THE ELECTIONS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1626, 27 August 1887, Page 2

THE ELECTIONS.

The writs for the elections were issued yesterday morning. The date of the elections have been fixed for September 26, and the writs are returnab'e on the sth October, Parliament hns been snmmoHsd to meet for the despatch of business on Octaber 6th. Mr Twomoy addrsssed the largest meeting of electors ever aeen at Pairlie Creek on Wednesday evening. Mr James Milne occupied the chair, A number of questions were asked and satisfactorily replied to. Mr Puttick proposed, md Mr B. O’Oonnor seconded, a vote of thanks to Mr Tworaey, As an amendment Mr J. Hennessy proposed and Mr James Small seconded, (hat a rote of thanks and confidence be accorded. The vote of confidence was carried almost unanimously amid great enthusiasm, there being only ten dissentients. The candidate proposed the usual vote of thanks to the Chairman, and the meeting dispersed. On Thursday evening Mr Twomey addressed a meeting of electors at the schoolroom, Burke’s Pass, and was accorded a hearty vote of thanks. Mr Franks addressed a meeting of electors at Burke*s Pass on Wednesday evening, and was accorded a vote of thanks. Mr Rhodes addressed the electors of Gladstone in the Waitohi Schoolroom on Wednesday last. The chair was occupied by Mr John Fraser, who in a few wellchosen remarks introduced the candidate, and bespoke for him a fair and patient hearing. Mr Rhodes, who on rising was well received, said that before proceeding to address them on the questions of the day he wished to say that the Political Reform Association had been accused in the Tbmuka. Leader with disturbing Mr Tworaey’s meeting at Winchester, but he could assure them that the Association would not be a party to such disgraceful conduof. Xlis speech in the m in was a resumS of what ho had delivered elsewhere. In replying to questions be said (hat his first vote would be recorded against the present Government, but after that he could oot say whom h# would follow. With regard to local government J he would be in favor of amalgamating J County Cennoils and Road Boards ; he 1

thought it rested with the people. &- would oppose the raising of the school pgo of children from five to seven years, as it would do harm to the present system. - He thought that no child should allowed to enter the High Schools until they passed an examination equal to the Sixth Standard. If the number of Ministers were reduced by two, he could not say by how much the salaries of the remaining ones should be reduced. He thought their travelling expenses should reduced. He opposed a Graduated Property Tax. He would be in favor of the "4 local option vote affecting existing hotel licenses. He would favor the reintroduction of Bible-reading in schools, subject to a conscience clause and time-table, so that no harm would be done to anyone. He would bo in favor of all simplifications with regard to legal proceedings, and would vote for a reduction in the Stamp duties. Ou ~ the motion of Mr John Talbot, seconded by Mr Thornloy, n unanimous vote of thanks was accorded to Mr Rhodes. [Mr Rhodes is certainly wrong in his statement that the Temuka Leader attributed to the Political Reform Association the disturbance at Mr Tworaey’s meeting at Winchester. Exactly the opposite was the case.. * In the paragraph referring to the matter the Political Reform Association as an Association was completely exonerated. It 1 may have amongst its members persons who are capable of going to any lengths to satisfy their malice and personal rancour against Mr Twomey, but it would not be right to blame the Association for the actions'* of such individuals, and the Leader did not do so. Mr Rhodes, if he bad read the article referred to, might have spared himself his indignant protests, On this subject he appears to have relied on others for his facts, and, as usually happens ia.such cases, he has been supplied with garbled, reports. In no other way can the statement 'made by Mr Rhodes be accounted for,] Sit Julius Vogel addressed a meeting of fully 700 persons at Ashburton on Thursday evening, , the Mayor presiding; Speaking on the land question be said- in any question relating to 'land, raent to local industries must enter. SBr John Hall had recently said that the large land owners liked small holders near them. This was not in accord with received opinions, unless on the principle that the cat loved to live near the mice. There were 14,792 holdings in the colony of over 100 acres, embracing 16,400,000 acres, or an average of 1110 acres, but of these 1924 holders of over 100 eicb had 1,263,000, or an average of 6664 acres, so; that 12,868 holders had 3,794,000 acres, while 1924 holders had 12,630,000 acres. Another-. 13,521 holders of from 10 to 5C acres had / 610,161 acres, with an average of 48 acres each. Some holders had more than one holding, and the holdings included freeholds and freeholds rented by the workers. These figures suggested the necessity of increasing the number of settlers. The mortgage system in connection with the depressed value of produce had operated to the prejudice of the workers, but the lenders were agreeing to take less interest; large transactions were best, and small men were greatly handicapped, because of the proportionate expense of loans. Of a total gross yield of 10 million pounds’ worth of agricultural produce about six millions wore wanted for local consumption, or more : than‘half; and yet prices were regulated by those, ruling 13,000 miles away. PrimA facie the farmers ought, to make a fair.profit on the necessaries of life, as no imports could compete with them, but the control of the market was too much in the hands of. people who profited most by-exports. The farmers wanted more population, more of the cooperative system, and less of the credit system. Ha contended that local consumers ought net to ask-farmers to supply at a loss, but the so-called Freetraders said that cheapness was the first object. High-prices and high -wages meant parity, and countries were most prosperous 1 when wages were highest. , Sugar and cotton ware how produced [cheaper with paid labor, than when raised with slave labor. If the country could consume all its exports, the volume of trade wonltfwbe so much increased that more capital wajrd have to be introduced by the financial institutions. After showing that the proposed tar"ff would benefit the farmers 1 S r Julina Yogel dwelt upon the importance of fruit culture to both the community and agriculturists. Ho hoped the Government would be able next session to deal satisfactorily with the matt 1 r of cheap money. The Government could not artificially raise theprice ’of labor, nor pay more than the current rate, of wages, which was regulated by supp'y and demand. As to retrenchmirt, if the Government -were supported they would effect it, but ho feared that members would not be sincere when it affected their own districts. He explained the effect of the property tax proposals. After a reference to the grain rates and a defence of the Government ,on-.the. subject, he answered some obj-ctions to the Midland Railway schemo. He deplored the conduct of some legislators who had supported the Government until they thought lino was safe, nnd then deserted if. He asked for fair consideration for his Governtneut. They were not infallible, and had no supernatural powers, but under their administration 'local, industries had been encouraged, coal harbors provided for, also fisheries and land,, settlement, and the North, and Midland trunk railways, while mining had been stimulated, and the natives pacified, and native lacdsharking stopped. The statute book had been remodeled,the-.Rpads s “nd Bridges Construction Act repealed, l and practical retrenchment carried out.- 5 Sir Julios closed with a brilliapt-y peroration, and after his speech, had to answer three inches deep of written .questions, which he did with apparent satisfaction to the audience. He was accorded, a unanimous vote of thanks. . , • •>