CITY ELECTION.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIV, Issue 206, 30 August 1879, Page 2

CITY ELECTION.

MR PITT'S MEETING

Every seat iu the Provincial Hall, the galleries, every inch of standing room, and the very platform itself were crowded last night with both ladies and gentlemen, the former mustering in considerable force, on the occasion of Mr Pitt addressing the electors. On the motion of Mr Levestam, The Rev J. C. Andrew- took the chair, and said: Gentlemen— or I should, perhaps, say, Gentlefolk, seeing that so large a number of ladies, who 1 am glad to find taking so deep an interest in politics, are present on three previous occasions 1 have had the pleasure of hearing three different candidates expressing their views, a pleasure which was enhanced by the good order maintained, and the good humor displayed by the large audiences, which was partly due to the fact that the Nelson people are good people, and good people not only respect themselves but respect others. It was al9o partly due no doubt to the respect in which your worthy Mayor, who presided, is held. He, however, I have no doubt, likes occasionally to be_a spectator instead of the conductor of an entertainment, and so I am here in his place. When the Governor was here the other day, his aide-de-camp told me that officially His Excellency had no political opinions; the same ia true of the Mayor, and it also applies to the Principal of your College, who, however, feels very like a good dog that can both bark and bite, but is chained and muzzled when game is afoot. I shall, however, discharge my duties with impartiality and fairness, and I am quite sure from what I have seen of you before that you will give Mr Pitt a patient hearing. (Great applause.) Mr Pitt who was received with loud cheers spoke as follows : — You may think it strange that the Mayor who presided over the three previous meetings has not been invited to take the chair this evening. No doubt he would have done so if I had asked him, but having regard to the remarks he made about me at Mr Curtis' meeting I felt that I could not consistently do so. I look upon it as the duty of a chairman to act impartially, and even if Mr Dodson had been sitting here as a private citizen, and even as a supporter of Mr Curtis ; it would have been questionable taste on his part to endeavor to prejudice any candidate. (Hear, hear.) He referred to me as having been virtually defeated for the Waimea, and expressed his opinion that it would have been better to have bad no contest, but tbat you should have returned your late members unopposed. (Cheers and hisses.) I take a different view, and think that whatever may be the result of this contest it is better that you should have a choice of candidates, and that the electors should have an opportunity of saying whether tbey think their late members have served them with sufficient energy and zeal, or whether they would prefer a change. (Cheers.) I need hardly remind you that six months ago I contested the election and was beaten by a large majority. That election I think waa productive of a large amount of good, for the

electors had. an opportunity of expressing tt^eir opinions on a subject which, but for that, would never have come to the surface, and they -<?._*. nly ,did so in _ very decided manner. At tbat time I was quite prepared to accept the defeat and not lo become a candidate again, but it was reprcr.c-ntcd to me that Mr Baigent was not coming forward again for the Waimea, and I was requested b^ a large number to stand for that district. lo this I consented, bu aftenvaid-s found that so mauy wete pledged to support Mr Shephaird that, it would have been useless to contest that election. Fretiouslv to this, I had been telegraphed to from Wellingtlon asking me to stand for the town, and oddly enough the Mayor's name was associated with this as likely to give me his support, whether with his authority or not 1 cannot say. On iriy return from Wellington I rode out to the Waimea, and was then assured by Mr Painton that I had no chance there. My Mwn au^ort.rs again urged tne to come forward, and on receipt of a requisition bearing 161 signatures I consented to do so. I shall now proceed with what I have to say, and shall endeavor to give you something uew, and shall speak on those questions which the other candidates have referred to, as briefly as possible. THE STATE OF PARTIES. Political parties are ranging themselves on two sides, the Liberals and the Constitutionals. I Bhall be among the Liberals. (Cheers. Mr Rowell : It's uo good standing on the Tory ticket now.) Mr Curtis and Mr Adams had a good deal to tell you of what had taken place in the House. Not having been there myself I have no story to tell, but I consider their reasons for voting as they did perfectly satisfactory, and I should have done exactly the same (hear, hear). One of the questions now put to a candidate is whether he is a Greyite or not. I most decidedly am not (cheers), and I will vote against any Ministry of which either Sir George Grey or Mr Macandrew is a member on account of their shameful treatment of Nelson in the matter of public works (loud cheers). With the Liberal policy announced in the Governor's speech I agree with one exception, and I will do my best to help to carry it out, but I must serve under s.rue other leader than Sir George Grey. When the House meets, if the present Ministry is in a minority, and Sir W. Fox takes office, Ido not thiuk he will remain the leader long, but one will have to be obtained from the Liberal side of the House. THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. The Governor's speech refers to many Liberal measures but does not mention one reform connected with the Legislature which I should be prepared to advocate, namely, in the constitution of the Legislative Council. This I think I should be elected by the people, the qualification being higher than for the House of Representatives (hear hear). The number should be limited and certain members should retire periodical ly,but the Councilshould uever be dissolved. If this is not done then I do not think the members should receive any honorarium, as under the present system it is tantamount to pensioning them for life. (.Mr Rowell: First rate). ELECTORAL lill.L. I consider that every one contributing who is not a criminal and has been twelve months in the Colony, and six months in a district ought to have the suffrage. I don't know whether you agree with thc maxim tbat taxation without representation is tyranny, if so you will say with me that there is a large class suffering tyranny. I refer to single women and widows (hear hear). They contribute to the revenue through the Customs duties and some through the land tax. They are recognised in Municipal affairs and who cau say they do not vote as intelligently as the sterner sex? (Mil Row. ll: Splendid. Why he's a republican.) Only the other day we were told that a lady took thc chair at a meeting of creditors and performed the duties admirably. (Mr Pitt here quoted from Mill on Representative Institutions in favor of extending the suffrage to females.) triennial parliaments. This I think is a measure required in a new country where there are rapid changes. When a Parliament lasts five years the members are apt to consider their seats secure and are not too careful of the iuterests of constituents until a dissolution is approaching. (Mr Rowell: That's a knock for some of 'em.) representation bill. I do not approve of this as proposed and I hope before long to see some modification of the Hare system introduced into this colony. TAXATION We are committed to the policy of public works and a new loan has become a necessity and has been authorised, but these loans are luxuries that are not to be obtained without paying for them is the shape of taxation. The Customs duties are strained to thc utmost and there is no help for it but direct taxation. We have a taste of this in the land tax and shall yet get more. That tax I

consider most unsatisfactory and requiring considerable amendment as we are paying through it interest for loans expended elsewhere. T think there should be several sciles of thia tnx, and that districts which are getting the benefit of extensive huclic works shou'd contribute mere than ttuws that are less favored in that re 9 ])ect. An income tax is looked for una although I regard « as an objectionable tax on account of its character and the difficulty cf collecting it, T ean SPe that ic must come as through _• we .hall get at those who have money out on mortgage, who are not touched by the land tnx. (Hear, hear.) The e v. penenceof the past year shows tbat it was m .st injudicious to remove the duty from Rrain and timber and those will have to be re-imposed. I claim to be a fr.e tr&uer but in new countries these nrc certain industries which require to be fostered. By the action of last year the revenue has suffered and the gtain growera aDd those interested vn the timber trade have suffered considerably. A small additional duty too should be placed on hops making it equivalent to that levied in the other colonies. It will be the duty of the , new 1 Kriianient, too, to see that everv pos- j sible saving is effected in the expend!- j ture. We ought to dispense with oue of ine mail services, and I think it would be to the advantage of the colony I to do away with thc Native Department I of the management of which we know but little, and still less of the manner in whicii the funds go. It would be a sreat improvement if this were handed over to tbe Colonial Secretary, and the natives dealt with in the same way as the Europeans. Imn not in favor of a cheese paring policy, but I believe in gettmjr a fair amounfc of work Qut of a man and paying him well for it. and I would abolish all unnecessary offices. (Hear, LAND LAWS. lam in favor of small holdings. I suppose there is a great portion of laud fit for nothing but sheep runs, and it is well that it should viii Pm P lo - ve<l - „ut there are large tracts held by monopolists which should be cut up £!_ °~ m _" fams - This was advocated bv M r b.afford and Mr Weld, and I think from the direction public opinion is taking, that large land monopolies will be impossible in the future. One reform has been affected in New Zealand in connection with the land which is W tie known in the practical abolition of tne law of primogeniture, so that at the death of a man holding large landed property, it does not go to the elde3t son hut is divided among all the children. This would not be limited to males but extended to women's Pwpwty as well. (Mr Rowell: Serve 'em all alike. That's the plan.) IMMIGRATION. _ lam opposed to the present svstem of free immigration, and also think "that Chinese immigration should bo stopped, if it can be done constitutionally. I am not afraid of any great influx, but on the principle that prevention is better than cure. I think a restraining Act should be passed at a time when there is no excitement on the matter. LICENSING LAWS. These I think require amendment. The Board should consist of the Resident Magistrate and four Commissioners, who should retire every three vears and not be re-ap-pointed. The districts should be large and there should be a right of appeal against granting, as well as against the refusal of, licenses. There should also be a classification of houses with a uniform scale of fees. LOCAL OPTION BILL. I would support this and any other measure calculated to promote the social well heing of the community. The Good Templars appear to me to be taking up a very reasonable position in not trying to bring about any violent changes, but' recognising that the good they are likely to do is more likely to be for the next than the present generation. There is nothing in the Bill that the proprietor of anv well-conducted house can object to, as it is not likelv that two-thirds of the residents in the district would ever vote for the closing of his house. The money compensation is a very difficult | question, and I fail to see how it is to be arrived at. I would prefer that those houses not under the Act immediately should receive notice that they would be so at the end of three or five years. I think the Bill on the whole would be a safeguard to well- s conducted houses, while disorderly ones de- 1 serve to be closed. These are my views on general matters, and I will now proceed to LOCAL AFFAIRS. The railway I look upon aa essential to the well being of the district, and if it is not proceeded with Nelson will have to remain in its present state of depression, hut if constructed it will tend to make this one of the first place, in the colony. For years I have taken an active interest in this question, and I will continue to work at it heart'and soul. The line will pass through valuable country, and resources will be developed in it equal to any part of New Zealand. (Hear, hear.) In the Public "Works Statement of last year the name of Nelson was never mentioned, and then for the first time our members banded themselves together and brought such pressure to bear that £60,000 were pieced on the Estimates and voted by the House. I see in his address to his Dunedin constituents Mr Macandrew refers to one section of the country who gave a block vote against the Government because it would not give them a railway. I hope he referred to Nelson, and that he or any other Minister for Public Works will find the some block vote given against them until the railway is obtained One of the benefits derived from the last election was that the question of the route was warmly takeu up, and the determination was expressed that it should not be taken by way of the Top House. I now come to tbe harbor. (Mr Rowell: And a very serious question too.) It [is a serious question, and one that should be dealt wjth speedily. In 1864 when the Commissioners were appointed to decide ou the Seat of Government.the fact of this being a tidal harbor was fatal to us. I have the authority of Captain M'Gee for saying that by removing the rocks between the Arrow Rock and the mainland this could be so far remedied that a steamer could be taken in or out at any state of the tide. (Mr Rowell : I said so ten years ago, but nobody would believe me.) The water on the bar, too, could easily be deepened by dredging. If a tithe of the money thrown into the sea at Greymouth had been Hpent here we should have had as good a harbor as there is in the colony. (Mr Rowell: Good ; the very best speech of the lot.) At the last election I referred to a training ship for Nelson, and Mr Adams said he would advocate it too, but I am not aware whether he did PEHSONAL. It appears to be considered perfectly fair play to set all sorts of rumors afloat at election time to injure a candidate. At the last election there was a great talk about my removing to Wellington. I then said I was not going to do so, and I now pledge myself, whether elected or not, not to leave Nelson! I have also resigned the command of the Volunteers, ae there is some doubt whether I could hold a seat in the House and that office as well. Mr Curtis the other night referrred to lawyers, and Baid they never made good politicians. He was very well answered by Mr Adams, who showed the great ref onus that had been brought about by them. I tjunk the objection is objectionable ih itself, aa shutting out a class from fhe House, which should not be closed tetany

St n_? Jr, r :aUßehe isa mechanic, merS ? profGssi onal man. There is no ocwhat ™S o, \ tsifI * ot> Sew Zealand to -how -_ m ._•! ' a , couM Pc arcelv believe that the man is highly respected by all. were his own. _ vi.£ « H " ere s ° nn,ike hiln - I}llt thpv were a ™'- T Premeditated, and I can but think S A.*,? 11 " 1 Was collected by soinebo.lv else he nv _V. rti , S cons<? - ht «* to throw it, (Hear. <___ _ He „ iimst bflve forgotten Robert -to it one of the best and brightest of New he must have forgotten »»; William Fox. whom he followed only the other day mto thc lobby and recognised as S_weS r: •*_ i mi l haVC fo '^ ttell Mr oewell. .In, introduced one of thc neatest htw!; "ll La r d Transfer Act - } ' c n»"t ha. e forgotten Justices Gillies and Richmond, both of whom were Colonial Treaand politicians of some eminence: he Z t _ T ° i° r^» William Sefton Moorit. <£_- •?' b ° m C ?atttto«yis indebted for its first railway and for its present position. wL _ _ much to *** that hafl « ia * iP h fe_, OUr Superintendent between Kb/ and 18,0 our railway .vould now have been ah accomplished fact. (Loud cheers .) J ho. I ask is likely to make the better politician, the professional man who makes his livelihood by his work, or he who derives his income from the political offices he holds. (Renewed cheering, and cries of -Give it him: he deserves it/') Mr Curtis was not called upon to make the remarks he did. He went out of his way to pitch i «to a certain class, nnd he cannot complain of retaliation. (Cheers ) If you e eet me I will do mv best to serve you faithfully. Ido not seek the seat for tne mere honor of being your representative, but I desire to serve you and can assure vou that my best energies shall be devoted' to promoting your interests, and if I find that I cannot do that good for you which I hope to uo 1 will return to you the trust confided in me. and give you the opportunity of electing another to serve you. Mr Pitt having stated his willingness to reply to any questions put to him, sat down amid tremendous cheering. Mr Dodson wished to° state that no one had authority to telegraph to Mr Pitt that he -was prepared to support him for the Citv. but he had expressed his willingness to do so for the Waimea. He had alwavs understood that Mr Pitt would not oppose 'Mr Curtis, with whom he had worked for so many years. Mr Pitt accepted the explanation, though he had been led to understand that Mr Dodson. .was a consenting party to the telegram. Me had never authorised any one to say that he would not oppose Mr Curtis. Mr Butler: All Nelson is interested in a railway to the West Coast. I think there should also be a railway through the House of Representatives to justice. I ask you. if elected, will you move in the House for the correspondence between the late keeper of the Lunatic Asylum and the Government relative to the dismissal of that public servant in a very irregular manner bv the Nelson Government, of which Mr Curtis was a member, and in which he took part. Mr Pitt: If Mr Butler or any other elector asks me to do so I will. Mr Levestam : Colonel Whitmore objected m the Council to the Deceased Wife's Sister Marriage Bill on the ground that no candidate was ever asked to support it. Will you do so. 7 Mr Pitt: I will. It is sometimes objected that it should be passed in England first, but as we have shown the old country the way in many other reforms, I do not see why we should not in this. Mr Levestam : I hope every candidate in this colony .\-ill be asked this question, so as to do away with so rotten an argument. Mr JRaxkin then appeared on the stage amid tremendous laughter and general up-

roar, and producing rt memorandum-book from his pocket, with some difficulty extracted from it a little slip of paper on whicii were written the following questions: Are you in favor of a duty on timber, hops, and coal .Mr Pitt : Not on coal.— Do you object to female immigration ? This is a sort of bull-and-terrier question. I admit. Mr Pitt : I am opposed to free immigration, whether of men or women. — Mr Rankjx : All right. Whatever Mr Curtis said about our not wanting lawyers, we don't want fools, at all events. Mr Wimsett : Will you be in favor of a fire rate for thc support of Fire Brigades ? Mr Pitt : I think not. and for this reason; that Brigades only exist in certain places, and those who enjoy the advantages should pay for them (hear, hear). Mr Haddow : — I wish to ask you a question about the Bankruptcy Law." which has been truly described as the Rogues' Refuge, aud is a disgrace to our Statute Book. Are you in favor of amending it, so that honest men who have been unfortunate will be protected, but no man be absolutely relieved of his liabilities until he has paid 20s. in the pound . Mr Pitt replied that the Bankruptcy Laws had always been unsatisfactory. He should like to see them repealed altogether for two or three years, and let experience show what wa. the best course to adopt. Mr Haddow asked, in reference to Chinese immigration, whether it would not be better to levy a tax on the owners of the vessels instead of on the Chinamen ? Mr Pitt thought it was provided by the Bill that the vessel v/as to be the security for the tax. As to the legality of the Bill, he had his own opinion, but no doubt advice had been taken, and if not lawful, the law officers of the Crown would advise her Majesty to disallow the Bill. Mr Haddow would like to know whether it was part of the Liberal policy to make everybody go to bed at 12 oclock ? Mr Pitt : always thought this was a free country, and as such, it Was scarcely likely that people would consent to be dictated to in a matter of this kind. Mr Haddow had very great pleasure in moving a vote of thanks to Mr Pitt for his excellent address, and while doing so he would say how pleased he was to witness the interest taken in the election by the ladies as well as the gentlemen of Nelson. These contests were certainly caluculated to do much good in the direction of educating the people in regard to their political privileges ; but he would like to do away with the system of canvassing, and so preserve, the ballot in all its purity. Hehad opposed Mr Pitt on principle at the last election, but he would give him the credit of saying that he had not on that account 6hown the slightsst difference towards him (hear, hear). .He could not see why men should not differ without quarrelling. How otherwise could they arrive at the truth ? How would the world progress, how reforms be obtained, but for these differences of opinion? Though Mr Pitt had been defeated at the last election, the present meeting showed how willing the people of Nelson were to listen to him. Ee did hope that for the future candidates would refrain from that silly claptrap about the horny-handed' son of toil. There was no royal road to honor, nor was there to the Assembly. Any honest, hard-working man could attain the position. The ladder was there for all to climb. The workingman could get on without being patronised, if he would but study and take care of his money: his health, and his own right hand. He had much pleasure in moving a vote of thanks. This was seconded by Mr Levestam, and carried amid long and continued cheering. A vote of thanks to the Chairman brought the proceedings to a close.