MR. BARTON’S CANDIDATURE.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5274, 18 February 1878, Page 3

MR. BARTON’S CANDIDATURE.

Mr. Elliott L’Estrange Barton, son of Mr. George Elliott Barton, one of the candidates for the representation of the city, addressed a meeting of about six hundred people at the Odd Fellows’ Hall on Saturday evening. Mr. M. L. Marks, who was voted to the chair, bespoke a fair hearing for Mr. Barton, jun., and said as they knew the peculiar circumstances under which he appeared the meeting would no doubt excuse any shortcomings on his part. The advertisement calling the meeting having been read, Mr. Barton, jun., stepped forward, and was received with great applause. He he felt some diffidence in calling the meeting, because he thought that one of his youth would not command that amount of attention which a man of his father's age deserved. But he had been so well recived at the bustings that morning, and so kindly applauded for what little he did say then, that he felt encouraged to address them again. I he best way to convince them of his father s claims to their suffrages was to giv« them a short history of his political life in the colonies. In 1359 he was elected represent North Melbourne in the Victorian Parliament, ami stood on the democratic ticket. In that Parliament, with himself, were Mr. Wilson Gray, and Mr. Don, a stonemason. These three, together with a few others, formed what was called “the corner in the Melbourne Parliament, and from thence the voice of the people was heard. If the squatters did anything wrong, they were taken to task ; and, in short, from that corner alone the people were represented. To represent the people in that House it required a man of courage. Mr. Wilson Gray was a man of courage, and his (the speakers} father was a man of courage, and the stonemason was another. (Hear, hear.) His father was diiven from Victoria by a combination of squat* ters and others. (Applause.) vVhen he went into Parliament, he was a barrister with a large practice and good position ; when lie left Victoria, he was making £5 a year. He was driven from the place because he was a democrat, and because he was fighting for the people. Mr. Wilson Gray was driven also from it; and then the poor stonemason, Don, was driven into the Bankruptcy Court, and died. Now they saw in Melbourne the results of that party being broken up. That country was now almost in the throes of a revolution. If these men had not been driven away, but instead had been supported properly at the time, this would nob have happened. In New Zealand it might come to the same thing some day. Who had they in the House ? None but squatters—Mr, PeaiceV from all parts of the colony. If the people of this country wanted a man in the House who was a democrat they must have a man of courage and one who would maintain theprinciplesheannounced to the people to the end. (He ir, hear.) They did not want a man to come and say he would support Sir George Grey so long as he did what he thought was right. Nothing was easier than to make a pledge like that, for the first thing Sir George Grey did they might say they did not approve of it. Why did not Mr. Hutchison say—“ I agree with the principles declared by Sir George Grey, and I will support him so long as he holds to them?” (A Voice: He turns his coat.) After the meeting which Sir George Grey held the other evening, and the resolutions so unanimously passed, he asked them if they would return Mr. Pearce ? How could they when he said he would not support Sir George Grey. Would they support Mr. Hucchisou, who was so often changing, or would they support Mr. Barton, who had held the same principles for years, and who was the originator of the eight hours movement in Victoria ? (Prolonged applause.) He was nob only the originator of the eight hours movement, but he was one of those who organised the land league, and that was the cause of his having been driven from the colony. He (the speaker) denied the accuiacy of certain statements which had been made about what Mr. Bunny and Mr. Buckley had done in reference to Mr. G. E. Barton s candidature, and went on to state that when his father came to Otago Mr. Wilson Gray followed. The Whitaker-Richmond Ministry, a squatting Ministry, was in power here. It was a so uatting Ministry, and they determined upon the course they would take with regard to Mr. Barton and Mr. Gray. The latter was appointed fc < a district judgeship to keep him quiet, and as for his father they determined to drive him from this colony. He did not know if he was committing contempt, but from the time his father landed—for sixteen years —Mr. Richmond had pursued him, and he was doing it now. When he came here Mr. Preudergast had just been appointed Attorney-General to another squatting Ministry.. The cause of Ids father’s treatment was a political one. Were they to accuse a barrister of being petulant because when he saw a wrong being done to his client he protested against it? Was it sufficient to say, why should I interfere with ray tirend and butter, and let the thing rest. For his part he said “ no;” he thought the proper thing was to stand up and say, W I protest against this sort of thing; it has gone on for , sixteen years, and I will atop it now. If his father went into Parliament, and saw such things being done as squatters taking land they were not entitled to, and public offices being mismanaged, did they think he would not attempt to get right done there ? Did they think that if a man would go to prison for his client, that he would not see justice done for his constituency in Parliament? His father had read Sir George Grey’s speech, and agreed with every line of it, and he (the speaker) would pledge his word that if his father said that he would stand by it (applause). No one knew whether Sir George Grey would remain in power or not, but Mr. Barton would support him whether he was in or out. With these few words he would leave the election in their hands, and hoped that on Monday they would register their votes on behalf of his father. (Prolonged applause.) Mr. Gillon, having been called upon by the meeting, said he had addressed a great many political meetings, but he did not remember ever having seen “ Hamlet ” played with the part of Hamlet left out, as it unfortunately was on that occasion. The principal performer was absent, and the reason was that he had Mona his duty in what he thought was right, and he would stickto ittothelast. (Hear, hear.) He would do it at any sacrifice, for there would have been nothing easier than for him to have been present to address them if he had liked to admit he was wrong. He would not do anything of the kind, and the man who had the moral and physical courage to do as he had done was the man Wellington wanted to represent it. Allusion had been made to the exertions of Mr. Barton, Mr. Wilson Gray, and Mr. Don in Victoria. Xhat had a very great bearing on the present election, for this was an effort for Wellington to return a democrat as its representative, and that was the first democratic movement made in these colonies, and it established the eight hours movement. It was his privilege to know Mr. Wjlhou Gray well, and he had often heard him speak of the fights he went through in the Victorian Parliament in favor of the liberal land laws and eight hours* movement, side by side with Mr. Barton and Mr. Don. His opinion of Mr. Barton was a very high one, both as a politician and a lawyer. Mr. Barton had not only been proved in Wellington, but in Otago, where, for several sessions,

be sat as an earnest supporter of one of the present Ministers, then Superintendent of Otago, Mr. Macandrew, a man whose liberal views were known throughout New Zealand. He fought there well and vigorously to secure a broad and liberal land legislation. He.believed they would do a great deal of good by. patting Mr. Barton into Parliament, and would ask them to consider the consequences of not putting him there. As regardedthe others, was Wellington going to stultify itself, after the resolutions it had passed at Sir George Grey’s meeting, by returning a man who says he will not have anything to do with that policy ? Wellington at the present moment was most disgracefully under-represented as a city. They had only two members, or an equal number to Napier and Nelson, which comparatively were villages. Were they going to show that they would not have increased representation, by returning a man whose interests were opposed to their interests. As for Mr. Hutchison, it was hardly worth while saying anything of him. He was one of those Yankee candidates who usually wound up by saying, “ Thems my sentiments ; if they don’t suit they can be altered.” (Laughter.) He had been everything by turns, and nothing very long. He was coming forward under false pretences as a Government candidate, and well might they sav, ‘‘Save me from my friends, if he be one.” He would conclude by moving,—That Mr. George Elliott Barton is a fit and proper person to represent the city of Wellington in Parliament. (Applause.) Mr. Henry Anderson seconded the resolution, and said that although perhaps not agreeing with Mr. Barton with regard to his disagreements with the Judges, still he svmpath sed with Mr. Barton in his present misfortune ; but having been punished for his actions, and as he was not not aide to plead his own cause, he (Mr. Anderson) felt a natural sympathy for him. lie was upon the hustings when the various candidates were proposed, and when it came to the turn of George Elliott Barton to make his speech he was nob there; but suddenly there came forward a brave, gallant young gentleman —(loud cheers) —and after he had exchanged a few wmvs with the Returning Officer, and obtained permission, he told the assembled multitude lie was George Elliott Barton's son, and came there to speak for his father. (Continued applause.) He had done a gallant, brave, ami English thing, and he (the speaker) afterwards Jiook hands with him and said : “There are good things in you; I think yon have done a brave and generous action, and my opinion of yon is five hundred per cent, higher than ever it was before.” (Applause.) The present election was eminently one of measures'and not men. They had a policy put before them by Sir George Grey in his speeches at Auckland, the Thames, Taranaki, and move recently inthatmagnificentorationinthe Arcade. It was purely democratic,and comprehended a change in the incidence of taxation, which would give the working-men fair play ; a liberal land law, and such a change in the franchise as would give all the people, whether rich or poor, a say in raising the loans of the country. Resolutions affirming Sir George Grey’s policy were unanimously passed. Mr. Anderson summed up his opinion of the various candidates, and expressed himself in favor of Mr. Barton. Mr. Maginxty was called upon, and announced himself to be a member of Mr. Pearce’s committee. However, ho asked them if they did not vote for Mr. Pearce, not to vote for Mr. Hutchison. If Mr. Barton came forward on some future occasion he would support him. Mr. O. W, ScnuLTZE and Mr. Carter having spoken eulogistically of Mr. Barton’s character and qualifications, the resolution was pub on a show of hands, and was carried unanimously, amidst great applause. A vote of thanks to the chairman concluded the proceedings.