THE CITY ELECTION.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5274, 18 February 1878, Page 2

THE CITY ELECTION.

NOMINATION OF CANDIDATES. The nomination of candidates for the seat to represent the city of Wellington in the House of Representatives, vice Mr. W. T. L. Travers resigned, took place at noon on Saturday, opposite the Supreme Court House. There was a numerous though orderly gathering of the general public assembled opposite the hustings, and at twelve o’clock the Returning Officer (Mr. J. C. Crawford) cam* forward, and having read the writ for the election, he called upon any elector to name a candidate. Mr, George Crawford said he had a very pleasant duty to perform in proposing Mr, Edward Pearce as a candidate to represent the city of Wellington in the House of Representatives. (Hear, hear.) Most of them were aware that previous to Mr. Pearce going to the Old Country he represented them in Parliament, and, haviug returned, he now, at the request of a large number of old settleis, agreed to come forward to contest the election. He need not enlarge upon Mr. Pearce’s qualities, because they were well known, and they could not get a more upright and straightforward man to represent them. Mr. Pearce was willing to serve them again, and they should rally rouud him and place him at the head of the poll. (Hear, hear.) Mr. R. Greekfield, in seconding the nomination, said that if the electors considered their own interests they would return Mr. Pearce. Mr. Joseph Rurxe said he had the honor and favor at the same time to propose Mr. William Hutchison to represent them iu the Parliament of New Zealand. Hehad had a similar pleasure about twelve months ago, but was not successful iu getting his man iu ; but he believed it would be a very good thing to have him iu now ; and the change that had taken place in the minds of a good many people would show that Mr. Hutchison wa- a fit and proper person to represent them in the House. He knew there had been some very hard tilings said against Mr. Hutchison—(Hear, hear, and cries of “What about the cheque?”)—but those statements were entirely without foundation (Cries of “ Hear, hear,” and “ No, no ”). Mr. Hutchison was opposed to Sir George Grey twelve months ago, but was now on the same side as him. He admired him for it, because he opposed Sir George Grey so loug as Sir George Grey opposed the abolition of provinces, and after that Mr. Hutchison’s and. Sir George Grey’s views were very similar. He was sure Mr. Hutchison would study their interests, and they would be better for his being in Parliament.

Mr. John Martin, who was received with shouts of derision, seconded the nomination of Mr. Hutchison. They would find him a good man, and one who would support the politics of Sir George Grey. Mr. W. C. Scholtze said he had great pleasure in proposing Mr. George Elliot Barton as a candidate to represent them in Parliament. He was not present —(A Voice ; “No; he’s in gaol.”).—and therefore could not address them ; but his views had been before them some time. The speaker had known him in Wellington, Melbourne, and Dunedin, and he had always been a conscientious democrat. He , was not like someone who had been before them, and would tack on to any party, but he was thoroughly conscientious, and deserved the full confidence of the electors. He hoped they would approve of his conduct, and put him into Parliament. (Hear, hear.) Mr. E. T. Gillon, in seconding Mr. Barton’s nomination, said he had known him for a great many years as a straightforward honorable man, who would do what he thought was right and proper, without regard to persons. He believed they were being misrepresented by Mr. William Hutchison parading himself as a Government candidate. He required something better than Mr. Hutchison's own words to convince him that the Government approved of his candidature, and he thought it was necessary for them to return a man of liberal principles. How Mr. Hutchison had the audacity now to come forward and ask their votes as a supporter of Sir Georga Grey, he did not know, seeing that that gentleman during last recess stood in the Atkinson iuterest. (Cries of “He’s a turncoat," and bootings.) That gentleman was merely the nominee of two or three individuals. Mr. Pearce who, on coming forward, was greeted with applause, said : Gentlemen, I have first to thank Mr. Crawford and Mr. Greenfield for so kindly proposing and seconding my nomination. Last night in the Athenaeum I explained my views upon some of the leading questions that are at present occupying the public mind. I told you then that I had yet to learn that the party with which I had been so long identified had done anything to warrant me severing my allegiance from them. I stated that I distinctly refused to pledge myself to support Sir George Grey’s Government, and I explained my reasons for thinking that the imposition of direct taxation would he a mistake, and I also explained what the evil effects of that would be upon the working men. I look forwaid with confidence to the poll of Monday next; for Wellington has a ioyal party, which it has supported. The party with which I have been connected is a party of progress, and I say that ou Monday this constituency of Wellington will not present to the colony the spectacle of a constituency changing its political views on a change of Government. I leave the issue in the hands of the electors, aud do not think I shall be disappointed. (Cheers.) M:. Hutchison, who was received with applause, said that until the previous evening he did not know that he was going to be a candidate. He hail been asked to stand when Mr. Pearce announced his candidature, but thinking Mr. Pearce would support a liberal policy he did not consent. Hedidnot believe that Mr. Pearce was prepared to support to the fullest extent the liberal policy which had been enunciated by Sir George Grey ; in fact, from his remarks it seemed that he declined to do so. (No, no, and cheers.) Many of the electors might say what they pleased, but it was no good shutting their eyes to the fact that such was really the case, aud therefore if Mr. Pearce was returned the large and industrious mass of the electors of the city of Wellington would in effect be altogether misrepresented. (Loud cheering.) He would admit that he had undertaken a heavy task in opposing Mr. Pearce, but lie had acted from strong convictions on the subject—(applause),—and at all events his candidature would enable the electors to enter their protest against the domination of capital and land monopoly. (Cries of bunkum, and dust., dust.) He was not aware that he had a single word to say different to what he said when he addressed them at the last elect’ou. His views were still the same, aud would remain so. (A Voice : “Bunkum.”) It was no bunkum with him, but the actual truth. In the New Zealand Times of that morning he had, however, observed it stated that he had changed his political views. (Loud'cries of “ Quite true, quite true.”) Well, supposing he had done so, was there any sin or shame attached to it ? He was only doing what many wise men had done before and would require to do again. But as a matter of actual fact his views were precisely similar to what they were at the last election. (Cheers aud shouts of disapprobation.) Mr. Councillor Magixity : Why, you werean Atkinson man at the last election.

Mr. Hutchison would challenge the Times to produce one tittle of evidence to show that in any single instance he had changed his views. He would admit that he had opposed Sir George Grey on the question of the abolition of the provinces, but that had been settled,, and was now done with, and what was at present required was, that progressive works should be proceeded with, and the counter opened up in every direction, whilst the necessary expenditure was duly proportioned upon all. (Cheers.) Mr. Maginity : What , did you oppose Sir William Fitzherhert for 1 Mr. Hutchison would give in to no one iu his rectitude of conduct, but at the same time he was bound to admit that when Major Atkinson came down with his Financial Statement, and advised them in such a paternal way to rest and be thankful, he sounded the-

death knell of his Government. Sir George Grey had come forward with a truly hheial policy, and he had every confidence in giving it his support. (A Voice; “ What about Proudfoot?”) Tt had been further said by that newspaper, the Times, that his term of the mayoralty had been a failure, but could confidently look around him and state that he was not ashamed of anything he h*i(l one (cheers). In fact, the many works which had actually been carried out, and also initiated, during his term of offiee, were sufficient evidence of the fact. It had been said by the seconder of Mr. Barton that he was the nominee of some one, but he could assure them that h« was nothing of the sort. He had come forward in the liberal interest, and meant to support it. (Cheers, and a Voice: “Who sto pay foi the gas ?”). In reference to the land question (one of the most important with which the colony had to ceutend), he was bound to admit that the generalisation of the Land Fund was a matter of simple justice. It could not be denied that the lands of the colony belonged to the whole of the people of the colony, and not to any particular, and _ it might be favored, section. Such a principle being established it was only necessary to take the requisite steps to have the land settled upon to the best advantage in order that a thriving and prosperous working population might be permanently established. (Cheers and cries of “ dry up.”) What they wanted was that every means should be tairen to sell and lease the lands at moderate prices, on deferred payments; and in furtherance of that object he would be prepared to adopt either the homestead law of the United States, or the Canadian system of free grants, under which blocks of land were given for genuine occupation. (Cheers.) The land question was in fact the most important at present before the country, as upon it depended their future wellbeing as a community. To refer to another very important subject—that of taxation, be was aware that the Government had proposed to change the incidence of taxation in so far as regarded the necessaries of life, and in that direction he thought the proposal was only just and reasonable. But the question remained as to whether they were to have a fair taxation, whether they were in, fact, to be taxed 2d. or Id. per day. Was the system based upon true economical principles by which the people of the State should contribute to their means? Under the present system the poor man was too heavily taxed ; in point of fact he paid more towards the Customs duties than the rich man, who derived more from the State,—(cheers)— a condition of things which should certainly not be permitted to continue. In fact in his opinion the time had come when in the city of Wellington the small clique which had grown up required to be broken up, and actual interest have due representation. (Cheers.) In truth he hoped they would no longer be ruled by about half a dozen of people, but they would determine that they should have justice for rich and poor alike. (Voices: “What about Broudfoot,” “Gammon,” “ Time, time.”) He knew that many men came forward with the working men s cry; but he was quite prepared to range himself on the side of honest labor, and he had no hesitation in saving that any change in the incidence of taxation should be made up upon the land. The question of a laud tax he had frequently spoken of before, and he thought it required no further illustration. He would only observe, however, eu pussmt, that at the present time about 112 individuals in the colony owned and occupied eight millions of acre3 —(A. Voice; Good gracious)—which might be profitably owned and occupied by at least 20,000 people. (Loud cheers.) In fact in one instance it was well-known that a single individual had received a grant of 93,000 acres of land at such a price as 2s. 6d. per acre. It had frequently been said, and with truth too, that they should never set class against class; but they required to remember that they should complain of those who had in the first instance worked the wrong, in fact, created the sting which induced the after struggle. CA Voice ; “What about the WaiTarapa.”—Mr. White; “ What about the £3OOO cheque.”) He was quite prepared to answer Mr. .White or anybody else in reference to that cheque, and he had no doubt but the public were fully satisfied as to his conduct. Regarding the question as to the extension of the franchise, he had no objections to it whatever ; personally speaking, he was afraid of no man’s vote, bavin" full confidence in the good sense of the body of the people. (Cheers.) What they wanted was not so much a representation of property as that of men. It had often been said that certain people had no stake in the country ; but he considered they had all sufficient stake when they contributed their bone and sinew towards the development of the country and made it what it was. He might refer to the question of city improvement; but his views, he considered, were pretty well understood upon that point. The Te Aro reclamation he might however touch upon, and he felt bound to state that but for false friends it might have been proceeded with at the present time ; the subject, however, was far from being settled, and it still required watching. He had noticed the other day that the Mayor and two or three members of the Chamber of Commerce had waited upon the Government regarding the payment to special jurors. That was all very well in its way, but it occurred to him that it would have been as wine to go in for the abolition of the Grand Jary system altogether, which he felt sure had been often seen to be thoroughly useless, and which besides had the effect of setting class against class, and thereby creating differences which otherwise might not exist. To remedy such an evil he would give his most strenuous support, and likewise assist in carrying out other measures of a liberal character. Wellington already had one member who went in to represent his Excellency the Governor, and he thought they would be none the worse if they had a representative to look after the working man. (Cheers.) Having addressed them at such length, he would leave the matter m their hands. It was their own duty tn lock after their own interests, and in assisting them to do so he had come forward as a candidate with the thorough intention of assisting in the work of building up a constitution in the country which would eventually tend to create a free, a virtuous, and a happy community. (Loud applause ) , , Mr. Bakton, jun., next addressed the electors. He stated that he had to appear on behalf of his father, who, as they were all aware, was confined in prison on a charge of contempt of the Supreme Court. His father, he could assure them, thoroughly approved of the sentiments enunciated by Sir George Grey ; he had read his speech carefully over, and would fully endorse all the stat-ments.it contained, as they were only, in point of fact, the same views he had advocated for twenty years hack. He could assure the electors that his father had represented North Melbourne in Victoria in the democratic interest, and in the Provincial Council of Otago ho had always represented similar views. The policy as stated by Sir George Grey had been shown by the meetings of Thursday evening to be a popular policy, and that policy his father would pledge himself to support. Mr. Pearce had always shown himself amongst the run-holding, or rather the moneyed party, and it was not therefore possible thathe could be expected to givea straightforward support to Sir George Grey. (Cheers.) Mr. Hutchison, on the other hand, could only be recognised as a very partial supporter ine,.j (cheers) —and might be considered aalike the man who had two charmers—the one dark and the other fair, to each of which he might turn as his feelings for the time dictated (cheers). In conclusion, he would only add that his father thoroughly approved of the views put forward bv Sir George Grey ; the policy which that gentleman had defined would meet with his father’s support, and he therefore asked for their confidence in his behalf, as well as their support at the election. (Cheers.) If they supported his father they need have no fear that their interests would suffer ; they would in every respect be acknowledged, and thoroughly conserved, and the policy, which he thought they generally endorsed, would have an additional support m, at all events, being carried out. (Loud cheers.) After Mr. Barton (jun.), who was loudly cheered, had left the platform, Mr J. 0. Crawford, the Returning Officer, asked for a show of hands in reference to the

.election. They all had their duty to perform, »nd his was simply to announce the candidates, and depend upon their decision. A allow of hands was then taken, when there appeared about fifty to sixty hands held up in favor of Mr, Pearce. _ « . A like call for Mr. Hutchison brought forth about 120 to 150 supporters; and for Mr. Barton there was a considerable majority, quite 200, , The Returning Officer accordingly stated that he considered the nomination had resulted in favor of Mr. Barton, the result being received amidst loud cheering. A poll was then formally demanded, and on the motion of Mr. Pearce, seconded by Mr. Hutchison, a vote of thanks was passed to the Returning Officer, and the assemblage dispersed.