THE GERALDINE ELECTION.

Temuka Leader, Issue 705, 3 December 1881, Page 2

THE GERALDINE ELECTION.

Yesterday, at noon, the nomination of candidates for the Geraldine seat in the House of. Representatives took- place at the Resident Magistrate’s Courthouse, Tenij ka. A very convenient hasting* hah been previously erected, with awning overhead, and the candidates and ther 1 proposers and seconders, and others interested in 'he election must h ave fell it a great convenience. At noon the Returning Officer (Mr G. Dyson) read ihe Queen’s writ for the election of a candidate, and called on the elec,'irs to nominate one. Afur a pause, during, which there were loud ctL-8 for Mr Leicu, Mr Lynch ascended the platform and proposed Mr John Hay .nrst as a tit and proper person to represent the Geraldine c in,slituen y. [T ie action of Mr Lvnch took everyone by surprise, as it was generally known that another elector was going to propore Mr H hurst.] Mr K. E. Gray came forward and said ; Mr Ret in ning Officer and Gentlemen, we are called upon to-day for a great and important purpose. 1 have b ien taken by surprise in another elector coming forward to propose Mr Hat hurst, as I was going to do so. Mr Lynch should have put himself in communication w ; th us previous to nominating Mr Haylmrst, ami now I c m only do my best insecondiag the proposal. We ought to realise the responsibility of our present position. The franchise has been lowered to almost manhood suffrage, am! we meet here to-day for the first time under the new order of things It is a most liberal measure and I hope it will not be abused. Let us look over the past ami see where we are, like the mariner tossed on the ocean in a fog, and when the fog begins to clear away, looks around him to see where he is. Six years ago I had the pleasure of standing up ! before you and proposed the same genilej man. 1 now second this Domination, I I I do so in perfect confidence that in Mr | Haylmrst we have a gentleman who will, 1 if lie, be returned, perform his work honestly and faithfully. He has been to every place in the distiict and addressed the electors in the most outspoken manner on the principal political questions of the day, and he has declared himse'f in favor of liberal and important measures that would be essentially necessary to build up this country. Those liberal measures if faithfully curried out would bring good, will and prosperity to all men. I hope you will come to the poll and register your voles in such a manner that in the future it would conduce to your own benefit. Mr Haylmrst is well k>.own to all of yon as a lespectable citizen, and has identified himself witn every good and important public measme, and spent a deal; of his time in public service in New' Zealand. This of itself is a recommendation. He has a large stake in the district, and his interest is bound up with yours. Mr Wakefield has represented you for the past six yaars. and I ask. what has he done for the district? He has said every time he was before you that he has done this, or that, but I fail to - see what he has done for the district tha i ho could ordinarily have done and obtained, At the last election he told us he ( would not be dictated to by any clique. f There are now three candidates before j you—(cties of ‘four.’ I stana corrected, t gentlemen. Well, we’ll say there are , four, ami he (Mr Wakefield) cannot say \ there is a clique We,have weighed t him,in, the balance and found him want- j c ing- (Cheers), I have much pleasure in c seconding Mr Haylmrst, and hope he will e

M- Coltman proposed Mr Edward Wakefield as a til and proper person to repre ent lim Ceoddi'.o constituency in the Moose of U-pre■•<;nla'iv--s. f(Jritß of ‘ Nothing of the sort, 1 and ‘'hear, hear,” etc.) I)r Fish V;-ended Mo- coroi-jaMon of Mr Wikcliel' 1 , a d •//.-.« proud Miai. We had been seee'.ed <o <!■, J m- mion one "f l. ia poi lA> -v>.;l -.-I . is enutlcd t,o yo o' s ipp ,rl. ! - k be 13 ell 1 b led. o rj >n-- yo.v! o: oe'.og our formt.-r o ive. i -i J. a a.'l support b in myself, jj »«»y ojipoae him and tb-y have a p- / got V, do 80. I feel that it. ns no’. ; ;g .1 Vi Muov/ over any obi servant or friend. 1 agie ; wit.b Mr W-ikelie d’s p'/lnca, action.- during the la.jt .s..s>ioo of Fariiaoieoi. He baa declared openly I but be win :-npport the pr sent Government, a.id I do dir k from bis own personal qnditie' lb l lie ha- a claim on this constituency. 1 have been present m many of his politicameetings, and list.-nod to ids sfwelv-s, and in Parliamentary experience, and clear and bro id views as a colonial politician, lie stands head and shoulders above Ids opponents 1 firmly believe that this day next week we shall find him at the head of the poll. (Hear, bear, and cries of 1 Go on). Mr J. Page came forward and said: Mr Returning Officer and gentlemen, I have much pleasure in proposing a member for Geraldine and in doing so feel rather diffident, but it is a pleasing duty. Air Willia r. Postleth waits is heart and soul vn doing his duty to his fellow mm and will support any measures for the good of this constituency. There are several reasons why we should look around us at the present time, especially on account of the oppressive taxation we a ,- e at the present time laboring under. I am quite, aware that the gentleman I now propose has not the eloquent gift of speech such as Pitt and other politicians possessed. But we don’t want that kind of eloquence. We don’t want a man in Parliament for whom the bellman ’ as to go round and cry “ Where’s the member for Geraldine gone?’ (A voi -c : To Bellamy’s). Or one th.,t goes belimed the scenes to watch grassboppeis, We want one to go. there who will serve the interests of the Geraldine constituency. At, no time previous did we want such a man as at the present. We are burdened with taxation and it is time the burdens were lightened, I have much pleasure in proposing .Mr Postlethwaite as a fit and proper person t" represent this constituency in Parliament (Hear, hear.) .Mr P. 11. McShane, in seconding Mr Postlethwaite said = You all know the yea”s Air Postlethwaite has been amongst us and what he has donator the district, He has taken a leading interest in all things. (A voice • bix bob a day), He.is honest and straightforward in all his dealings and is fit to represent us and I hope you will return him by a large majority. After a pause the Returning Officer asked if any elector had another candidate to nominate. Air Roddick in a few words proposed Air David Leach as a fit and proper person to represent this const it uency. No seconder coming forward, Air Leach went on the hustings, and asked the Returning Officer if he could nominate himself. The Eefc ruing Officer alter consu tmg the Act d -cided that he could not. Air Leach then withdrew, and his nomination fell through. The Returning Officer then called on the enndidates to address the meeting. Mr Hayhurst, who was received with applause, ascended the hustings and addressed those present as follows : Mr Returning Officer and brother electors, I am before you once more to contest the election to represent you in the Parliament of New Zealand, and I now oppose the same gentleman that I did then. He was at that time returned after using the utmost energy possible amongst the gentlemen around him. He had nothing to E ast of then, and I think he will have nothing to boast of now. As had been stated by Air Page, his interest is not yours. If a person desires to represent a constituency his interest should be centred in theirs. You have been told of Mr Wakefield’s speechesi and von all have painfully experienced how in his cramming things down your throats until he has almost made you believe that he has told you the truth. (Applause). I have been told that I am rob fit to represent any constituency because I act as I think and do *s I say I will. It is a fault of mine. The true basis of representation is that you should not get a gentleman who does not reside in the district he represents. Air Wakefield has a wonderful support behind him, but take such a support away from him, and where would he be. Where was he to be found when important measures were before the House, especially on such an important matter as the’Bible in Schools question. He told you that such a matter was too lift e for lam, an . he would not T ote|either for or against it. It is time we looked out for a new member. Mr Postlethwaite and himself were both before the electors as candidates for the Geraldine seat, and either of us, no matter who was elected, we could go in and devote our lime and energies in their interests. They had no friends to gain, no appointments to. look format statesmen to baffle our eyes. Air \Vakefie!Sfch a supporter of the present Government, and he said that they saved New Zealand. When the present Ministry came into power, they stopped all expenditure and if you stop your outgoings and save your income, you must become rich. It was mtheir stopping all expenditure on public works that the country has been m such a bal state for sometime past. They reduced tlm civil servants’ salaries by 10 per cent. even to the very women who cleared their offices out. K they had judiciously expende some money on public works, then therewould not have been the misery and want as. If the country

was in such a dreadful state as the Government represented it to ho, it. could never retrieve itself in one year. But then they knew the elections were coming on, and Mr Wakefield recollected this also. He obtained a remission of the customs duty on the Roman Catholic clock, but I tell Tou do not be guiled. Treat him with suspicion. Ton will be told that there were now men enjoying the liberty of the franchise, who were not fit to vole, yet you will find the very men who say so, trying all manner’ of means to obtain their votes during electioneering times. I bel.eve that the former Government wasted money, but the present one never spent anything, and tried to make things leok as black as possible against the former Government. V. q want progress with moderation, and the present Government is not one of progress except for themselves. I say go in for a change, and whether yon return me or not, return a g 'ntlema'i whose interest is identical with yourselves. It is absolutely necessary that our member should live in our midst, so that we. may consult him on anything necessary for the good of the district, (hear, bear.) I hope you will not neglect to come to the poll on the 9th instant, It is said that there will be mom bribery on this occasion than ever there has been before, but I would impress on my friends the necessity of coming to t_e poll early, and if there should be any bribery, let it be on the other side. I here take advantage of the occasion to make an explanation. In one of my speeches I bad been led to mike a remark about, the Volunteers. I never cast any reflections on them, I made use of the term “ raw’ recruits going to the front,” (A voice ; What about the sparrows. The raw boys can put the set on you.) I say now that the Government regardless of life, called upon men to go to the front, who did not happily have to fire a shot. Had it gbeen otherwise, the Government would have been greatly to blame for the shedding of blood. Fancy dragging men up there who were not thoroughly disciplined to go into battle, officered by men who had no experiencs. He did not disparage the Vo l uu ■ tears but blamed the Government for sending over good men to take a daricie who would neither move or fight. (Hear, hear ) Mr Wakefield, who was received with continuous cherring, said : I don’*' intend to detain you long. My line in elections is to try and get elected on my own merits, and not to depreciate my opponents in the minds of the electors. I will not. say one word against my opponents on this occasion. I never forced rayseif on this constituency, but fr .m the beginning I was always ready to retire and seek election at the hands of another one. On tl e present occasion I hung back for awhile before announcing myself as a candidate, but my friends told me it would be dishonorable to back out of it _ I have not the slightest fear of of the contest, and if I win or lose I shall not forfeit the respect of this constituency. It had been said that I have resorted to throwing out baits for your votes, but T say that I have not, (A voice : The Timavu Herald has done a stroke.) (Uproar.) If you prefer hearing Mr Brewer to me let him come on the platform. The bait I was said to offer has been mentioned. It has been sai I that I got the clock for you. Nothing of the kind. I knew nothing of it till I received a letter from the Rev Father Eauvel who stated he had got into a difficulty. I did what lie wanted which he found afterwards was most satisfactory. Father Fauvel caused it to be mentioned in the local newspaper. I did not. (Applause.) (A voice ; Go to the front, Brewer,) lam a supporter of the Government for several reasons, but I differ fiom them at times. In their Native policy they have c! one quite right The Government took the difficulty by the neck and shook it out of them, It is the fir t Government that has done so. They did right to mass the volunteers as they saved the country from a bloody war and showed the Natives that they had the power to bring a large force against them, from all parts of the colony. I am proud to say that the volunteers here went nobly to assist the Government in. the hour of danger. I am not going to answer the wonderful accusations against myself which you have been listening to. My public career speaks for itself. I have at times made mistakes and what p.nblio men have never done so? I have invariably come before you honestly and told you about what I had done. (A voice: What aboat the squatters). This is all nonsense. This story about my extending the sqoattcrs’ leases arises from shameful ignorance. Any man can see tha' - for himself. When I first wen' to Parliament I found that the squatters’ leases were interminable, and I voted to give the squatters notice that their leases would he brought to a elose in 1890, so that the land would revert to the Crown. It would have been a wicked thing if they had taken the land from the squatters at a moment’s notice, without giving them ample notice, on account of the improvements thkj had made on the land. It would have ruined them, and the evil would have been felt by all classes. As for telling me that I am a squatters* friend, and use my place in Parliament m their favor, this is a stupid accusation. (Hear, hear.) I want to come to. a clear underst nding with you. so that when you go to the poll you will vote con-scie-fiously. It has been said against me that because I am a good speaker you should not return me. (A voice : Another Gladstone). It seems to me. however, that this is a good qualifica'ion. Why, the very word Parliament means an assembly of men met together for the purpose of. talking. 1 study subjects first and speak so that any person can understand me. I hone you won’t turn me out of Parliament because I am a fluent speaker. Anotner reason put forth that you should not return me, is that I am not a local man. What does that mean ? Some say that it is a Temuka man, and others a Geraldine man. It hardly ever happens that the domestic affairs of a constituency are disouaaedin

try to bring such matters up are the least thought of in the Rouse. When anything|in connection with this district is placed in my hands, Ido my best for it. (A voice : Why not go in for Milford Harbor?) I did. I told yon I would, and it resulted in Sir John Coode being authorised to report on it. This report was not favorab’e, as it would cost £400,000. I hare been accused by Mr Page that I made a profession of polities, and get my living by it. (Mr Page : I never mentioned your name, sir.) Well, I understood *hc allusion to be meant, for me. I never attempted to get anything for myself during my political career. If I had chosen I could have Hone some good for myself. (A voice : There’s money to be got.) Yes, there is, but I have not got any of it. lam a poorer man to-day than when I first entered Parliament. Whether you return me or not I am not goin,' to be shut out of Parliament. I will have 20 years more of political life yet. I wish to keep on the best of terms, even with the gallant captain of the Six Hundred down amongst you. I ask you not to vote on personalgrounds, or give credence to idle tales. If you want information on any s object come and ask me, and I shall be always ready to reply to you. (Applause.) Mr Postleiliwaiie : Mr Returning Officer and gentlemen, I stand here as an elector and was called on to seek your suffrages through a requisition signed by a large body of the electors. I stand here as ilie representative of the farming interest and honest, laboring men. I will not take np your time with peisoiml allusions. I stand here on my own merits having been amongst yon for ihe past seven years, and have taken part in ihe local matters of the district. 1 have not been in Parliament, hut have been tried as a politician in more ways than one, am! I think my friend g will say I have not been found wanting. I came forward to assist in the greatest work South Canterbury ever saw, the formation of the Partners’ Co-operative Society, (a voice : That’s not politics.) (claptrap.) The Society has done good service to those even who are not vounecled with it (a voice : It has not done go al to Mr M.-ndclson.) The farmer is now able to spend his money amongst the laboring men,, and they, in their turn, spend it with the storekeepers. (Interruptions.) It has been assorted that many a merchant has n-tted £40,000 a year out of the pockets of the farmers. The formation of the Farm-rs’ C i-operative So defy has beiietitteil the whole colony with the exception of the merchants. I am not a man who can stand np and make a long speech but I have got honesty of purpose and hard work in me, which wid te'l its tale in tha future better than all Ihe talk. If in the last Parliament the members had had a little less gft of the cab it would have been better for the country. I have been the means of introducing clauses into certain hills which have been proved to conserve to your interest. In inference to the Land lax cases. Under that Act the judge who decided on such, was a Government officer. I proposed that three men should try such cases. Tins alteration was effected, and I believe that since no man has had cause to say otherwise than that lie had justice done him. 1 have always looked after your interests and will do so till the end of my days. (A voice = Why> yon are old now.) I have visited every part of the district and told you my political views, an I if lam elected 1 will work tooth and nail to act tip to all 1 have said I would. Two papers reported my speech at Geraldine one part of which I wish to explain. I there said that the Hill Government was the salvation of the country. I believe they were and that they were justified in their policy of retrenchment but I 1 iffer with tin m so far as this that iht-y should have gone to the top of the tree and out dow n the large salaries and not have taken anything off the small salaries. 1 will not pledge myself to any party, and if the Hall Government does not do that which I consider to be just and right I shall follow that who does. There is another subject which is rot cleatly understood and that is the Bible in Schools question. The State is bound to give a liberal and fair education to every child up to tho sth Standard. If a section of the people are opposed to sending their children to the national school because no religion is tauglit thciein but erect schools of their own, I say that if their teaching reaches the proper standard they should receive a fair share of die capitation grant. lam in favor of the New Testament being read in the schools before secular education is entered upon each day, but lam not in favor of the Bible being expounded, and if the country called on Gove; mnent to introduce a Bill to this effect, I would support it. I would not go there as a local delegate, but as a representative. I have had 24 years’ experience in the Old Country, which would give me assistance to carry out measures in the Colonial Parliament. It has been said that voting by ballot is not secret voting, but it has been clearly p-oved that it is. It is an onerous responsi. bility on the electors, and we should not be afraid to record our votes honestly, and to the best of our ability. The Returning Officer called for a show of hands, which resulted as follows : Hayhurst ... ... 43 Wakefield ... ... 40 Postleth waitc ... ... 14 The announcement was received with great a .plause. * Mr Postletliwaite demanded a poll. * The Returning Officer doclared that a poll would be taken next Friday, and the official announcement of the result on the following day at 4 o’clock. I The usual vote of thanks (o the Returning