THE ’WELLINGTON ELECTION.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5736, 18 August 1879, Page 2

THE ’WELLINGTON ELECTION.

MEETING OF THE LIBERAL ASSOCIATION. A meeting of the members of the Wellington Liberal Association and others was held in the Arcade on Saturday, evening. There was a very large attendance, not less than 1500 persons being present, which was no doubt due to the fact that Sir George Grey and the Hon. John Sheehan were expected to address the meeting. This expectation was realised so far as the hon. the Premier was concerned, but the Xative Minister was not present. The Premier, accompanied by his private secretary, Mr. Mitchell, ascended the platform a few minutes before eight o*clock. Mr, Griffiths said in commencing the proceedings, he hoped they would not allow anything they had read in the public prints to influence anything that might take place that evening. He had great pleasure in proposing Mr. Shannon to take the chair, and he trusted the meeting would be as as orderly as that of Tuesday last under the presidency of the same • gentleman. (Applause.) The motion was seconded and agreed to. The Chairman said he appeared before them not as the permanent chairman of the association, but at the earnest request of the committee. He had that evening received the “ baptism of fire ” from the Post, which had haditsfirstshotathim. (Laughter.) Butitcould fire away. (Renewed laughter.) As long as he had truth on his side he did not care what any paper might say of him. (Applause.) He would conduct any meeting he might preside over with the utmost fairness to all parties. He would say nothing further on the position taken up by some persons respecting the action of the association. If there was any blame it should be attached to the committee and not to the association. He denied that this was a Greyite meeting, although Sir G. Grey had been invited to attend in his capacity as a member of the association. It was for principles and not for men that they were there to support, and so far as Sir George was concerned that gentleman would retire if they could find a better man to take his place ; but he would not retire in favor of . Sir William Fox. (Cheers.) He hoped they would give a fair hearing to all the speakers who might address them, and for his own part would try to be as impartial as he could. (Applause.) The committee had brought up a report, which would be placed before a genuine meeting of the members of the association early next week. That report was framed in accordance with a resolution passed at the last meeting of the association. It would now be road by their hon. secretary.

Mr. Senior, the secretary, then read the report in question. It detailed what had been done at the various committee meetings. Mr. Senior said he was not a public speaker, but he craved their patience for a few minutes. He detailed the reasons which had led him to become connected with the association. He now found that two of the papers were doing their best to injure the association, more particularly the Post. The local in the latter paper which stated that ho had resigned his position as honorary secretary was utterly: false. (Applause.) They had also seen the reports of the committee meeting which took place at the Foresters' Hall. Two of those reports were not fair. The speaker detailed what had taken place at that meeting, making special reference to the action of Mr. H. Blundell. It had certainly been understood at that meeting that Mr. Blundell had withdrawn his support from the association. (Applause.) Sir George Grev next addressed the meeting. He was received with loud and prolonged cheers. He said the association had been formed at a most important epoch in the history of the colony. The question of the day was whether great political changes were to take place now, or whether they were to be deterred for a time. He would endeavor to reason out certain principles, and try and convince them that certain things were for their welfare. Now, what was Liberal! At the present moment everybody -was Liberal in New Zealand. (Laughter.) What was the state of New Zealand with regard to its political privileges ? Why, they were behind all the other new nations in the world. At the present there were about 50,000 adult males who had the right to vote, and about 65,000 who had no such right. The state of representation in New Zealand was worse than in any other country that he knew of. The number of members returned should be in proportion to population ; but this was not so. He referred to Wellington, which

only returned two members, while a little place like Taranaki returned three. (Applause.) The Parliament of New Zealand very much under-represented the people, who had very little voice in the affairs of the country. (App'ause.) Other colonies to which he had referred had triennial Parliaments, but unless they watched it carefully at the next elections, they would here continue to have Parliaments elected only once in five years. And this state of things was brought about by a party who had been in power for twenty-five years. (Loud applause.) He had long been in favor of triennial Parliaments, and now, strange to say, everybody was in favor of them. But was it for the good of the country, or for the purpose of obtaining power that there was this sudden change in their feelings ? Until be (Sir George) had brought these measures forward nothing was ever heard of them, and he could not now trust the men who said they were in favor of these measures.

(Applanse.) They were only the means to an end, and if these so called “ Liberals ” were really in favor of the measures they would also be in favor of the ends. The political creed these men put forward was very dexterously drawn up, and required an astute politician to understand it. How long, too, had they been in favor of the proposed changes in taxation 1 They had brought forward a change in the representation, but it was a change for the worse, for they added another pocket borough to those already in existence. In the same way, with regard to the taxation of the country, which had for 25 years been of a most unfair character : the poor man was compelled to contribute more than the rich—(applause)—that was the nature of their taxation. If this system was wrong for 25 years, how much money would have been thus wrongly taken from the pockets of the poor ? They could not now replace it, and the men who ought to have.been rich would go down to their graves steeped in poverty. And now they wanted a revision of the taxation—each to pay in proportion to his means. Let them take the case of some struggling clerk. Supposing he received £IOO a year, and they determined to take £5 for every £IOO. That would be manifestly unfair. They took a man with £IO,OOO a-year, and received from him £SOO a-year, which he would not miss. Was such a system of taxation fair, and ought it to be allowed ? (Loud cries of No.) Ike men who put that doctrine forward had no intention of carrying out anything' that was Liberal in principle, (Loud applause.) Their promises were no doubt sweet to the ear, but verv delusive in reality. A property tax would in some respects be good, but not in tlm way intended by the promoters of these principles. The land tax did not touch the small farmer. What they said was this; that the small farmer was to be taxed, and yet they did not touch him. They had then proceeded to say that no policy should be adopted in the country which should frighten away capital from New Zealand. Let them consider this question very seriously. The people who wished this stats of things were those who had amassed great properties through their connection with the Legislature. In a new country very little' capital was required. What created capital was the earth—the land, and human labor applied to it. (Applause.) From: this source was raised all - the food and all the products which formed articles of import and export. (Applause.) People on such land; who were working it, each had capital which infinitely surpassed that capital to be found where there were only a small number of large capitalists. *He would give them an instance of what he meant. Sir George referred to the state of things in France after the war, when that country paid a great indemnity, and when it turned out that she was the richest country in Europe. Let them therefore not be alarmed by people who told them that by following certain political laws they would frighten capital away. V Applause.) With a good system of education, and a good system of political education to follow, they would raise a thousand better statesmen than those who now told them they were dnvmg capital away from the country, .{Loud applause) Too much capital might be poured , into the country ; and that to its very great disadvantage. Sir George referred to the land system of Canterbury, which he maintained did

an immense deal of injury to the country. Many men had been ruined through being placed upon small blocks of land before they were in a position to work it. ’lhe only thing which would frighten capital from the country was dishonesty on the part of the people, but such dishonesty would be unknown if the measures proposed by himself and others were carried out. (Applause.) He and his friends desired to make great reductions in the administrative departments of the colony, but in this they were opposed by the other side. The Ministry felt that such economy must begin at the heads of the State, and they proposed that reductions should be made from the Governor downwards, but in this movement they were beaten by a very large majority. It was only just, if they were to have these reductions, that they should begin at the top and not at the bottom. (Applause.) They had been told of late that a West Coast railway to Wellington was a necessity. He would now tell them that he himself was the first to make the great road to Wanganui thirty years ago. (Applause.) That road was made under his own supervision and carried out entirely by himself. The troops and others worked at it with arms in their hands, but from that time to now nothing further was done in that direction. But when he and his friends came into office the first thing they did was to propose a railway in place of this main road, and yet now the so-called “ Liberals ” came forward with this as a part of their great political creed. Nothing more hypocritical had ever been so shamefacedly done. (Applause.) Sir George next referred to the manner in which the land of the West {Coast was won by the soldiers and the native forces, and said that not a single one of those who now came forward with this Liberal creed was a man who had taken a musket in his band. (Applause.) The proposal to give this land to the people came absolutely from himself. (Cheers.) Why had they, these so-called Liberals, not carried out a system by which the people might be located long ago I He distrusted such professions altogether. (Applause.) The only source of 1 capital was the earth and the men who made it productive. If they followed the whole question out they would find this to be the fact. (Applause.) With regard to these two great sources of capital, they first had the earth to deal with —senseless absolutely. That great mass had for years been the care of Judges and Legislatures, who had striven to keep it from the many for the sake of the few. Millions of human beings, with passions and hopes, capable of feeling deep sorrows and misery—who felt they could hardly obtain immortality ; hereafter—for hundreds of years these millions of human beings, with their sorrows and their sufferings, had been kept for the sake of this insensate body—this mass of earth —in a state of abject poverty. (Cheers.) The thought foe,. years past had been how to use the earth so that the few might be enriched by the many. (Applause.) But what they had to solve now was, to use the earth for the good of mankind at large. He felt certain unless they gained Liberal laws which would enable them to send the proper men to Parliament, there would yet be a greater degree of oppression exercised in New Zealand than was ever exercised in Great Britain. (Cheers.) If they were not careful they would find the colony very shortly deluged with colored labor. In England such a thing would be impossible, but it would be quite possible here to sink the white men by the influx of an inferior race. (Applause.) They all came ont here with an equal right to the land of the country, and with the understanding that there was to be one law for them all (Applause.) But they saw afterwards that a very different state of things prevailed. S'r George Grey proceeded to describe the methods by which the natives were induced to part with large blocks of land to persons whom he alleged were favored by the Government. (Hear, hear.) But his Government had proposed to bring forward a law to prevent this state of things from being allowed to continue. Unless they insisted upon all lands being sold as Crown lands there would be no hops for the future. (Applause.) It was essential that lands of this kind should be open to selection in various sized blocks suitable for all—and if this was not done there was nothing before them and their posterity but degradation for years to come. (Applause.) They had no means of contending against the capitalists who could crush them. In various ways wealth could do that which poverty could not. Nothing great could be achieved except by combinations and unions such as this. Let them resolve that New Zealand should become a great nation, and take the necessary steps by combination, and they would yet be able to give effect to their desires. Now, there was a liberal association in every town in New Zealand, and by a joint and united action they would yet be free. (Applause.) Within a few weeks they would find that Liberal members would come trooping into Parliament. (Renewed applause.) This Liberalism was a great ware which began in that hall a few nights ago, and which had spread north and south with lightning-like rapidity. He every hour received telegrams telling him that the people were determined to be free, and to secure to New Zealand the privileges which by right belonged to it. (Loud and continued cheers.) The Chaikman said they no doubt felt that Sir George Grey deserved a vote of thanks, but as members of the association who did not rub each other’s backs, they would he satisfied with accepting the tumultuous applause with which that speech had been received. (Cheers.)

Mr. Marks moved the first resolution. He said he did not shrink from the part which he had played as a member of that committee. He stood before them as a liberal and independent man.. (Applausq.) He was not in favor of men but of measures. This small institution might and probably would grow up into one great Liberal Association, throughout New Zealand. (Applause.) It they had not done any good, they had at all events brought out Sir George Grey to give them his opinions on the topics of the day. He would again tell them that their object was not an electioneering object—(cries of Oh !) —but that the association was formed from purely political and Liberal motives. The members of the association had been charged by a portion of the Press with unfairness. He denied that any such unfairness had existed. With regard to one gentleman who bad been mentioned, he thought it was a great pity that he had left the association. They were determined honestly and faithfully to cany out the object for which they were established. (Applause ) They had all the elements in them to make a great country, and he hoped they would do so. With regard to what had been said about capital, they all knew well enough that capital would go to the country where it was most required, and where it brought. in the best return. Sir George Grey had spoken to them in a moat straightforward manner, and he would say most unhesitatingly from that pulpit. (Loud laughter.) Ha had been a Liberal for thirty-five years, so that they Could not say it was now that he for the first time came forward with the views he had that evening expressed. The resolution he had to move was as follows:—“ That this meeting congratulates the Liberal party in New Zealand upon the establishment of a Wellington Liberal Association, and is of opinion that it should receive the earnest support of all members of that party in Wellington and its surrounding districts.”

Mr. CROOK seconded the motion, and then addressed himself to speak at some length with regard to the action of the Evening Post in reference to the association. Mr. Williams came to the front of the platform and tried to speak amid great confusion. Ultimately he was forced back into his seat, the Chairman saying he would be allowed to speak afterwards if he thought proper to do so.

Mr. Crook continued—lt had been said that the committee of the association was simply an electioneering committee. {A Voice : “ So it is ” —confusion.) Mr. Crook proceeded to speak at length upon the subject of the Post and its sayings and doings. He would like to know where were our Conservatives now ? No, they were all Liberals, Although Mr. Levin had passed over the land tax—(a Voice: “He did not; speak the truth”) —Mr. Levin had told them that a man should have votes according to his money. (So he should—confusion.) Wqll, ho had another opinion altogether upon that subject. If the committee of the association had done wrong in selecting their candidates, they were willing to correct this. But he said it was wrong to have put Henry Blundell on that committee. (No.) If they put Blundell there, they must put Hunter there.

Mr. Leslie : Hunter is a better man than ever stood in your shoes. (Confusion.) The Chairman asked for order. Mr. Leslie again made some observation about Mr. Hunter.

Mr. Crook said he understood Mr. Leslie’s opposition. He (the speaker) did not keep a coachman ; if he did he would give him a job. (Confusion, and cries of “Cut it short.”) After a few more observations, Mr. Crook sat down. Mr. Williams was then about to address the meeting, but was received with hisses.

_ The Chairman, after consulting Mr. Williams, said that gentleman did not wish to ad-

dress the meeting. If he did, no doubt they would give him a fair hearing. The motion was then put and was declared to be carried, the ayes greatly outnumbering the noes on the voices. The Chairman said the business of the meeting was now almost over. Any of those present could join the association that evening, It was proposed to put the views of the committee before a full meeting of the association, and if the report was adopted there would he a ballot for the selection of members. Nothing could be fairer, and the association ought not to be blamed for the action of the committee. Mr. George Fisher said he had a statement to make which he made with regret. Within the last few days the question of bis eligibility hail cropped up. Before then he had thought that he was quite eligible to stand for a seat in the House 1 ; but it appeared that he came within the designation of a Civil Servant, and was therefore disqualified. (A Voice ; “Bad luck to them.”) They had heard a good deal of the Evening Po-t that night. It had been said within the last few days that he had gone to Sir George Grey and asked him if he would bear the expense of his (Mr. Fisher’s) candidature. (Laughter.) He could assure them there was not one particle of truth in the statement. He never spoke to Sir George Grey on the subject. (Oh !) If they di ' not believe it there was Sir George Grey present to speak on the matter. He had never spoken to that gentleman before the previous day. With regard to the expenses, he was to have borne a part himself. the association was to have borne a part, and the president of the Working Men’s Club had promised him that he would try and raise a portion. He would tell them plainly that he could not himself afford to bear all the expense any more than he could afford to give up £3OO a year for £2lO. Mr. Fisher then referred to the Post bespattering the candidates with mud. A Voice : The most blackguard paper in New Zealand. Mr. Fisher continued : He had greatly esteemed Mr. Blundell, senior, but of his sons let him say—nothing. (Laughter.) What had he done that he should be so attacked by this slanderous journal. Mr. Fisher referred to the improvements which had taken place in the City Council since he had been a member. There might still bo some abuses left, but if they put in men to work with him the whole would be swept away. Mr. Fisher also referred to his own conduct in putting on 55G ~’orking men on the rolls who otherwise would not have had an opportunity of being able to vote. He would also tell them that he paid the expenses out of his own pocket. He would ask them would any of their Conservative friends condescend to come into that hall and take a stall for a fortnight at their own expense, as he . had done. (Cries of “ No.”) Mr. Fisher then read an extract from the Evening Post, in which his action was highly praised in the matter of getting these additional electors placed on the roll. He had been accused of being a Greyite. If he was, the feeling originated in his admiration of the statesmanship of Sir George Grey, to whom, as he had already told them, he had never spoken in his life except on the previous day. Sir George Grey had always interested himself in the welfare of the people—in South Australia, South Africa, and New Zealand twice over ; and he would ask them not to be led away by the statements of newspapers, which had their own interests to serve in running him down (Applause.) Sir Georue Grey simply wished to say that what Mr. Fisher had said was quite correct. He had never spoken to him before the previous day.

The Chairman intimated that this was all the business, and said the members of the association would meet at an early date to consider the report. Three cheers were called for Sir George Grey and given. Three groans were called for the Post and also given. A vote of thanks to the chairman brought the proceedings to a clo-e.