EAST COAST ELECTION.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 189, 22 July 1884, Page 2

EAST COAST ELECTION.

MR. LOCKE'S ADDRESS. ROWDY MEETING.—MR. REES’ BOOHOOERS. The above gentleman addressed the electors of this town at Macfarlane’s Hall last night, when about GOO were present. Mr. Townley was voted to the chair and said: —We are met together to-night to consider for the last time who shall be our representative in the next Parliament. I hope whichever of the two candidates you decide upon, you will decide upon a man who is a credit to the place, and who will have some influence in the House for the benefit of this district. We have been told repeatedly after each session, by Mr. McDonald, when he was our member, that owing to something or the other, he had not been able to get certain things done for us, but only to wait until next session and there would be a change of parties in power who would assist us, but such was never the case. There had been a great deal of agitation all over the colony, but no place has passed through such a peculiar trial as this particular district. We have had within five weeks—an election, a member brought before the court of justice for supposed irregularities in connection with the election, and we shall have another election all in the short space of five weeks. We have returned a member and are called upon to return a member again, and I think, myself, we shall be considering the best interest of the district by returning the same member again. There has been a great profession of Liberal principles spread over the colony, but I hope these Liberal principles will allow every man to go to the ballot box and vote for the man of his choice. I dare say there will be other gentlemen who will address the meeting to-night, therefore I will merely now introduce Mr. Locke to you, who will expound his views on the political situation of this district.

MR. LOCKE,

Ladies and Gentlemen, —I come before you again this time in a double capacity. The last time I addressed you, I addressed you as a candidate asking your suffrage to represent you in Parliament, this time I come to thank you for the honor you did me on the last occasion and to ask you to return me again, and to place me again in the same position. It is quite true as the Chairman says, we have gone through a great deal in the last five weeks—a very great deal. You returned a member ]£ Parliament, who only sat for two days, and a few days after he was brought to trial under the Bribery and Corruption Act. He has cleared himself and the electors of that charge entirely, and the member comes again before you to ask your suffrages. THE HONORARIUM. As I said I had only two days in the House, in those two days I had the honor of voting at one diAision, and I think you will give me credit for the way in which I voted. The question was put to the House as to whether all the members of that short session should receive the whole two hundred guineas, knowing that within another two or three weeks they would meet again and get another two hundred guineas, or one hundred guineas for the short time they had been there. The division came and I divided for the reduction. I thought one hundred guineas was quite sufficient. The other party, Sir George Grey and his followers went for the whole of the two hundred guineas. I thought I did what was right. MINISTERS INTERVIEWED.—THEIR SEATS. The short time that I was there I interviewed the Ministers in reference to various matters here. It has been said that it was a farce, but that is not my opinion. If you remember I said at the previous meeting here, and other places, that I felt quite convinced that the Ministry would have to leave their seats, and I say so now. It has turned out exactly as I said. They lost on the vote of confidence and requested a dissolution, which was granted, and they are now merely holding their seats till the House meets again ; and when it doos, there will be such an amalgamation that no two will know each other ; but some of the Ministry present will, in my firm conviction, be in the next Ministry, therefore I did good by interviewing them and getting a promise from them that, whether in the Ministry or not, they would support me in carrying out any measures that would be for the good of this district. At all events I did not wish to make enemies of those whom I thought would take the leading positions in the next Parliament,

CONSERVATIVES AND LIBERALS. We talk now very much about our Conservatives and Liberals. I am not going far into that question, because I think the name Conservative is not at all suited to this country. We are in my opinion all Liberals in this country. There may be some old foggies who have certain notions and ideas of their own, which slightly differ, but we are all Liberals, for we all wish for the advancement, progress, and general prosperity of the place, in a fair and straightforward way. Some of us may be different, but I think we all have a desire to progress in a steady way. Evolution is the true theory of a proper and sound Liberal, and that is to go on as the requirements and advancements of the country become necessary. If that is what constitutes a Liberal, then I say I am Liberal, but if you want to upset everything to-day, and rebuild to-morrow, and make acts of Parliament, and then upset them—if that is what you call a Liberal, then I say I am not a Liberal. What do we come out here for ? We only come out here to advance ourselves, to make a home, and to settle down, to become possessed of properly, and to become independent, which we cannot beat Home. I say the more credit to the man who comes out here to get an independence and a home for himself and his children. As for working men, I say we should ba all working mon. I am a working man. Where is the disgrace in it ? We are all working men, and if we have capital we must have labor. Labor and capital must combine and work together. We should have no oppression—no coercion—we should not work class against class, but with a strong feeling of unity push on in our country and do the best wo can for ourselves. That is my belief in all these matters. THE BRIBERY AND CORRUPTION CASE. Before going on any further I will refer to ; the action that has been taken by Mr. Rees. | lie took the action and 1 am very sorry that ho did so, because before that, I can say although he has given me a great deal of trouble in reference to titles &e., there was no illfeoling between us. But now it is not so. I think this action against mo, which was brought contrary to the wishes of Mr. Rees’ friends was a disgrace to the district, and a slur upon it. The place has prove I itself as not worthy of such a case, and it was not right. We have had slurs continually thrown on this district, and we have already got a bad name and this case would have been another disgrace if proved, and it ha 1 been shown that I was guilty. IVhcn the case was first brought there should Active been no doubt in the matter, and it should have

been carefully considered. As it was, it ua& merely a fishing case—they were fishing about hoping to find something somewhove in in the evidence to convict me, 1 think altogether it was a cruel sort of action both against myself and the people. Mr. Bees says he hremght it. forward for political and commercial morality, and ail that sort of cant, but his real object was to take my scat in the House. I come before you, and will still come, and reply to any charge that may bo brought against me. I am free. I think that the charge of miscarriage of justice made by Mr. Rees in my case was a misplaced word. (Voice: It was. Some cries of nd, no. Disturbance). I say it was (cries of no, no). I say again it was a misplaced word. I believe, from what I know of Mr. Rees, there is not a moie amiable man in his domestic circle, and when he says things publicly to the injury of others he often repents it. The Magistrate of this district cannot say ho is a Government officer and defend himself from this charge. No, he must have it thrown about that he acted contrary to his convictions, which is a grave charge, and lam sorry to see it. I would say this, that if the people read the reports—l did not read them as I had quite enough of it sitting in Court all the time, tearing bits of paper to while away the time; but I was told the reports were very good in the papers, and that, it the case had been placed before any uninterested party that party could not arrive at any other conclusion than what Mr. Booth did. (Stamping and hisses.) OPEN HOTELS. It is further stated that all the hotels in this district were open on the last polling day for my friends alone. Now I entirely deny that, and will ask any one in this hall if that is the truth. Every one knows it is not. People went to the hotels and paid for what they had and went home again as far as I know. I did not keep any one house open. These charges may be very well on a political platform, but they go out to the other parts of the colony and make another black mark against our district. MR. REES. Mr. Rees puts himself forward as the working man’s friend. (Voices: So he is. Continued stamping.) This district has been charged with this that with £4O worth of whiskey all your votes could be purchased. (No, no.) That is the charge. Look at the papers this evening. My desire is to clear off such chargee as that against this district, as we have hud enough of that, and they should be carefully weighed before they are uttered. Another thing I look upon as mere political talk upon the stage. Mr. Rees says that he comes forward in support of a certain party, and not to vote for him personally, but for that party. Well, gentlemen, I think we ought to look at the man, and how he acts to the district, and how he has acted, about which I will tell you presently. (Laughter.) He went on to say that he had been here six years, and that he had settled all the country, all the titles to land that it was all his doing. I will, with your leave, just read a few words of a meeting held in 1880, about four years ago, mind. I read this to show that we have heard this same kind of speech for the last six years, with very little difference in them. You will find this speech in the Hawke’s Bay Herald of April 24th, 1860, made by Mr. Rees at a meeting of natives at Waerenga-a-hika, THE WAERENGA-A-HIKA MEETING. Mr. Rees—“ He and Wi Pere had worked for two years on their side. They had no friends but the one—God had been fighting for them. Kaiparo had been settled; also Whataupoko. The block was then being cut up for settlement. Maraetaha, Pakowhai, and Te Kuri had been settled. [Mr. Rees explained the terms with Mr. J. W. Johnson.] Pouawa and Kaiti partially settled—£3s,ooo agreed on to give McDonald and £20,000 profit would be made. Paremata and Mangaheia—An arrangement had been made to give Mr. Murphy 2,000 acres freehold. The rest would be cut up for settlement. Okahuatiu 31,000 acres—This land was rented to Messrs Clarke and Dobbie, and he (Mr. Rees) and Wi Pere had arranged for Clarke and Dobbie to retain 12,000 acres and the balance of 19,000 acres revert to natives —Clark and Dobbie to purchase 2,000 acres of that land at£l an acre. It was a fight for life—one side must live, the other die. The fight while it lasted had been very bitter. He had been sued for £lO,OOO because he acted as counsel for the Natives, and through intriguing with the jury, a verdict had been got against him. It was thought that were he killed the Natives would have no leader. Mr. Macfarlane was now dead, and his decease took place a few days after the verdict had been given against him (Rccs). Mr. Macfarlane was now removed out of the way. Captain Read and Mr. Lawrence had also gone to the final judgment seat. Riperata and himself had purchased the interest of the late Captain Read in Matawhero B for £3,500 and it had been agreed that all lawsuits should cease. The oil spring block mortgaged to Read's Trustees, He and Wi Pere were to take this block over at £28,000. They stood in position of Read’s Trustees. They had taken over all interests on Mr. R. Cooper’s properties at £30,000. Reads Trustees had agreed to advance monies for all surveys. If the land were sold at a low rate no doubt money could be got, but the object was that the land should be sold at its full price. The late Captain Reads money will now be giving us help. A Bill was to be prepared to manage their lands and to borrow money. He proposed taking some of the chiefs to England. His conscience was clear in that he had tried to do the best for Europeans and Maorieg. By the fruits of the tree was he known. In paper of the same date above referred to an account of his (Mr. Rees’), being committed by the late Mr. Price, R.M., for contempt of Court, and fined £1 appears.”

So you see, gentlemen, in 1880 we were told the same things by Mr. Rees as wc are told now. What is the present state of these blocks. In 1880 the Maraetaha was said to bo settled to Mr. Johnson, but judgment was only given in the case the other day by which Mr. Johnson got the property, and he told inc that since that time in 1880 the case cost him £5,000 in various expenses to get his rights. What is all this litigation for ? Maraetaha is only just settled. Repongaere is only just settled at a great cost to Mr. Chambers, the same with other blocks, and all this litigation has been going on, and yet he (Mr. Rees), comes and states on this platform that he has settled every dispute four or five years ago. They have only been settled in a court of justice. (Voice—What are you going to do ?) I will tell you what I am going to do, if you will return me. I will endeavour to stop this sort of thing as far as it lies in my power. It has been estimated that for the last six years some £40,000 has been paid away out of this district in legal expenses over our troubles in Native

lands. That money b.as bjen fritfered away, but suppose that it had been applied to the improvement and dcvelopemont of the resources of this district, we should not now have this depression, which we now labor under, ard therefore I say that what we want is to have these titles put right in a cheap and speedy manner, and until we have that done wo cannot have prosperity in our district. THE WORKING MAN, MR. REES, AXD THE LAND CO. It seems strange to mo when I hoar that the working man is going to back Mr. Rees in Parliament--(So we will-Cries.) We know that within the lad twelve months a meeting was held in th .; hall for the working men of this district io get up a petition to send down to Parliament to upset a bill which Mr. Roes was sending to Pailiamont to monopolise the land and get it into his hands and that of certain company. But the working men on that occasion did their duty and opposed the bill. I hope they will do so now, and instead of having the lr.nl monopolised turn to and put me into Parliament so that wo can get the tides to the land ourselves. (Cries-No, no. Tell us about yourself.) SOMETHING ABOUT HIMSELF. I will tell you something about myscif. I came here a mere youngster, without anything, and I worked my way from a working man to the position I now hold, without having to borrow a shilling. (Disturbance. What about when you go to Wellington). When I go to Wellington I will go in for measures and men to back them. I am not going to be a personal follower, dragged at the wheel of every man, or to vote at the beck and call of every man. I want the country opened. I want the resources of the

country developed. I want- practical measures, and that is what I am going in for, and that is what I will endeavor and strive fori I made a long address a shoit time back, and that was printed and read by you, containing my political views and opiniona, and you, knowing them, have an opportunity of judg* ii.g for yourselves. I have only to add that there will bo an amalgamation, aud some of those now holding office will be in the next Government, and I will work with those men, and will work for the development of the resources of a district like this, and we will have things quite different to the past. I shall not say anything more, but shall thank you for your attendance here this evening, and I hope you will show confidence in me by placing me at the head of the poll; (Great clap?, s'amping, coohooing, <frc); QUESTIONS, Mr. Parker—l wish to ask Mr. Locke if he ia iu favor of improving the present Franchise? Mr. Locke—A freeholder can always do that but a residential cannot, but I would bw in favor of extending it. Mr. Parker—Are you in favor of a redistrL bution of seats. Whether this district should not have two members returned instead of one ? Mr. Locke—l certainly think we do want a re-arrangement, Mr. Parker—We arc told that £3,000,000 per annum is realized by our clip of wool, it takes 11,000,000 acres to produce that, and unfortunately half a million is only spent in the country. I ask Mr. Locke how we can get over that difficulty, and have a little more money spent ? Mr. Lucke—That is owing to the absentees who drain the country of the money. Do away with them if we can. Mr. Parker—Do you not think it would be advantageous to the country to have railways either leased, or sold, or put into private companies ? Would it not bring in such an influx of capital that we should all feel the benefit of it ?

Mr. Locke—l rather approve of leasing the railways on very long terms, and stringent arrangements. Mr. Parker—Does not Mr. Locke think that the Government made a great mistake in selling the land ?

Mr. Locke—l think that in almost any instance the land had been purchased before the railways were made through them, and the Government could not do it. If Sir Julius Vogel’s original scheme had been carried out it would have saved a good deal of expenditure in parts of the colony. His scheme was this: that these lands should be rated so as to make up any deficiency for the payment of interest on the railways. Mr. Parker—Will Mr. Locke use all the influence he has,, supposing new lines are opened, to reserve these lands until the lines are completed ? Mr. Locke—l would certainly do that. CAPTAIN PORTER. In the questions I am about to ask, I am the chief mover, and unless Mr. Locke wjll pledge himself to aid and support them, I myself should be adverse to him. I know if he gives his word he will do his utmost to carry out what he promises. You are aware there are two questions, the Harbor Board Bill and the Railway extension. The Harbor Bill has been placed in the hands of Sir George Grey to advocate before the present session. It was placed in his hands at the last election, but a dissolution occurred. It is still in his hands and we could not withdraw it. Would you be willing to aid Sir George Grey in carrying out these two particular measures, the Harbor Bill and the Railway extension. Mr. Locke—l can answer both those questions straight. Sir George Grey is a gentleman I have the greatest respect for. and he has done me much good in my time, If the bill is in his hands and he will work with me I shall work with him, whatever aide I may be on, it will not make any difference. In reference to the railway I would do everything I could to carry out any views of that sort, that would open up the back country, because I think the future of this district lies there.

Captain Porter—Those are the only questions I have to ask. If the meeting would allow me to make a few remarks, I will do so. I think I may claim to be one of the eailiest settlers here, and one who has labored and worked in every sphere to help the district. I came here at the outset of the war in 1865, and have been in the district on and off ever since. I have served the colony in other parts, but 1 have always come back here. I am one of the oldest settlers here, and can claim to have the interests of the district at heart, and I.am not serving my own ends by my actions, which I have always stuck to, aud which is truly an independent one. I don’t claim to be any one man’s friend more than another. I am not the friend of the squatter, no more than I am the friend of the working man. I hope lam the friend of all, for whatever I have dono has been in the interests of this district. Now I am going to speak of Mr. Rees and Mr. Locke. Mr, Rees says Mr. Locke is working against the interests of the district, as he is a large land owner and squatter — make false representations that certain things have been done, and that there are men such as Mr. Locke, who are still causing difficulties and troubles, end are robbing the working men. I say that is not the case, Mr. Locke (clapping and disturbance). Gentlemen, I take up an independent position, and I say I heard it stated that these men are trying to mislead you, and Mr. Rees is one of them. (Hoots and continued noise with stamping). You are afraid I am going to say something against Mr. Rees, and help Mr. Locke (much interruption), I did not intend to appear hero to-night, but now I am here I am not going down in a hurry. Mr. Rees is a representative of the Liberal party. (Continued stamping). Wait until I get a little further and see if I am wrong. (Voice : Y'ou are out of order). I have the Chairman's permission to speak. (Voice 1 Stand there, if you stand until two o’clock). Mr. Rees says he is a representative of the Liberal party, that I do not deny, but,

gentleman, he is the representative of another party, not Liberal, and if he would separate from that party, he would be quite right, and I would be the first to say “ vote for him.” (Great confusion here ensued in response to a cry of “ All together boys—keep it up I ” Mr. W. Knights (great uproar), who are you boohooing at ? Give Captain Porter a fair hearing, and we can cut him up afterwards.

Captain Porter—l don’t intend to speak at all if you think I should not, but will sit down. Unless the majority of the meeting ask me to cmie down, I shall stay here until I am heard.

The Chairman now appealed to the meet Ing to give the speaker a fair hearing.

Captain Porter—The man that is afraid to hear mo speak is a coward. I stand here independently, and 1 think I have a right and a just right to speak, as one of the earliest settlers in the district, and who has helped to advance it. I stand he to-day, a man who has been worth thousands of pounds, and now I don't suppose I am worth thousands of pence in money, I have thrown it away for the good of the district and the

settlers in it. I want now to show you what Liberalism is. I like Mr. Rees personally, if he would simply separate himself from a course which he is pursuing and one that is injuring the district to a large extent. If he would do that and set himself up actually a representative of the Libeial Party, and devote himself to his profession, where he would rise to a position of universal respect, but, unfortunately, he is siding with a party which will directly injure the district, and is even now retarding the influx of capital and the settlement of difficulties. We found that six years ago Mr. R es camo hero to discover tile difficulties of the lands being locked up. (Loud uproar, and confusion.) After the distuibance subsided, which lasted soma considerable time, the speaker said he would ask Hie candidate two questions, if they would not listen to his remarks. Would he advocate the establishment of a Waste Lands Board, particularly for this district? Mr. Locke—l stated I would do so at the la t election. Captain Porter—Would you also endeavor to obtain a Deeds’ Registry Office here? Mr. Locke—Yes. Captain Porter —I will thank the majority of the meeting who have allowed me to speak, but those gentlemen have acted very unfairly who have stopped me. (Loud applause.) Mr. A. Graham—l beg to propose a vote of confidence in Mr. Lockc.