EAST COAST SEAT.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 133, 16 May 1884, Page 2

EAST COAST SEAT.

PUBLIC MEETING AT ORMOND,

A public meeting was held last night at Ormond to consider the above question. The meeting took place in Bruce’s Hall, which was crowded. Mr. Skillioorn occupied the chair, and called on Mr. Chambers to address the meeting. Mr. Chambers— Gentlemen, the object of this meeting is to find out from you whether it will be advisable to put Sir Julius Vogel in or not, and whether the local candidates are to withdraw in favor of Sir Julius. One great advantage of taking the latter course will be, that we can have, a member who can take his seat at the beginning of the session. If a contested election takes place, a member cannot take his seat until long after the commencement of the session. Another advantage is this: that we will advance this district considerably by doing ourselves the honor of putting Sir Julius Vogel in. By doing so, we immediately raise the status of the place, and God knows it is bad enough now’. By the papers to-night, I see that the Press throughout the colony think we are doing a wise thing in trying to get his return, as he will give a fresh tone to politics, and will strike out in a new line entirely. I consider we will be foolish not to avail ourselves of this opportunity. By this course we do not abandon our principles of politics, because it is such a short session, and we can return to our own men next session. I am strongly of opinion that we should put Sir Julius in. (Applause.) Mr. Turton—Mr. Chairman, and gentlemen, the position of this constituency at present is an exceptional one. We have an opportunity of returning a man, whom I think will benefit us more than any local candidate. (Voice : Question) In order to bring the matter to a proper focus I will read my proposition, which is as follows : —“ That in the opinion of this meeting Sir Julius Vogel should be requested to represent this district at the next session of the Assembly, and that in order to avoid a contested election, all other candidates be requested to withdraw.” I think that Mr. Gannon’s address that has been already published, has put the necessity of this strongly before you, and I think you can trust to the sincerity of his remarks, as he is one of the local candidates. (Applause.) We have the consent of two of the three candidates to withdraw if the third will, but the third intends to fight the battle. Now Parliament begins on June sth, and if there is to be a contested election, it will be the end of June, or beginning of July, before the elected candidate can be sent to the House, and if the session is a short one we shall be disfranchised. We have a Bill of the greatest importance to get through, that is the Harbor Bill, and other matters, and especially the consideration of the amendment of the Native Bills, the particulars of which I need not go into. These matters will require immediate attention, and unless we have a representative who is down at Parliament at its opening, and who is prepared to represent us straight away, we might just as well not send one down at all. If we return Vogel unopposed we have him at the opening of Parliament, with his statesman’s knowledge with his knowledge of all trickery, which is always being used in these matters of politics. He has got influence on both sides. Both the Government and the Opposition are afraid of him. We shall have a better chance of getting our bills pushed through, than if left to a new member, who has to make his weight felt in the House. (Applause). We only want Sir Julius Vogel in for this session. Even suppose he does not achieve for us any great success, he certainly will initiate it, and this will be of great assistance to our member at the next session. The very fact that Sir Julius Vogel is our representative will bring this place prominently before the colony. I may say in the south the East Coast district is very little known, and until recently it was almost unheard of. I say that Sir Julius Vogel will be the means of helping us in our monetary matters in the Home market. (Applause). In answer to Mr. Bennett’s remarks at the meeting in Gisborne, I reply that if he (Vogel), was to stand for Dunedin to-morrow he would be returned, although perhaps he had never stood for that constituency before. (Voice: Why does he not stand for that place now?). Take the two addresses before you, one is from a gentleman who has made up his mind not to retire from the field, look at the policy he advocates, and look at the policy shadowed forth in the address of the other by Sir Julius Vogel. The distinctions drawn between them are slight though one is cunningly worded and can be twisted all ways, as all solicitors documents can be, the other is plain and outspoken. Then you have Vogel’s concluding remarks in his address, which I read to you. From that policy we shall have a reign of prosperity. He will bring you before the public, he will work heart and soul for you. You can rely on him, and you will find him, a friend not to be despised, especially in the Home Representation on change or elsewhere. I ask some one to second my resolution. (Applause.) Mr. Gannon (Claps and prolonged applause). Gentlemen, there is very little fresh for me to say to you to-night, as the papers have given you such full reports of the other meetings, and you know exactly the position of affairs. If you talk this matter over in a bar parlor among a few of yourselves, you can only come to the one conclusion, and that is to allow yourselves to be represented by a gentleman whose reputation is so well known. I take this course because it is for the good of the district. I say it is now, the constituency first, and the local man afterwards. (Hear, hear, applause.) We must take a broad intelligent view of this big question, which is stirring every centre of New Zealand to-day. This place has never been brought so prominently before the Colony as it is now. (Loud applause.) Take all the papers of the Colony and what are they discussing, nothing but the question of Sir Julius Vogel’s return for this place. (Hear, hear.) I ask with whom does it rest to ratify the hopes of the Colony ? It rests with you. On Monday night at Gisborne this question was discussed, and hard arguments were put forward against it, but whai was the verdict ? Why out of about 700 only ten voted against it. (Applause.) Now the point for you to decide to-night is this whether you will or will not adopt the resolution submitted to you. I say, gentlemen, let those people who ask for a general election give their reasons for so doing. I am quite prepared to contest this election if Sir Julius Vogel does not stand. (Hear, hear—applause.) I want no misapprehension on that point. (Voice —You will go in.) I second the resolution of Mr. Turton. (Great applause and clapping and cries for Ferris.) Mr. Ferris (claps and applause generally)— Gentlemen, —I have got to tell you that I am a renegade. (Voice —Well go away then). When Sir Julius Vogel—(Voice—Stand on the platform)—when he was first mentioned for this place, I thought that it would be a good thing for the district, that is, taking into consideration that there would be no contested election. But, gentlemen, there is to be a contested election, and that is why I am not in favor of Sir Julius Vogel coming here. The third of the local candidates will not retire. (Voice —We need not elect him.) I know this, that even if the third candidate does withdraw another gentleman will come forward and stand. (Hear, -hear—great stamping.) Even supposing he does not get a single vote he will come forward. Then what is the use of having Sir Julius Vogel ? If we are going to elect him without contest, let us do it; but we are not going to do it. (Applause). I have taken the trouble to look over the Act, and I find that we can return a local man on the 9th of June. (Applause and stamping). Yes, on the 9th of June and the House opens on the 6th. The tenth section of the Regulations of Elections Act, 1881 says:—Every Returning Officer, on the receipt of a writ, shall endorse thereon the date of its receipt, and shall forthwith give at least fifteen days notice of the day of nomination, and of the day of polling, in the form or to the effect set forth in the third schedule of this Act. The day of nomination shall not be more than ten nor less than five days before the day appointed for the poll.” Now, gentlemen, the resignation of Mr. McDonald was gazetted last Thursday, twelve days must elapse before the writ is issued, and that being so we can get a member in by the 9th of June. (Voice: The writ will not be issued until next week). It can come by wire. So don’t be led away by statements, that we cannot have a member down in Parliament until July. I say sincerely, if you vote for Vogel you will do

no good whatever. (Applause.) I will ask you to consider the matter fairly, and don’t be led away. In a few minutes you will be told that our member will not be able to got down to Parliament until September or August. (Great and continuous applause). Mr. M. McDonald—Gentlemen, I recollect when we were running McDonald against Morris for this seat. The great cry then was let us have a local man, we all worked hard, and got our local man. But now you are forgetting them and are going for a man who does not care for us, and who only wants to get into the House. He, I mean Sir Julius Vogel, was asked to come here by one or two men, I may go so far and say by only one man; and in reply to that one man Sir Julius telegraphs up to say that he would go in if unopposed. Now, if Vogel wants to repre* sent this district, surely he would come here and learn what the interests of the district are. (Hear, hear, and great applause.) He suffers from the gout very much, and cannot move with it. If that is so, the chances are that he will not be able to attend the debates of the House when he is wanted. All these things you must consider from a very com-mon-sense sort of view. Vogel’s address is to the colony and not to this district. He is first for himself, second for the colony, and third for the district. (Question and applause.) He was hunted out of Auckland because he would not entertain their desires or wishes, and would do nothing for them. That is where Mr. Rees first came into prominence, when he jumped on the platform and denounced Vogel. (Interruption.) We would be cutting our own throats if we were to return him. (Cheers.) Mr. Chambers—Gentlemen, I hope you will not be led away by the clap-trap that hasjust been spoken by the last two speakers. They are renegades. Mr. Ferris was one of the prime movers in getting Sir Julius to consent to come here, and he says he has withdrawn because Mr. Rees will not retire. How does he know he will not retire. No one knows his intention until he arrives to - morrow, so that that excuse is invalid. Mr. Ferris does not know anything of the sort. With regard to Mr. McDonald's remarks (Voice: Don’t take any notice of him), he has not given you one single valid reason against Sir Julius Vogel. I have been told by better informed mon that if an election takes place the member could not possibly get in until July. You should be guided by the votes taken at the other places, places where Mr. Ferris attended, and gave his vote in favor of Sir Julius Vogel’s coming here. I should like to have a better reason than the one he has given to make him turn on us. Mr. Ferris (after repeated calls, and who was received by deafening applause)—Gentlemen, what I said I shall stick to. (Hear, hear.) If the three candidates now in the field retire, another will come in and contest the election. (Hear, hear, and great applause.) I don’t like to mention his name, but it is true. (Disturbance.) Can Mr. Chambers have better information than the Act itself ?

Mr. Chambers—Can you go the 300 odd miles in so short a time ?

Mr. Ferris—Yes, you can ; its possible. I will propose as an amendment, “ That a local man represent us during the ensuing session.” (Great applause, stamping, cheers, and hisses, followed by cries for “ Gannon,” and great disturbance.)

Mr. C. Gray (amidst much uproar)—l have much pleasure in seconding the amendment. We ought to have a local man. (Loud applause). I have heard Sir Julius Vogel’s address, and I am more against him than ever. (Deafening applause.) His interests are nothing to do with Gisborne, and he will do nothing for the place. (Applause, with slight hissing.) He wants to do away with the Property Tax, and what will he do with our money then ? (Voice: Give us a breakwater.) No, he will not. He will use it to pay interest on borrowed money. Let us have a local man. (Great disorder, and much applause.) Mr. Gannon—amidst much confbsion— Gentlemen, did you not notice how excited our opponents were when they came up. The first gentleman that came up, declared himself a renegade—a man who forsook the allegiance he promised us. Mr. Gray comes up and says he is dead against Sir Julius, but he does not say he deserts his party. (Hoots and applause.) If you applaude a man who deserts his party, you can do so. (Voice :We will not do it.) Mr. McDonald referred to parts of Sir Julius Vogel’s address, to small parts of them, and he did so to give you a wrong impression. (No, no ; yes, yes.) If he did not do that, why did he not tell you this—that Sir Julius was in favor of taxes raised in Poverty Bay, being spent in Poverty Bay. I should not have consented to retire, only I learned what his policy was. A local man cannot be sent down so soon as he can. (Voice: He can ; I will bet on it.) There, gentlemen, you have a man of a speculative turn of mind, and that is what he is here for. (Great laughter.) Mr. Ferris read a clause of some act, but he does not tell you about the others.

Mr. Ferris here produced the Act, amidst applause, yells, hoots, hisses, and tremendous uproar.

Mr. Gannon—l will take the clause of the Act as he gives it to me. On the Bth of thia month the vacancy was declared. Then from the date of the vacancy being gazetted ten days must elapse before the writ can be issued. That brings us to the 18th May, which will be next Saturday. Very well, now no mail will leave Wellington until the following Friday. (Voice: The writ can be wired up). How can the writ be wired up? (Cries of It can, it can). The returning officer has to provide booths, and other things for the electors, he has to provide deputyreturning officers in all polling places in the district, which are not a few, and which are bound to take up the time, and run us into June before the election can take place. Mr. Ferris (amidst prolonged applause)— Gentlemen, just to show you how Mr. Gannon is misleading you. The Act says that within twenty days after nomination the election takes place. Mr. Gannon laid great stress on what the returning officer had to do. Would it take him (the officer) twenty days to do what he has to ? (No, no. Hear, hear). No, it will not, the returning officer can be prepared for the election within the twenty days. Mr. Turton—The returning officer has to write the day and hour of the receipt of the warrant.

Mr. Wilson—Are you an elector ? (Great uproar here followed, by yells and stamping). Mr. Turton—l am an elector. (Applause.) Other people have calculated as to the time our member can be returned. No instructions can be given by wire to the returning officer. They cannot come but by writing, as he has to write the date and hour on the warrant when he receives it. I ask you to consider whether it will not be nearer twenty extra days instead of five before you can accomplish these things. (Voices —So it will—No, no.) Mr. Ferris—Here is something more I will read to you:—“ It shall be lawful for the Governor, the Speaker of the House, the Clerk of Writs and his Deputy, and any member desiring to resign his seat, and any Returning Officer, to cause to be transmitted by electric telegraph the contents of any writ, warrant, return, notice, authority, or other communication.” There you have it! The Returning Officer can cause any writ to be transmitted by electric telegraph. (Great applause and general confusion.) A letter was now’ put into his hands to be read by him from Mr. L. Mclntosh, supporting a local candidate, and voting against Vogel. (Great applause and stamping.)

Mr. Gannon—Mr. Ferris is misleading you. The Act says, the Clerk of writs can cause to be transmitted by electric telegraph, <fcc. (Applause.) It is not until the Returning Officer receives a warrant that he can do anything. (Voice :Go it Gannon, hoots, howls, and a tremendous noise.) The Chairman—l will now put the amendment. Mr. Chambers—There is no necessity for an amendment, you have only to say yes or no to the resoh.ti >n. (Cri isof yes, y.?s—no, i o —Put the amendment.) The Chairman—l will put the amendment, and take it by the show of hands. I will not allow any but Ormond people to hold up their hands. The amendment was then put. It is difficult to say what the result was, either for or against. The voting appeared even. When hands were up for it, some at the back put both up, and when they were asked to put up against it, some of the outsiders joined in. The Chairman, declared the amendment carried. The resolution was not put to the meeting. The meeting then broke up amidst loud cheers.