MR. ADAMS MEETING.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XV, Issue 119, 19 May 1880, Page 2

MR. ADAMS MEETING.

Mr Acton Adams, M.H.K., addressed a crowded meeting in the Provincial Hall last ! night, when Mr Haddow was voted to the chair on the motion of Mr G. Thompson, seconded by Mr J. A. Harley. The Chairman, having expressed the hope that the audience Avould give the convener of the meeting that patient and attentive hearing which was invariably accorded by a Nelson audience on such occasions, called upon Mj} Aqton Abajis, who, when the applause with which he was greeted had subsided, said that, after recent events, he had felt that it would be hardly becoming on his part to proceed to Wellington without noticing what had occurred, but that the more manly and straightforward course to pursue was to meet the electors face to face, lay before them a statement of his conduct', and ask whether or not it met with their approval, 'lie need not state that he was a supporter of the railway, as they all knew that than himself it had no more earnest advocate, lie had learned with considerable regret, and no little surprise, that the Government had not accepted a tender for the Wai-iti contract, and understood from a telegram received by Mr Pitt that the reason given was the shortness of funds. Thei cupon he had deemed it his duty to ascertain whether that was a sound, reason, and had made certain calculations which lie would Jay before them. The Treasurer had stated in October that the current annual deficit would be -JIUS 1,000, but as he proposed to terminate the financial year on the 3lst March, it would bo reduced for that year to £665,000, or in other words that the expendi- . ture would be £3,110,000 and the receipts £2,445,000, to which must be added the deficit of the previous year, £131,000, making the f Jttii deficit £796,000. r i'his had been' altered ky'feubse<!uen.t events, for instance, he had

calculated on' an increase in the Customs revenue for the quarter of £75,000, whereas there had been a deficit of £50,000. The difficulty, however, had been fairly faced by the Treasurer, who intended -to issue Treasury bills for the amount. But, whatever might have been the deficit, it was never intended to make it up out of the public works fund. A loan of five millions had been raised, and after allowing for the liabilities ire-red by the previous Government, and for tre cost of raising it, there was left £2,730,000, which was ample for the contracts for which tenders had been called. It was expected that the Government would make the ordinary revenue and expenditure balance, and it was never intended that they should touch the public works fund for that purpose. They had lately called for tenders for branch lines in the South, and therefore he failed to see why they were unable to proceed with the Wai-iti contract. ~ He had always been one who understoooa that the spirit of the public works policy was that a main, trunk line should be carried, from the North to the South before proceeding with branch lines (hear, hear),- and, whether it was for the profit or convenience of individual members, or whatever was the pressure brought to bear, he considered it absolutely wrong to give any branch line the preference over the main line. (Loud applause.) He could not admit either that any Government had the right to call for tenders for works and not to accept them. It was unbusinesslike, and it was unfair, to the shopkeepers who purchased goods and advanced them to men in the : belief that they would find work, to the • laborers who came from other parts in the hope of obtaining employment, to the contractors who went to much trouble and expense in making their calculations, and to the public at large. But he could see that the Treasurer was" thoroughly frightened by the falling off in the revenue, which, no doubt, was alarming, and by the general prospect, and the difference between Ms anticipations -and the reality appeared to have paralysed ; the Government, who, however, should not for this reason stop public works, which ought not to be affected by the ordinary revenue and expenditure. If these were to cease because the revenue was falling off, it would merely have the effect of accelerating the depression and of making matters ten times worse than before. The interest on the loan had to be paid, and to look the money up when it was most wanted was a most unwise proceeding. He did not share in the despondency of th,e Colonial Treasurer. The harvest had been a magnificent one, and the wool returns had largely increased, and there were signs of far more prosperous times than had been experienced for a considerable period, therefore he was disposed to take a much brighter view of matters than the Treasurer. But, however much he might disagree with the Government in this matter, lie -was not prepared to believe them guilty of the dishonor and planned deceit which some had imputed to ' them, and he thought the people of Nelson were wrong- to be constantly urging their members to go iilto opposition if they did not get all they wanted. He felt sure that when the members for Nelson went to Wellington and met the Government that they would be able to show them that they were bound to go on with, the railway to the promised extent. (Cheers. Mr Rowell : They're a bad lot. A Voice : Turn him out.) He did not think that Mr Rowell had any reason to find fault with the present Government, a.nd felt sure that they had pnly been guilty of an error of judgment, and that the matter merely wanted explanation, and if there was one member more than another who was entitled to that explanation he (Mr Adams) was the man. The Nelson membershad laid before the Government last session a representation of their wants, a copy of -which, he had withhirn, and which he had no hesitation in reading 1 , and from it they would see that they could not retract. It was as follows ;-= " The Nelson members bog to represent to the Hon John Hall :— (1.) That, although under the Public Works policy of Sir Julius Yogel, Nelson, in consideration of abandoning the construction of a railway to the West Coast under the Nelson, Cobden, and Westport Kail way Land Acts, was repeatedly promised connection with the main trunk railway designed by that policy, to extend from the north to the south of both islands yet only twenty miles of that railway has been constructed in Nelson, whilst in other parts of the colony not only has the trunk railway been completed, but numerous branches have been added to it. (2.) That in 1878 the Grey Government definitely undertook to, construct the line from Amberley to Oook Straits via the Buller and Grey Valleys, and took votes of £60,000 and £30,000 for that purpose; and also agreed with the Nelson members to make at least 10 miles from the Nelson end per annum. (3.) That nevertheless nothing has been done at the Nelson end beyond a survey, and at the Bi-unnerton end beypnd a small' contract, whilst in other parts of the Middle Island over half a million has been appropriated in branch lines, which the Nelson members feel to be unjust and unfair to the northern part of the Middle Island. (4.) That the Nelson members desire that their claim to have the construction of a through line of railway from Amberley to Cook Straits via the Buller and Grey Valleys actively pushed on and to have a,t least ten miles at the Nelson end opened for traffic annually, shall be fully recognized as part of the Public Works policy of the Government of the colony for the time being. (5.) And that, in view of practically nothing having been done in 1878-9, they ask that contracts for constructing 20 miles on the lino between Nelson and Bruuuerton via Reef ton shall be let during the financial year 1879-80; and that a special Engineer shall be appointed for the line, with orders to actively prosecute the same, so that an average of 10 miles shall be opened for traffic every year.— (Signed) A. J. Richmond, Joseph Shephard, Albert Pitt, li. Hursthouse, William Gibbs, W. Acton B. Adams." That document was laid before the Hall Government, and, with the exception of that part asking for 20 miles this year, they had promised to agree to it, so that the Nelson members, it would be seen, had a fair right to an explanation. The Minister for Public Works, too, when here, had distinctly stated that the carrying out of the Wai-iti contract would in no way be affected by the report of the Public Works Commission, so that that, even if unfavorable, could not be urged in support of the action taken by the Government. There was another matter he must refer to in connection with this question. My Hursthouse, who had always pulled Avith the Nelson members, had stated the other night, probably with the view of cooling the meeting, that a schedule was laid before the House showing that Nelson had received her full share of the loan, and that it had not been criticised by the Nelson members. Generally Mr Hursthouse was very accurate, but that must have been one of his sleeping moments, as in the House he (Mr Adams) had, in reply to Mr Shrimski, stated that of the £440,000 mentioned in the schedule for railways, only £120,000 had been spent on the Foxhill railway, tl\c remaining £220,000 having been the cost of the coal railways at Westport, which class of railway Sir Julius Yogel had always asserted would be iogarded as colonial works, and not charged to the district in which they were constructed, so that the Foxhill line was the only one with which the province cpujd he f aMy debited. (A voice • Hew ab^ft^e Marah.au PVop&ly? "Cries of Turn him out! and. up-

roar. The Chairman; having- called the offenders to order, and silence being restored, Mr Adams proceeded.) There -would be no douWrthat.next session it would be the duty of every member to insist upon the strictest economy in the public service. They were all averse to increased taxation, -which had already reached its utmost limit, so that there was nothing for it but to cut down the expenditure. Looking at the vast ramifications of the Civil Service, he felt that many officers might and would have to be done away- with. In the department of Justice alone a large saving might be effected. There were many Resident Magistrates and their followers whose services might be dispensed with (cheers). The powers of the District Court might be extended, and a sitting held once a month for civil actions, the unpaid magistrates dealing with minor criminal cases (A voice : Perjury for instance).^ The Judges ' might travel more, and po ? a lesser number be required, and it would be better for all, the lawyers included. The Education vote, too, was capable of large reductions, as the State could not afford to give any but a rudimentary education, and those who required "anything more should be made to' pay for it. With regard to Native affairs, he thought that the Government had been very happy in the way they had handled that question, and that the Royal Commission had done much valuable work. Still there was plenty of room for retrenchment, and this was the more urgently needed since, .the Commission had shown that the amount of land for sale on the Waimate Plains wasJ not. nearly so large as had been expected, as the Natives were fairly entitled to many, of the reserves they had claimed. There were other smaller matters which he might bring before them, Buch for instance aa the Licensing Bill, a measure which the Government bad promised to bring in this session, and which he had no doubt would recognise the principle of local option as regards new houses. That was a measure which would certainly deserve their attention. He thought, however, that ho shoald only be keeping the meeting unnecessarily if he spoke upon all those subject?, but if there were matters on which they wished to hear him speak, he had no doubt they would either there or on some other occasion, before the House met, take an opportunity of bringing them before him, and he could only say that anything affecting the welfare of the district would receive his most earnest and -warmest support. (Loud applause.) After the telegrams which had gone forth respecting the meeting recently held in that room to consider his (Mr Adams's) conduct, he wished to state that he felt he could not go to the House as their representative should go ; but it was for them to «ay whether they would strengthen his hands, and after what took place at that meeting to state whether they had confidence in him or not. [A Voice: Who is the senior member?] No doubt many of those present would like him to say some words about the late case of Thomas's. (Cries : " No !" " Never mind that !" " They'll eucre you !" and some con fusion.) So far as he was personally concerned he was quite willing to go into that matter, but he wbb not prepared to abuse his opponents ; and if any of those present had come there expecting him to do so, all he could say was that they were immensely mistaken. (Loud applause.) He was perfectly prepared to go into the fullest explanation of his conduct in that matter, and he would take that opportunity of saying that the whole of the misrepresentation had arisen through the newspaper reports of the first case not having been verbatim. Of course newspapers did not report law proceedings verbatim, but had that case been so reported he waa sure there would have been no misapprehension. He would show them how the

misapprehension arose. They would remember that he was questioned regarding Donald being in possession of the property, and be said that he bad never made a written agreement with Donald, but that he had entered into negotiations with him. [A Voice : "We don't want any private matters." Confusion, and hisses.] He wished to call the attentioo of those gentlemen who were making that noise, that there were but two kinds of animals which emitted that sound, and they were snakes and (feese ; he did not know to which class they belonged. (Laughter and applause.) Me had been very seriously attacked, and be had expeoted at all events to receive a fair and impartial hearing. (Sear, hear.) He said he had not entered into a written agreement, but that he made verbal arrangements which required the native lease to be completed, and Mr Broad then said, " There is nothing within the Statute of Frauds ?" All the other side was bunting for was a binding agree* ment, and if he had not so understood it, would he not have replied that " there was nothing between in," and not " that I had signed nothing." (Applause.) He was perfectly satisfied in his own mind that he laid he bad made a verbal arrangement. They knew that that case had been deoided by the Justices before whom the charge was beard, and that there had also been an appeal to the Minister for Justice, and probably they also were aware that Thomas intended to bring a bill before the Grand jury. (Some applause.) He was prepared to meet that charge. He Lad. said nothing about the case till after the decision by the Justice! and till after the decision by the Minister in Wellington, and it was not his wish to go into the matter then. He was not conscious of having done anything wrong as their member, and as be was convinced that he spoke the truth in that case, he had nothing to fear from a jury of his fellow countrymen. Were he guilty, h» would be liable to go on the roads for five years ; and looking at the fact that such a punishment would be so terrible to a man in his position, he would ask them, if h» bad any doubt as to his innocency, why Bhould he stay there P Were he afraid to meet (he charge, why could he not have left the country long before the charge was tried ? No, he was not afraid to meet it ; and he he was going to Wellington to attend to hi* Parliamentary duties, and, having performed them, he should come back to face his accusers. (Loud applause.) But he must state to them, as a matter of politics, and as a matter affecting them all, that he could not hope to do their work so successfully unless they rescinded that vote which was passed the other night. The present was a critical time for them all ; they complained that the Government was not treating them justly, and he. asked them whether it was the proper course to adopt in order to win a fight that soldiers on the eve of battle should place their general under arrest, and he asked them if they were going to join with a private person in casting a slur on one of their members. He said he could not expect to succeed if he was not to have their, confidence, for their confidence alone would enable him to carry on that battle with the Government for justice. (Applause.) He cared very little for those charges, but he should care if the interests of Nelson were imperilled by their withholding their confidence. He said he would not hold his present position if he thought there was any validity in those charges which had been brought against him. (Applause.) They were not valid, and he *did not think he could conclude his speech 'better than by quoting a Scotch poet, Mr David Burns, who said — An honest heart that's free frae a' Intended fraud or guile, However fortune kicks the ba\ Has aye some cause to smile.

(Loud and continued applause). Order having been eomewhat restored, His Woeship the Mayob, in a brief speech, which was not entirely audible, said he had great pleasure in moving " That Mr Acton Adams had the entire confidence of this constituency as one of its members." (Loud applause.) Mr Mouteay said they had not assembled there on electioneering business, nor had they assembled to discuss Mr Adams's private or legal afiairs, but they had gone there to meet him as one of their representatives in the House, and he askod them to allow him to remind them that it depended groatly upon that meeting what the decision as to the railway would be. If they sent Mr Adams to the House with a oloud hanging over him, they would virtually ha\e but one member. There were a great many amongst them wanting employment. He had come there for the good and welfare of Nelson j he cared for no man, but he said for the good of Nelson they muafc all do their utmost, but \( they Bent Mr Adams under a cloud he would be able to do very little for them. They had got two good mea to represent them, and he hoped they would strengthen their hands to the utmost. Mr Adams had fought their battles well in the past and he believed that he would go back and fight for them again, and he hoped they would support him as long as he did that. There had been some talk about seniority : he said let the man who fought the hardest receive the honor, and be placed at the head of the poll. (Cheers.) He seconded the motion, and hoped they would pass the vote of confidence by holding up their hands for Mr Adams. Mr Stevenson, who was received with cheers, said he had listened to Mr Adams' speech, and he agreed with him as to his politics, but he wished to refer them back a little and call to their remembrance the immense meeting held in that hall, and which meeting said almost unanimously that Mr Adams was no longer a fit and proper person to represent them in Parliament. (Applau&e.) On Mr Stevenson attempting to resume, he was met with interruptions, and after some little confusion he was heard to say that it seemed to him such a very strange thing to assemble there a few nights back, and to pass such a vote unanimously, and then for the same man to expect them to pass a vote of confidence in him. (A Voice : There is a different class of people here now.) (Interruptions.) Mr Levestam then ascended the platform and was received with cheers (but his doing so appeared to so greatly incense a person named Ball, who had gained admission to the gallery, that for some minutes he delayed the meeting railing at Mr Levestam, proclaiming himself an Englishman, and swearing and blaspheming, so that it was necessary to call in the aid of the police ; and on the officers removing the fellow, to the e\ Ident relief of the ladies in the gallery, cheers were given for the police.) Mr Levestam then said he had listened attentively to Mr Adams, and that what he had said met with his entire approval, but he wished to ask him one question: Was be prepared to work cordially with the other member* '! It had been reported that Mr Adams had made use of some very strong language towards Mr Pitt, and unless he told them that he did not use that language, or else that he apologised for using it, he did not see how those two members could work cordially together. (Applause.) A Voice : What is the language ? Mr Levestam understood that Mr Adams said Mr Pitt was a scoundrel. A Voiob : That is a personal matter. Mr Levestam : It might be a personal matter between two private persons, hut between two public men, who are supposed to work together for the common good of their

constituents, it was not personal, for if it was true that Mr Pitt was a scoundrel then Mr Adams could not work With him ; and if he was not, then Mr Pitt could not work with Mr Adam b. (Loud applause.) : Mr C. Watts : If one man nays that another commits perjury that man has the right to say that his traducer is a scoundrel. (Interruptions.) The Ohaieman then proposed to put the motion, but was interrupted by shouts of " Question !" " Answer the question !" Mr Htodelston then went on the platform, and said " Let Mr Adams answer the question." (Hear, hear, and cheers.) *• Mr Adams then said : As to this matter there has been a good deal of personal language ueed on both sides, and he thought it far better in the interests of that meeting that those matters should not be raked up any more. (Cheers. Cries : " No," and confusion.) ' Mr Huddeibtok again spoke, but his voice was 'drowned in the general uproar. Mr Adams then said he should have no objection to answering the question, but if he did so probably Mr Pitt would come up there, and then they would have a lot of recrimination. They had refused to hear him go fully into this question. (Shouta of <% Answer the question.") It was a personal question, and not a political one. (More shouting.) The Chateman then said lie should read the resolution. More confusion followed, and. ultimately Mr .Adams said he would answer the question, but be must say again that he thought it a, great pity that if anything unpleasant had passed hetweeh Mr Pitt and himself that it should be then raked up again. He must premise, however, that he did not then assert what he had asserted before. If they wanted to know about this he would tell them how it happened. They would remember that when Thomas had given his evidence that bis solicitor, Mr Bunny, and Boyes's solicitors, Messrs Pitt and Moore, had agreed to bring a sham action. Mr Bunny : That's a lie, he never said anything- about a sham, action. Speak the truth, Sir. (Confusion.) Mr Adams continued : He would not answer the question without stating the whole surroundings. He said it appeared from Thomas' evidence that the action was brought at Thomas' wish, and that he was to pay the costs. This was practically a sham action, though Mr Bunny objected to the word, and sham actions were looked upon by the profession at home as most disreputable. Well he had that evidence in Iris mind, and looking at it that there had been some kind of combination against him, he had said that Messrs Pitt and Bunny were a pair of scoundrels. (Applause, hisses, groans, and confusion.) He did not expect to be hissed for answering their demand. He would say that he should not at that present time use such language to Mr Pitt. They had forced him to speak about it, but he did not want to pause any further irritation. (Applause and groans.) As regarded what had been said about s eniority, he said it did not matter twopence halfpenny whether he was junior or senior member. He was prepared to work as junior or any other member, and he was prepared to work with his brother members, and he did not think they had been fair in asking him to answer the question put by Mr Levestam. They asked him what he did iv the heat of the moment, and he would ask them in reply what they did in the heat of the moment. They came to that Hall and passed a vote of want of confidence in him, but he felt sure jthat the respectable Nelson people he then saw present were not taking part in that previous meeting. (Applause.) He did not care for those who had attacked him, but he did care for those respectable citizens whom he then saw present. (Ap-

plause and groans.) If he did act thus in the heat of the moment, did not some of tjhose present come there and act in the heat of the moment ? ! Mr Pitt, who was received with vociferous cheering, said he was not going to make a speech as he had not come with the intention of taking part in that meeting. Mr Adams had said that he and someone else were scoundrels, and he was entitled to assume Mr Adams still held the same opinion inasmuch as he had not said to the contrary. If he (Mr Pitt) was as Mr Adams stated, then . he was not fit to hold the position of one of their representatives. Mr Adams had not been told then that when that arrangement to which he referred was made that he (Mr Pitt) was not in Nelson. In the making of that arrangement he in reality had no part. Mr Adams had told them the action was a sham one, but the facts were that before he (Mr Pitt) left for Wellington he left instructions that Thomas was to be sued. There was some delay in commencing 1 the proceedings and Thomas, no doubt, was in the position of a man very anxious to be sued. Had Mr Boyes been successful in that however, he would have enforced his judgment and it was consequently no sham action on the part of Boyes. Mr Adams: I did not say it was on the part of Boyea. (Applause.) Mr Pitt: It could not have been a sham action at all then. He said it was not a sham action, and that Boyes acted in a perfectly bona fide manner in bringing the action. He had thought it his duty to make this explanation, and regarding Mr Adams' statement he had thought that Mr Adams would have explained that he did not hold that opinion still. t The Chairman then read Mr Stevenson's amendment, namely, That in the opinion of this meeting Mr Acton Adams is not a fit and proper person to represent us in Parliament. Mr M'Cleary and Mr Haase both rose to second the amendment, and the Chairman was about to put the motion, when Mr A. llobertson asked whether all present were electors, and proposed to decide the question by vote. The Chairman then called for a show of hands for the motion, but this caused some uproar, and the amendment was first demanded, and, in accordance with that demand, the vote was taken. Of cotvrse, nothing like all those who were present voted, but the Chairman declared the motion of confidence in Mr Adams to be carried, and this was hailed with loud cheers. A vote of thanks was accorded to the Chairman on the motion of Mr G. Thompson, and the meeting separated.