EAST COAST REPRESENTATION.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 129, 12 May 1884, Page 2

EAST COAST REPRESENTATION.

PUBLIC MEETING. An informal public meeting was held this morning in the County chambers for the purpose of discussing the offer of Sir Julius Vogel to represent this district in the House during the ensuing sessions of Parliament. Amongst those present, were Captains Porter and .l''c’>:-. ;t!I M £. -;■< Locke, Gannon, Kenny, Lewis, Stewart, Tutchen, Barker', Ward”, Joyce, Brassey, Crawford, Brown, Ratcliffe, Smith, and numerous QthcrjXinfluential gentlemen of the district, Mr. Chambers said the meeting wasl|a|sort of informal one, which had been! called on account of the contingency which had arisen through the offer which had b ?n made by an outside gentleman with respect to the representation of this district, and which had so split up public opinion that it had rendered some step like the present one necessary in order to take up a decided line. The first course which presented itself was to ■ call a public meeting, so as to elicit the general feeling on the question with a view of adopting a public course. Mr. E. ff. Ward, on behalf of Mr. Percival Barker, stated the course which had been adopted by the latter gentleman in order to ascertain Sir Julius Vogel’s wishes upon the question. A telegram had been sent to Sir Julius Vogel, who had signified his willingness to stand for the district if there was a reasonable chance of his being returned. Mr Stout, a friend of Sir Julius, had called in yesterday morning, and had handed Mr. Barker an address, to be used according to discretion, and stated that Sir Julius Vogel did not wish to stand without the bulk of the electors desired it, and there was a certain chance of meeting with success. He might say that the address dealt very ably with many matters of great public importance, and amongst others the cause of the present depression and its remedy. Mr. Brown thought the address should be read. He thought the Mayor should demand this. Mr. Brassey said it appeared as though Sir Julius simply stood on his name, and wished to obtain a seat so as to benefit the colony. We wanted a man who would study the interests of the district and not the colony. Mr. Locke had a long talk with Mr. Stout on the passage up from Napier. The latter gentleman had asked him if he was willing to stand on one side and retire in favor of Sir Julius. He had told Mr. Stout that he must first see his friends and supporters and hear their views on this important question, and then, should it be their wish, and providing the other candidates would adopt the same course, he would be perfectly willing to retire for the general good of the district. Mr. Kenny had always intended to support Mr. Locke as against the other two candidates. But now the chance presented itself of being represented by such a man as Sir Julius Vogel, he felt it would be nothing short of madness to reject the opportunity of procuring so much good to the dist rict. No one could doubt bat what this was an opportunity which should not be lost, as not cnly would it be the making of the C uric ' >ut also be productive of much good to 'he wh >le Colony. The district had suffered too I' ng by being represented by a nonentity and ey should not lose this chance. Could am ne believe that Taranaki would have fared as it had if it had not been represented by Major Atkinson. Sir Julius would do quite as much for this place. He felt it incumbent upon himself to say what he thought about this matter, and he also thought it the duty of everyone else to do the same. Mr. Chambers also cordially agreed with the remarks which had fallen from Mr. Kenny. He certainly had intended supporting Mr. Locke in this contest, but he had now decided to throw all politics on one side, no matter whether black, white or grey. He certainly thought it the duty of every one to endeavor to induce the whole of the candidates to stand on one side. But before asking them to do so lie thought it necessary to call a public meeting so that all could give a free expression of opinion. Mr. Brassey could not see the use of holding a public meeting when they did not even know Sir Julius Vogel’s views, and he was not even coming amongst them. They had not even heard the address read. They were only going for this man because of his name. Mr. Brown pointed out that it would be impolitic to allow Mr. Rees to contest the seat with Sir Julius, as it was well-known that the former gentleman would not be willing to retire. Captain Porter did not wish the meeting to be a one-sided affair. If the meeting was of opinion that the election of Sir Julius would be a great puhlio benefit to the district, the candidates must be asked to stand on one side. At the same time if one or more refused to give way, they could not expect the others to do so. If such were done they might defeat the very object they had in view. It must be all or none. He thought Sir Julius Vogel’s address should be read to the meeting, even if it was not made public. Mr. Brown thought the address should be demanded. Captain Porter thought Messrs. Barker and Ward, who were the custodians of the address, might take upon themselves the responsibility of allowing the same to be read. Mr. Locke thought Sir Julius Vogel’s wish to get into Parliament was simply to clear himself on the Public Works question. Mr. Smith said that a week ago it could not have been forseen that such a question as this would have arisen. Sir Julius was a man of such great reputation and high standing, as to render it a honor to be represented by such a man. If this opportunity was not accepted it would be throwing away a chance of benefitting the district, which would not be likely to occur again. It must be remembered that if this seat was contested it was very unlikely that the House would last more than a few weeks. If a new member was returned it would certainly take him a week or two to get into the running, which would have the effect of preventing him from doing any practical good this session. If Sir Julius was returned It would only be for the present session, and our local members would stand a better chance in the next contest which would arise in a few short months. If ever there was an opportunity of giving the Harbor and Ra'lway scheme a good chance, now was txie time. They should remember that Sir Julius Vogel’s influence extended beyond the Colony and that he would do all he could for us in the Home market. He was a man who stood a head and shoulders above all others in the Colony. It was the evident duty of all to endeavor to get the candidates to withdraw in his favor. The address was here handed to Captain Porter for reading, with the unders n< ing that it was not to be published. Mr. Chambers moved and Mr. Carlaw Smith seconded that a public meeting be called for to-morrow night, and tha‘ a 4egram be despatched to the Wait a as ng them ro take the same steps. They could hold one at Ormond the day after. At the same time, he hoped that the candidates would not think themselves slighted in this matter. Mi-. Brassey opposed the holding of any public meetings until after the writs were issued. How did we know but what other constituencies would like to have Sir Julius Vogel better than us. Mr. Kenny failed to see how they could possibly be better represented than by Sir Julius Vogel, and no one could say what would be the results to us. They had now heard Sir Julius’s opinion, and all they now : nil l do would be to hold the proposed mei'ting. All i.iust cordially agree that jrcat credit was due Mr. Locke for the liberal ■vay in which he had acted, and he certainly th inks of all. Mr. ]jocko hopel that matters would be veil explained in the Wairoa, as he did not vish them to think that ho was withdrawing rom them, and they might be led astray.

After considerable further discussion, it was resolved to hold a public meeting in Parnell and Boylan's Hall to-night at 7 30, and that Mr. Rees be wired to informing him of the same. Mr. Kenny thought some of Mr. Rees’ friends who weie present would do that. A Voice: Mr. Rees has no friends here. Mr. Gannon here entered and expressed himself agreeable to take the same liberal course as that agreed to by Mr. Locke. He also explained the advantages to be derived from a uncontested return, as it would enable Sir Julius to take his seat much earlier than otherwise. If the seat was contested and the session only lasted three or four weeks, it w’ould ba tantamount to disfranchising the district for the session. Mr. Crawford thought it a grand chance for the district, and Mr. Rees must give way to public opinion. He considered Mr. Locke deserving of the highest praise for acting in the disinterested manner he had. The meeting then closed.