Political.

Southern Cross, Volume 1, Issue 29, 21 October 1893, Page 9

Political.

THE INVERCARGILL ELECTION. AN HISTORIC GATHERING. The first political meeting held in Invercargill since the women of the colony obtained the franchise took place in the Theatre Royal on Wednesday night, when Mr J. W. Kelly, M.H.R., gave an account of his stewardship, and announced his intention to seek re-election. Half-an-hour before the opening hour it was evident that the ladies would muster in force. They clustered round the entrances like so many Peris knocking at the gates of paradise, and not long after the place was crowded to the doors. The Mayor (Mr D, McFarlane), occupied the chair, and introduced Mr Kelly in a few happy sentences. The Hon. J. G. Ward also occupied a seat on the platform, and explained at a later stage that his presence there was due to a desire to show his respect for the representative of the town, who had acted and worked in a most creditablemanner. Mr Kelly, whose reception was most enthusiastic, opened with a concise sketch of the history of the movement that had resulted in the political enfranchisement of the women of the colony, and warmly defended the Government from the charge of insincerity which had been levelled against them in connection with this .question. He then reviewed the leading clauses of the Alcoholic Liquors Bill, introduced by the Ministry, and held that the temperance party were not justified in the hue and cry which they had raised against the Government. The direct veto clause should meet with their warmest approval, instead of the abuse which had been heaped upon it by their intemperate leaders. The power granted almost amounted to prohibition on a simple majority, and, as to the three-fifths majority, it was only required to carry total prohibition, which he believed to be entirely outside the range of practical politics. Those who preached total prohibition had done great harm to the temperance cause, and he appealed to his friends on that side to take up a moderate position, in which case they would secure a large section of the public now outside of temperance organisations, and upon whose votes would depend the carrying of the direct veto proposals which would be submitted to the people in March next. The measure brought in by the Government was far superior to the local option bill introduced by the Gladstone Government, but while Sir Wilfred Lawson, the great temperance advocate, had hailed it as the noblest bill introduced since the attack on negro slavery, and declared that he could not comprehend Jiow any Liberal could vote against it, Sir Robert Stout had denounced the New -Zealand measure, and declared that it was opposed to ail true Liberalism. The speaker next dealt with the Conciliation and Arbitration Bill, and argued that the amendments made in it by the Legislative Council would have made it a mockery, a delusion and a snare. They struck out the clauses relating to compulsory arbitration, despite the fact that history proved that enactments based on voluntary arbitration had been almost a total failure, the latest instance being furnished during the Broken Hill strike in New South Wales. With federated ur ions the next great strike in Britain would be on a scale such as the world had never seen—hence the importance of discovering some system of preventing strikes and lock-outs. It was not true that the Labour members had tried to set labour at the throat of capital ; their only idea was to produce a practical and peaceful measure for the settlement of this form of industrial warfare. In closing Mr Kelly, who had been frequently greeted with applause, appealed to the temperance party for continued support because the Government, by conferring the franchise on women, had done more for the cause they had at heart than twenty years of speeches and agitation could have accomplished ; to the electors generally he appealed, because the Government had honestly done its best for the colony as a whole, while Southland had been treated with a fairness never attempted by their predecessors ; and finally he appealed to the women of the district, whose responsibility under the new order of things was great, and who would not, he believed, forget the Government which had made them the equals of the lords of creation.

Questions were invited, and in reply to the Eev Mr Taylor’s written query, “ Will you support Sir Robert Stout’s Licensing Bill, or any similar measure giving to the people the power, by bare majority, to decide all questions affecting the liquor traffic ? ” Mr Kelly explained that he supported the Alcoholic Liquor's Bill because he considered that the good it contained far exceeded the evil in the clauses objected to by the temperance party. While the measure was under consideration by the Cabinet its principal features were explained to him by a Minister of the Crown, who asked him if he could see his way to give them kis general support on the bill. Ho consented, reserving the right, which he afterwards exercised, of voting against any clauses which he considered objectionable. As to the three-fifths majority, he admitted unhesitatingly that the vote he gave on that clause was given in direct opposition to his pledges and convictions. They would ask why, and his reason was this. He knew before the bill was circulated that it was im-

possible to obtain a provi-ion for a bare majority, and also that strong pressure had been brought to bear to fix the majority at two-thirds instead of three-fifths. One of the conditions of his support was that the Government would not agree to the twothirds. It was simply a question of whether he would take the three-fifths or be compelled to accept the two-thirds, and of two evils he chose the lesser. The promises given to him by the Government had been faithfully carried out. In 1876 Sir Robert Stout had brought in a bill providing for the two-thirds majority, and when uskv-d why he objected to it now, Sir Robert replied that in 1876 he saw he could get nothing more than such a provision, and that was his (Mr Kelly’s) position with regard to the three-fifths. As to the position he intended taxing up, Mr Taylor had asked him if ho would support the simple majority. He said most decidedly that he would. He had voted against the Government on the clause requiring one-half of the total votes to be polled. Mr Taylor: In case a majority of the people should ask for it will you support such a change in the Education Act as will admit of the .Bible being read in State schools ? Mr Kelly (emphatically) ; I will not. I stand by the present system ; if any innovations are introduced it simply means the crumbling of the system. In reply to Messrs F. W. Styles, .1. Hamilton, and R. Millar, Mr Kelly said that while he was a strong supporter of national insurance, he did not believe it would be possible to have it in New Zealand at present. If some arrangement could be come to between the Friendly Societies and the Government for the latter to take over the whole business and make insurance compulsory, as in Germany, it would have his warmest support. —He favoured the establishment of a system of technical education in connection with the primary schools, and would support the use of shorthand for taking evidence in the Supreme Courts.—lt w'as not true that he had been offered, and had refused, a seat in the Council. One very good reason was that the Government knew he would not require it for the next three years.—(Laughter.) On the motion of Mr A. Ball, seconded by Mr James Anderson, Mr Kelly was accorded by acclamation a hearty vote of thanks for his address, coupled with an expression of continued confidence in him as the representative of Invercargill. In acknowleging the compliment, Mr Kelly soid he would probably have to call the electors together again to hear his view's on some important matters on which he had been unable to touch that evening. He reminded the ladies present that if they were anxious to secure his return by acting on hi» committee, be would be happy to meet them at his house.

The Hon. J. G. Ward, for whom there were loud cries, and who was received with cheers, next addressed the meeting, and in doing so read a telegram from the Premier expressing regret at his inability to be present, and stating his intention, unless something unforeseen happened, to visit Invercargill at an early date. Mr Ward also read a telegram from Mr Seddon as Defence Minister to the effect that in recognition of twenty-two years service in the volunteer force, Major Hannah had been promoted to be Lieutenant-Colonel —an intimation which was loudly cheered. Mr Ward added that he hoped the next intimation of the kind would affect an officer who had formerly taken a very active interest in volunteer matters—Major Thomson. —(Applause.) The Colonial Treasurer then, in a vigorous speech, defended the Government from what he characterised as the unreasonable and unpatriotic attacks of the Opposition, particularly with reference to the effect of the conversions of loans, the surplus, and the nonborrowing policy of the Ministry. So far from the Government having failed, they had endeavoured, and not without success, to place New Zealand in the position, financially, of being the most favoured colony in the Australasian group.—(Cheers.) In conclusion Mr Ward contradicted a rumour that he intended to contest Mataura, adding that he did not want some other fellow to be Jumping his claim in Awarua —(laughter)— whose electors had shown him in the past the greatest kindness and consideration, and whom he would not desert until they kicked him out. —{Applause). The proceedings closed with a vote of thanks to the chairman.