POLITICAL MEETINGS.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 152, 9 June 1884, Page 2

POLITICAL MEETINGS.

MB. LOCKE AT MAKARAKA. VOTE OF CONFIDENCE. Mr. Locke addressed the electors at [Makaraka on Saturday night last. There were about 150 present, including a large number of townspeople. Mr. Murchie occupied the chair. Mr. Locke, who was received with much applause, said he was before them rather earlier than he expected. He then referred to Sir Julius Vogel’s candidature for this seat, and did not see what they would have gained by having him (Sir Julius) as their representative. Before going into general matters of the country and of their local affairs, he wished to clear up a little thing that had been said about him. There were two questions, one in reference to some telegrams that appeared in the papers here from the Wairoa. One of those telegrams said he lost his temper. He was not in the habit of doing that. Another telegram was in reference to the Pre-emptive Right question. He would read it to them. “ At the Frasertown meeting called by Mr. Locke last night, about 40 of the surrounding settlers being present. At the conclusion of Locke’s address a vote of confidence was proposed, this was followed by an amendment, proposing simply a vote of thanks, the amendment was carried ; only tifro present voting for the confidence motion. Thereupon Mr. Locke lost his temper, and bitterly attacked Gannon, and quarrelled with his audience, and called them a lot of larrikins. Gannon’s chances at the Wairoa are considered to be better than Mr. Locke’s as the latter’s views upon the Native land question has not improved his position.” Now the facts were these. He went to Mahia and saw his fellow settlers there, and they gave him every confidence. He then went on to Wairoa, and had a good meeting there, as also at the Mohaka. He then returned by Frasertown and there addressed a meeting, about 30 or 35 being present. After he had made his address, a vote of confidence was proposed, and an amendment to it of thanks only. Ten held up their hands for the original motion, and 11 for the amendment, the rest sitting down and not voting either one way or the other. That concluded the meeting, and as he was going out of the building some four or five of the settlers came up and said to him they hoped he would not think anything of that meeting because the settlers did not turn up as they knew he had been there before. If they had thought there

would have been anything of that sort, others would have come up and voted for him. He replied in a careless way, he had seen that sort of thing before, and took no notice of it. At the meeting he could see some of the audience were only young larrikins, and the man that proposed the amendment was not on the electoral roll. That was the truth about the telegrams. Another question he would like to clear up. Both Mr. Gannon and Mr. Rees declared themselves to be what was called “ The Grey Party.” Now he distinctly said if their representative went in as a supporter of the Grey party, they would be in the cold as they always had been. What they wanted was to clear up the district, and go in for Government measures, and not for theoretical questions of things that would take place some 300 or 400 years hence. (Applause). The position he intended to take if they honored him with a seat in the coming session of Parliament. (Voice: That will never be). He said this that when the next general election took place, there would be a breaking up of all present parties. There really was at the present time no party in the country, and whoever was their representative this session could not possibly declare himself. For this particular session he went in as a nominal supporter of the Government, though not as a blind follower. Had he been returned at the last general election he would have been on the Government side, and they might have been in a very different position to what they then were. (Applause). An important question to them was the present terrible depression that was ruling the colony. That question would have to be gone into, and the party that in a proper light was the party which should receive very serious consideration from them. He thought their local governments should have more power allotted them than they have. He believed the Counties Act could be worked into a shape that would meet what they required. He did not believe in Parliament repealing all the Acts that had been made in the previous Parliaments. Once having got a good foundation they should keep that and then get building upon it. The Counties Act was a good foundation to build up a a good local government system. (Applause). A feeling was daily growing up that every district should maintain itself by its own local rates. That would be all very well for them if they had had a fair start, but they had not, and could not now be expected to maintain themselves. With regard to the Land Question, he was opposed to large monopolists and favored free trade in land and small farms. He then referred to the question of absentee, and explained what an absentee was. On the education question, he considered that as they all had universal sufferage, it was the duty of the State to see that every child shon’d receive a fair and free education. (Applause). He pointed out the primary and secondary education, and thought the latter which was so very expensive was not bound to be carried out by the Government, but the people should contribute to make it pay working expenses up to the sixth standard, and should ba free to all. A certain number of scholarships should be given for competition. He considered education in the out districts had been neglected, and would try and get that remedied if returned. Speaking on Preemptive Rright, he thought a great deal had been made out of what he had said at the Wairoa on that question. He did not like to have a man quibbling upon words. Mr. Gannon in his address stated that he (Mr. Locke), said he did not think the Pre-emptive Right should be resumed on any land that had not been dealt with or on which money had been paid. It was another question as to whether it should be applied to the King country for a few years, as none of the lands had been dealt with there. There were many hundreds of thousands of acres of land belonging to the Natives along the East Coast. Between Wairoa, Gisborne and the Nuhaka district there were about 300,000 acres of Native land which had not been dealt with, and upon which money had not been paid.” He was surprised at Mr. Gannon putting in such an address as that. What did they consider was the King country ? He never heard that Mohaka or Wairoa were in the King country. When he spoke of the King country he did not speak of the blocks of land about here, he spoke of the land that is generally known as the King country. He said if the land of the King country had been surveyed, money must have been paid on it. Money had been advanced there, and the lands were in the Gazette ready to be heard at the Lands Court in Wairoa. He believed in free trade in all lands outside of the King country, and it would be better for the Government to deal with that land for some few years to come. Referring to Mr. Rees, he said that that gentleman in his speech believed in Maori Committees. In what form goodness knows. They had two or three of Mr. Rees’ Bills, but fortunately for this district, they had not come into force. It was not likely that Mr. Rees’ committee arrangement would come into force either. He said both Mr. Gannon and Mr. Bryce had stated that the Government wanted the state to take possession of all lands that had not been actually purchased by the people, and they saw by Mr. Bryce’s speech, and he was not defending him, because they should hear the whole particulars of what their policy was before they condemned it, and he (Mr. Locke) said if he should be returned he certainly would go in for free trade in lands outside of what is known as the King Country. (Applause). They should have a eondsolidation of the Native Lands’ Act. He taen went on to one or two local matters, touching on the Railway and Harbor questions, which he said he would do his best if returned. They also wanted here a registrar of deeds office, and a Rivers Bill, and wound up by strongly advocating an increase in the direction of local industries. (Applause.) Mr. T. Wright—lf returned would you have influence sufficient to get a native judgeship? Mr. Locke replied that when the Native Lands Act was started in 1865, he was offered that position and could have had it ever since if he ha I have used his influence.

Mr. Wright—Have you ever stated publicly that Mr. Gannon was too young to enter the House, and that he was only a Native Interpreter? Mr. Locke said the great Pitt became Premier of England when only 23, and Mr. Gannon was much over that. Mr. Wright attempted to put another question, but had to retire on account of the disorder in the audience, some of whom hooted, and others clapped. Mr. F. Parker—ls Mr. Locke in favor of an elective Upper House. Mr. Locke said as far as the present session was concerned, the matter would not be brought up, but it would very likely the next. Mr. Parker—Would you do your level best to promote small farming in the shape of cutting up sheep runs, that were specially adapted for agricultural purposes ? Mr. Locke—Yes. Mr. Parker—Do you think the present education system is likely to be a success financially. Mr. Loce said the primary education given to children was a success financially. Mr. Parker—Are you in favor of plural voting in any shape. Mr. Locke thought it would have to be done away with in time. Mr. Boylan—l would like to ask Mr. Locke if he sent a wire to the papers saying that Mr. Gannon’s meeting at the Wairoa was a very poor one? Mr. Locke said he wired to the secretary of his committee what was an actual fact, that Mr. Gannon’s meeting fell flat. Though it might have been through stress of weather. Mr. Boylan—Was it through stress of weather? Mr. Locke said he telegraphed it may have been through stress of weather, or something to that effect. Mr. Boylan—Was it through stress of weather or not ? Mr. Locke—The meeting was very thinly attended, and it fell flat, and may have been through stress of weather. Mr. Boylan—The question still remains unanswered. Does Mr. Locke know if Mr. Gannon had bad weather ? Mr. Locke replied he was not there and could not tell. Major Westrupp—l propose “ That in the opinion of this meeting Mr. Locke is the fittest of the three candidates to represent this district, and we have every confidence in him, and pledge ourselves to vote for him. (Loud Applause.) Mr. Stevenson—l second that. Mr. Ward then came forward and proposed an amendment of thanks only to Mr. Locke. |

He urged that Mr. Locke should not receive the vote of confidence proposed because he was not the fittest of the three candidates. (Howls, cheers, hisses and applause, largely intermingled.) Tho meeting at this stage of the proceedings did not give the speaker a fair hearing, because he should have been allowed to speak to his amendment. He went on however, amidst great uproar and confusion. Mr. Locke had been but forward in the interests of the Government. (Loud cries—No, no, yes, yes.) He was put forward by the squatters. His views on the Pre-emptive Right question, if the force of law were given to them, it would damn the East Coast. He was a nominal supporter of the present Government, and had not the courage to come forward and tell them that he would support the Government in any question of Pre-emption, if it was confined to the King or Waikato Country, and he asked them if they could trust Mr. Locke not to sell this constituency and vote with the Government in favor of the Pre-emptive policy advocated by Mr. Bryce? It was absurd to believe that the measure would be passed. Mr. Locke was only gulling them. (The uproar here became tremendous, howling, yelling, and hooting, amidst clapping and cries). The Chairman now ruled Mr. Ward out of order, but he still continued defying the audience, until the Chairman put the amendment, about thirty-two voting for it. The proposition was carried by a majority of about twenty. This brought the meeting to a close.

MESSRS. REES’ AND GANNON AT TOLOGA BAY. VOTE OF CONFIDENCE TO MR. GANNON. VOTE OF THANKS TO MR. REES. A gentleman who arrived in town yesterday and was present at the above, has kindly supplied us the following particulars of the meeting :—The residents of Tologa Bay received on Saturday night, what politically speaking, may be called an unexpected treat. They found actually two Richmonds in the field. Mr. Gannon had fixed Saturday night for meeting the electors of the Tologa Bay district. What was not expected, as is usual in political matters, took place, Mr. Rees turned up at the some time. A large number of persons from the surrounding districts assembled, and at 7.30 the building, which is utilized as a hall of Justice and for all other public purposes, was occupied for this public meeting. Mr. Rees was in a quandary, not the first time in his life. He had fixed the 6th instant for his meeting, and he was unable to fulfill that engagement. The hall having been engaged by Mr. Gannon for the 7th. Mr. Rees was what may be politically called out in the cold. At halfpast seven the meeting began. Mr. Ress had taken possession of a vacant chair, and on the appointment of Mr. F. Hale, as chairman, began to address the meeting. Mr. Gannon instantly objected, stating that the meeting was his meeting, and that the hall was his up till 12 o’clock that night. At this juncture of events Mr. Rees looked rather discomforted and he sat down. Mr. Gannon said that he believed Mr. Rees, from political reasons was unable to attend on the 6th inst., therefore what he (Mr. Gannon) proposed, was that Mr. Rees should have the hall for three-quar-ters of an hour, that would be up to a quarter past eight. He hoped that every friend of his in the Hall would give him the same patient hearing that he (Mr. Gannon) hoped himself to receive when his turn came to address the electors. In saying so the electors of the Tologa Bay district and the whole of the East Coast should distinctly understand that Mr. Gannon had been for years politically opposed to Mr. Rees, he was politically opposed to him now, and would be until the end of the chapter. That, in fact it was absolutely impossible for them to paddle in the same canoe. But with all that he believed that Mr. Rees would fight fairly, and that he would not, as some of Mr. Locke’s supporters were doing, strike below the belt. Mr. Rees then began to speak, admitting the fairness of what Mr. Gannon had said, and followed up with a very able speech. Mr. Gannon then rose and addressed the meeting, dealing largely with the pre-emptive right question, and had the meeting for about an hour and a half. At the conclusion of the address to the Europeans one of the Maori chiefs asked the candidate (Mr. Gannon) to address them in Maori, which he did. Mr. Gannon detailed to the Natives the policy of the Government with respect to Native lands. A number of questions were then put to him (Mr. Gannon) and satisfactorily answered. Mr. Rees put one or two pertinent questions with respect to the time that Mr. Thomas Russell acquired the Paramata Block. Mr. Gannon stated distinctly that Mr. Russell and his friends acquired the Paramatta block on the precise date that they handed over to the natives £BlO,OOO worth of untransferable scrip, which was declared by Chief Justice Prendergast to be valueless. Mr. Rees did not ask any more questions after that. A vote of thanks for Mr. Rees’ address was carried, and a vote of confidence, proposed by Mr. Lincoln, and seconded by Mr. E. Kirk, to the effect that every man present pledged himself to back up Mr. Gannon in this contest was carried unanimously, there not being one dissentent voice.