THE ELECTIONS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1627, 30 August 1887, Page 2

THE ELECTIONS.

MR RHODES AT THE WASHDYKE.

Mr A. E. Q. Rhodes addressed a meeting of the Gladstone electors at the Washdyke on Saturday evening last. There was a good attendance, and the chair was tiken by Mr W. Balfour, who introduced the candidate to the meeting. In doing so be eaid they must all agree there had not been a more important election than this in New Zealand, and he thought it their duty to vote for men who would see that the country was brought into » proper financial position. He did not speak for one candidate more than another. They all knew that tbe country had been suffering from a severe depression; and when the present Government took office perhaps they were led to expect that they could do more than they possibly could do. Perhaps they expected too much. Be that as it might, tbe time had non coins when they must put their shoulders to tbe wheel and bear whatever financial burden was necessary. They must hate no more borrowing if possible, but if they had to borrow more itshouldy only bo to finish works commenced. * ? i Mr Rhode's then commended his address. He said he had with him a paragraph from the Temuka Leader. Ha would not wish to reply to it at tho meeting only he had no other way of answering the question. Without further preface ho read the foot-note to a letter signed “Fairplayj” which appeared in 'the Leader on the 18th lost; - Mr Rhodss went to a great deal of trouble to impress upon the people that he was in no way connected with squatters, but in oross-sxamination it was dragged out of him that his brother was a squatter,'and that be managed his brother’s -business. Probably, if pressed harder he might hare admitted that some of his relation* were squatters, Why did Mr Rhodes go to so mush trouble to disown the squatters? They had not been mentioned until he introduced thorn. It would appear that be was afraid the smell of tbe squatter still clung to him.

"He maj break, he may shatter, the land if he will, But the scent of the squatter Will hang to him • still.” (Great laughter.) Well, he would appeal to ■ anyone who hoard him at whether it Was dragged put of him that his brother was a squatter. When ; asked people advised him not to reply but ha replied at onoe. What led to the remark was that he. said he had no pecuniary in* terest in squatting himself. -But so far as any connection with squatters, he was proud to say that he believed his father was the first squatter in Sooth Ganteibmy. Another statement was that he was brought forward by the Political Reform Association. He was announced in the Titcaru papers before the Political Reform Association ; was ever thought]; of, so they, could have had absolutely nothing to do with it. Whether he got their support or : oot was another. .qiies’iofij but ho absolutely denied that ho was brought forward by them, ;r The remainder of. the address was in the.... main a repetition of' the speeches he had de’ivered in other places. Before he sat down Mr Rhodes expressed his.Willingness, to. answer any questiona that might be put’to him,”’ Mr Niven ;■ If elected would you bo in favor of doing away with the em >ll birds nuisance, by appoioting la6(,ebtr*ra in the some way as inspectors of ; rabbits, eto. l— Mr Rhodes said no dpubt the small birds nuisance was a serious ono. He bad noMhought about the matter, at all; and therefore should not, be able, to pledge himself as to the inspectors. He,should be guided by the public bodies, Mr Niven; Yes, but -how about the Rabbit Inspectors I—Mr Rhodes said the Rabbit Inspectors were paid- by the General Government. He would <> give Government the credit for sanding out numerous people to enquire into the rabbit question, but, he . believed " they might have done better, had they .striven to eradicate the nuisance. HW believed they had imported or w.re ; ,importing a lot of wire netting. ; T 1;.;. ' -• Mr Niven ; ’Yes,' but I wanttokno^ whether you .will t feo some; action vyith t;iba

ts regard to the small birds.—Mr Rhodes said be certainly thought small birds were as great a nuisance to the farmer as the rabbits were to the squatters. The reason , the Government were taking such great interest in the rabbit question was because tbe leases of the runs were falling in, and they would want tore-lot them. Mr Niven : As an elector of Gladstone, am I to understand that you will devise some means for coping with tbe small birds nuisnnce t—Mr Rhodes said he Would do bis utmost. Would you be in favor of more immigration f—Mr Rhodes said no. He considered immigration part of the public works policy, and if borrowisg stopped immigration must stop. Mr, W. Rutherford ; Will you explain the perpetual leasing system t It is not generally known.—Mr Rhodes said be believed in those particular settlements in the North Island there was to be a fresh valuation every 20years, but when the holdings were revalued tenants would not have to pay on tbe value of the improvements, but on tbe increased value of the land alone—the unearned increment. Mr Rutherford: 1 was told by a member of tbe Government that these leaseholds were just as good as freeholds, and that anyone holding them for six years could buy them,—Mr Rhodes said he believed nearly every Government had tried to,deal in different ways with the land. With some of tbe leases it might be as Mr Rutherford said, but with some it could hot. A perpetual lease could not be turned into a freehold. Of course fresh legislation might step in and overturn everything. Are you in favor of Bible reading in ' schools t—Mr Rhodes isaid he was, with a conscience clause and time-table. Is it necessary for any civil servant to gel a pension when incapacitated for office t —Mr Rhodes said it entirely depended upon the regulations under which was engaged. Mr Gardiner; What are your views on the Bankruptcy Act 7 I think it wants looking Into.—Mr Rhodes : 1 beg pardon. All my views on the Bankruptcy Act 7 Mr Gardiner: No, 1 want some of your views.—Mr Rhodes said he thought the Bankruptcy Act very bad. He thought that bankrupts should be compelled to apply for their discharge within a reasonable time, so that creditors could attend. It was rather a wide field for discussion the whole of tbe Act. Mr Gardiner said in. bis opinion it encouraged roguery instead of honesty. (Great applause). A raerchant told him a few days before that a man owed another £5, and others a few ponhds, and he went and borrowed £lO to give it to a lawyer to put him through the Court. He wou'd like Mr Rhodes’ opinion on. this. He thought it a point that wanted looking info. (Great applause, and cries of “ That is 6a Bd.”—Mr Rhodes said be was willing to give bis opinion on .any subject. Ha thought the present Act very bad indeed* f; It enabled people to go through very easily, as simply lay applying to bepome' bankrupt they went through the He thought the present Act very bad Court. After applying some never went any further, but waited till the end of six years. Mr Gardiner said in his opinion it would be better to make bankrupts pay 15s in the £, or give them no clearance at all.— Mr Rhodes said he was not vary conversant with the present Bankruptcy Act, but he thought creditors could refuse to consent to a discharge if a bankrupt did not pay 10a in the ,£. i'he , matter was entirely in the hands, of the creditors, Mr Steysnson said he had much pleasure ip ; proposing a vote of thanks to Mr Rhodes for-his address. He thought he bad addressed the meeting fairly, and was ■entitled to a vote of thanks. f Mr J. Page seconded the proposal. He thought the candidate had answered the ’ questions very fairly indeed. The "motion was carried, and on the motion of Mr Page, seconded by Mr Rhodes, of thaDki: was passed to tbe Chairman, and the meeting terminated Mr' S. Franks addressed a meeting at fairlie Greek on-Thursday night, and was accorded a vote of thanks.