunciated m the Governor's Speech, and here he might remark that it was somewhat strange that almost every candidate said the same. The programme embraced reforms m the franchise, m the duration of Parliament, and the representation. Those reforms he considered necessary, and there were others equally necessary which "would be brought forward by tho Liberals m the onsuing Session. A Triennial Parliament Bill would be brought forward, they had had qtiinquinnial Parliaments, or Parliaments lasting five years, and the consequence had been that the distinct has been virtually misrepresented. ~ He did not wish to cast any reflections upon their late member ; but there could be no doubt that tho district had been neglected (applause), A large amount of expenditure had been going on, and a fair proportion of that expenditure had not been spent m the district. There were many tilings even m the town of Foxfcon not done that ought to have been doncj and many things that ought to have been advocated that had not been advocated. Then tho.ro was the "Wanganui Harbor Board Endowment, (vhidi their late member had allowed to go by default, by which Manawatu had been robbed of 25,000 iutos of its bosh land. Their late member bad 'allowed Mi. Fox on tho second reading of tho Bill to say thati the land was situated within 30 miles of Wanganui County, without contradiction, while, they all knew it was nearer 100; he had allowed that lund to go to Wanganui to improve the Wanganui Jtiver without raising his voice agairiit it, while he had taken no stops to secure an endowment for their harbor. It was a necessity that their harbor should be improved, and it could not he improved by harbor dues, or light dues, or pilot dues. The Government would not give money, but he thought an endowment of land might have been obtained for it. Let them lqok at what had been done m Wellington, while Wairaiupa and Wanganui members had obtained a large slice of the authorised expenditure for public works, for. their respective district*. And what had they got ? Absolutely nothing! Under, these circumstances lia was quite justified .m arguing: that they had not been" represented' (applause). Their, late member, during the last two years, had only spoken twice m the interests of Mana-. wat-u — once m asking a question about the gooda-sho/l, and again m asking a question about Foxton being a Porb of Entry. Did they, he would ask. consider that efficient representation ? : Triennial Parliaments, however, woirid remedy that kind of thing

as it would bring their representative before tliom frequently, and then, if they found ho had not done his duty, they could. send him to the right-about. Triennial Parliaments would m this way give the people a greater voice m the government, of the country. Ho quite agreed that the -frariv chise stood m need of reform. He considered that every man had. a right to vote, •and a residential quulificatioaof six months , he Considered quite suntcierit^po v entitle ;him. : to the franchise. Hie. thought th^y would quite agree with him that a new Represent tation Bill was very necessary. Nine years ago there were, on the Electorall Roll for Manawatu, 170 voters, and one member. Now there were 1800 or the roll, and still "only one member ; while Wunganui- with its 1400 voters, had : two t members. , He thought their late member was responsible for such a state o.f affairs, at any rate he (the speaker) saddled him witlf ifi, Whichever of the candidates was returned should support an improved Represenfotiort ißill. The land laws was a very difficult question to deal with. Provision, bad; .been made m 9ome parts of the colony for tlit> sale of lands on deferred payments, which gave, a poor man a .chance of obtaining ; ltfhd.i ?He thought it would be a wise thing to agitate for the system being adopted throughout the colony. These measures were nil very good, and he was of opinion .that kindred reforms would also be introduced ' during the next Session. There were bth'er iayps brf * the Statute Book which needed reforms; It had been suggested to him that the Arms' Act was one, and he cordially and feelingly assented to the suggestion (laughter).'- In arguing that these measures should form the programme for Liberal reform, he felt convinced that he was m unison with his audience (applause). There were other matters which would claim their representative's attention. There was a wide district here undeveloped which would require all the aid, all the assistance, and all the talent they could bring to bear upon. There was splendid land m the back district, and the road to Mnrimotu would open np country that would surprise even New Zealariders themselves. It was to thoir. interest to take the railway through this to Aubkland. It would be an immense advantage to the port, and whosoever became thoir representative, if he had the district at heart, would advocate such a policy. They would very naturally expect him $q say a few words on the railway question. They knew that he held strong opinions on the subject. He was not going to dissemble, for it was no use to say one thing and mean another ; and lie was not afraid to express his opinion • that if the West Coast Railway were to come to Foxton it would do thje town no good (applause). The Sandon Railway, would do the town good, because it would still be a terminus. That scheme ; had, and should have, hi 3 cordial support. - HeinairiT, tamed that if the West Coast Railway were brought to Foxton, many would have • cause to regret it, for experience proved that where a railway passes throigh a town it did it no good, but rather the reverse. Those were his views and lie did". not diasemble or beat about the bush m giving exr , pression to them. (Applause.);; ; He iras a man of few words thinking that deeds and actions were far better. He believed m deeds and his public career would prove that his was an earnest belief. If elected , he should throw his whole heart arid sotuV into advancing the interests of the Coui.ty as much as he had done, m a limited way, m his «wn district. He had now sketched his programme, but before concluding would say a word or two on the electoral roll for; <the ensuing year. At the last election m 1876, thorn were 310 electors who recorded their votes. On the new roll there-were upwards of 1800 names. Of these, Sanspn, .Carnarvon, a.id the districts around were credited with 4GO; Pnlmerston, Fitzherbert; •'- and Bunnythoipe, 410 ; and Feilding, Halcombe, and Makino, 420, so that throughout the County north, middle, and "south, the voters were pretty equally -distributed.' .'• There was one other point to which ho would refer.' It had been suggested to him that he should retire from the contest.- He had decided not to retire (applause.) He thought he had as good aright and a» good claim to come forward as those who wei'e opposing, him. If returned their interests would be his interests, for they wero identical, and m benefiting himself he had " taken that opportunity of addressing them lest it might be said that he was afraid to face tVfem. • It was a great pity that division had arisen between the different parts of the County. He did not know how such divisions Had come about, but he knew that they existed to such an extent that if a proposition emanated from one quarter the others thought it was only for the special benefit of that particular portion. He wished to divest their minds of such an idea, for what was for the good of one part was for the common benefit of the whole. He had taken this opportunity of addressing them first. It niight be asked why he had gone to Foxton first, and, his reason for the step was that as some people thought thcro was an antagonistic feeling m Palmerston to Foxton,. he was determined to show them that as far as he was concerned such was not the case, and consequently he was not afraid to appear before them at the outset of the campaign. The Chaibsian intimated that Mr. Snelson was preparod to answer any questions that might be put to him. A Voice. — Are you m favor of the Moari dual vote ? . . Mr. Sxelsojt. — Most certainly not. (Laughter.) • Mr. Richardson. — Are you m favor of fencing tho railway iine to prevent accidents to cattle ? Mr. Snelson.— l consider it the duty of every owner of property to keep his cattle within liis own enclosure. Mr. Russell.— You said that Mr. Johnston had only spoken twice during the last two yeaiy, docs that include the last Session ? Mr. Snelson.— l said "m the interests of Manawatu." The two years does not include the last Session. Mr. Russelh. — You have avowed yourself a Liberal, will you support the Grey Government 2 Mr. Snelsoit.— l go m for measures not men. I believe m the liberal views enunciated m the Governor's Speech. Those measures I will support by whatever Government carried out. Mr. Russell. — Would you range yourself under Sir George Grey or*«ir William Fqx. Mr, Sxelson.— I take it that tho present GoveiMiuient are on their, trial and will be m power when Parliament i-eassomble, and if they are m power I shall give thorn my support so Ions; as they curry out the programme. Mr. J. T. Stewart. — What are your views regarding the repeal of thp Land Tax, and the substituting m lieu of it a Property and Income Tax ? Mr. Snelsok. — I am m favor, of the repeal of the Land Tax, but would substitute a property tax only, by which every man should contribute according to his means. I do not think an income tax would be adviseablo. or necessary. Mr. Russelt,. — On the qno3(ion of past administration .would you vote for. or against the Groy Ministry ? Mr. Snelsok. — I do not think $hat the question will coma before Parliament, so that I cannot give an answer. So long aq the. Grey Government carry out that programme earnestly and energetically I will support, them. At tho same time I reserve to myself the right, incase of maladministration, of wifchdra,\ying my support.

A Voice.— Will you vote to put them out at once ? Mr. Snblsou. — Certainly not (applause). . Mr. Russell.— ln case of subsidies being stopped, would you vote for the Highway Boards being merged m County Counoil3 ? s Mr. Snei-soij. — I cannot answer off hand. It is a matter that would require consideration.; ' Mr. Russell. — Will you vote forvxepresentation on a population basis ? v ; —^That is a very proper questions, and I have much pleasure m answering it. There was a Bill brought m by Sir Q-eorge Q-rejt. m which he ;prppospd . to give the country 25 per cent, on town's. Ido not think that enough. I think 30 per centV-afctliiß least would -be-xequired m a district like Manawatu as cpnipaTed with a town like Wanganui.'»-' ' = ' ■•'. - '^ * / ; Mr. G-eut proposed" a vote of thanks to Mr. Snelson for his short ,but pithy speech. Mr. J. T. STBWAET-had greatrpleasure m seconding the resolution, which was ..carried by acclamation, as was also a;vote of thnnks to the Chair, each of which, "was briefly acknowledged, and the meeting separated/ after the Chairman had- expressed a -hope .' ; that all the meetings -vvhioii were' abdut'td ' be held would be^ as orderly as the present one, and that they would - give the other candidates as fair and impartial a hearing.