THE ELECTIONS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1631, 8 September 1887, Page 3

THE ELECTIONS.

MR J. M. TWOMEY AT PLEASANT VALLEY. Mr J, M. Twomey addressed the electors in the Pleasant Valley Schoolroom on Monday evening last. A great deal of interest had bean aroused in this meeting in consequence of the expressed deter* mieation of Mr Postlethwaite to meet Mr Twomey there. The consequence was that the meeting was the largest ever held at Pleasant Valley. Mr Postlethwaite, howereiiWas not present. MrK. Brophy was voted to the chair, and briefly introduced the speaker, who wan received with loud applause. Mr Twomey went over about the same ground that he ban traversed at other meetings, speaking at considerate length on Protection and other subjects. The speaker, whoso address lasted for about two hours, was frequently applauded by bis hearers. At the conclusion of the speech the Chairman invited questions to be asked of the candidate. Upon this loud cries arose of “ Where’s Postlethwaite 1" (with a good deal of laughter) “Where is he 1 bring him out 1" “ Haa be sent a substitute 1” “ Front him !” and a large number of other cries resounded on all sides. Mr Wells then handed a question to the Chairman, which upon Mr Twomey looking at bo said he thought had better not be put, seeing that Mr Postlethwaite was not there. (Loud cries of “ Read it.”) Mr Twomey said he did not think it should be read, as it concerned Mr Poatlethwiite. He would not have it said that he had said anything behind Mr Postlethwaite’s back. Had he been there he would have had no mercy upon him at all, (Loud cheers.) At the request of the audience the paper, which contained two questions, was then read. The first was as to the raising of the school age from five to ssven, Mr Twomey said ho was not in favor of this. The result would be that the attendance at the country schools would become so small that many of them would have to be closed* j Mr Welle then said that Mr Postleth waite pointed out where a great saving could be made by raising the school age, but he did not tell them where n greater saving could be made, namely, by causing the gates to be removed from all public roads, and thus compelling the runholders to find work for the unemployed in fencing etc. If the gates were allowed to remain upon the roads, the runholders should b« charged the same for the land thry thus obtained as they charged croppers for it, viz., from 3s to 10s per acre. (Loud ap: plause.) Mr Twomey thought this w?s a matter for the Road Boards to deal with. Mr Wells said there was no getting a chance to speak to the Gera'dine Road Board. Mundell’s sa’e or something else was coming on, and they were always in a great hurry to get away, (Loud applause.) An elector : Mr Rhodes stated at Hilton that he bad advertised to come forward to contest the election before the Political Reform Association was started, 1 can ' get half-a-dozen gentlemen in this room who can prove Mr Rhodes is not telling , the truth, as these gentlemen were asked several times to go the Association’s meet-

logo two months before Mr Rhodes came forward. Can Mr Twomey te'l the 1 reason?— Mr Twomey said he recognised the question was put to him in « friendly spirit} but he would not take advantage of the opportunity it gave him of speaking of Mr Ebodes. Mr Rhodes was going about making doleful complaints about the way he was treated, and he was also sending round after him a person to act as a spy on his actions. There was not the least necessity for it. He hoped they would excess him for not making any reference to the question. Mr Hammond : Would you be in favor of ext Hiding the leases of the prosest runholders by giving them another ten years’ notice to quit, or would yon pul the leases up to public competi'ion when they fall due ?—Mr Twomey said he would not be in favor of extending the leases ; that was what the Political Reformers were aiming at, us the reformers bad in most cases lent money to the leaseholders, and wanted another ten years to get their money back. (Loud applanse.) An elector : Has Mr Twomey any communication from Mr Postleihwait# in reference to the challenge he threw out at ' Hilton about coming here or does he know if Mr Poetlethwaite haeaent a substitute I If so, we are anxious to see him. (Loud applause and laughter.) -Mr T womey ; I daro say many of you are disappointed at his ant being here. I am disappointed myself. (Laughter.) X wish .he were here. He made

use of some very nasty language with regard to me on bis way into Timam last Saturday, He may . have to answer for it yet. (Applause), He (Mr Twnmey) would ask for no bettor fun than to have Mr Poatlethwaite there that night. It would have given him (Mr Twomey) an opportunity of ventilating things. It amused him, and did nobody else any ham. He had to apologise for the absence of Mr Poatlethwaite. (Loud laughter). As to the Shearers’ Union, he thought it excellent, and had defended it from the beginning. Ho thought if all those present saw the dressing down he gave the Kaffir-Import-ing squatters in the paper they would be satisfied. The banks, the insurance companies, the farmers, etc., could combine together to protect their own interests, and why should not the working men do the same 1 When Mr Joseph Arch first suggested these combinations in England a very pious bishop, who was living upon the fat of the land, said he should be ducked in a horsepond. It was the same in New Zealand. Major Atkinson in 1884 said if the people wore to get the land for nothing they would not settle upon it. Now Mr Ballance had settled them upon it. They were then called "‘ lazy loafers.” Now they were living upon their own industry. He quite approved of the Shearers’ Union. As to the question of whether it would be possible to lower the Governor’s salary, ho said he thought it would be possible to do so. The voico of the nation could do anything, but it was a question wbether it would be wise to do so, as in all probability Eogwould not like it. A suggestion was thrown out that a totalisator should be used at Tcmuka on the polling day in order to let the Political Reform Association and the friends of Mr Twomey see the number of their respective backers. Mr A. P. Wells proposed a hearty vote of thanks to, and confidence in, Mr Twomey. Mr Howes seconded this, which was carc'ed amid great applause. A vote of thanks to the Chairman, proposed by Mr Twomey, closed the meeting.

MB TWOMEY AT KAKAHU BUSH. Mr Twomey addressed a meeting of abont 40 electors in the Eakahn Bush sohoolhouie last Tuesday evening, Mr Graham (Chairman of the School Committee) occupied the chair. At the close of his address Mr Twomey said that be had told his meeting at Pleasant Valley it was the quietest and most orderly meeting be had hitherto addressed, but he must now say that bis Kskahu Bush meeting was still more eo if possible. As he went along the people appeared to grow more kindly and considerate towards him, and whatever the result of the election might bo he had reason to feel gratified at the respectful attention paid to him wherever ha had been. Mr Twomey resumed his seat amidst prolonged applause. Mr G. J. Wreathsll, sheopformer, Beautiful Valley, asked several questions respecting the National Bank, bat the same questions and answers have already been published, so it is unnecessary to reproduce them. After one or two other questions were answered Mr Thomas Ley proposed a vote of thanks to Mr Twomey for bit address, and confidence in him as a representative for the district. The motion was seconded by an elector, whose name did not transpire. Mr Wreathnll moved as an amendment a vote of thanks only, and said it was absurd to give a candidate a vote of confidence. The amendment did not find a seconder, and on the motion being put it was declared carried unanimonsly, not a hand in the room being held up against it. Mr Twomey said that was the weakest point at which he bad met the Political Reform Association. At any of his previous meetings where they attempted to make a motion someone w«e found to second it, but on this occasion it lapsed for the want of a seconder. He thanked them very sincerely for their expression of confidence, and moved a vote of thanks to the Chairman. Tbs meeting then terminated. MB S. BUXTONAT MILPOBD.

Mr S. Buxton addressed a very large meeting of the electors of Bangitata in the Milford Schoolroom last evening. Mr John Hajhurst occupied the chair and epoke in very flattering terms of Mr Buxton. They had, he said, tried Mr Bolleston long enough and found him wanting, and it was now necessary to make a change. They could now do no better than try Mr Buxton, and if be did not go straight he had no doubt but that they would treat him in a similar manner at the next election. Mr Buxton then delivered a speech so newhat similar to the one reported in this paper, and was frequently applauded and received with manifestations of great enthusiasm. At the close of his addreis, Mr Leaob asked would Mr Buxton be in favor of retrenchment in the matter of the contract made between the Bank of New Zealand and the Government with regard to public funds, —Mr Buxton said he was not sufficiently acquainted with the matter to give an answer, but if elected he would make it a subject of inquiry, In reply to Mr Miles, Mr Buxton said he would be in favor of giving medians Protection to goade which could be produced in the colony end le goods which we could not produce in as free ae possible, la answer to a further question be said he thought the High Schools proper might be done away with, but not the District High Schools. Mr George Woodhead moved and Mr Colville seconded a vote of thanks to Mr Buxton.

The motion was earned unanimously, and the meeting terminated with the usual rote of thanks to the Chairman, MR BROWN ATABHBUBTON. Mr James Brown, a large farmer residing at Wakanui, in the Rangitata electoral district, addressed a meeting of about 200 people in the Ashburton Oddfellows' Hall on Thursday evening last. Mr Brown did not appear as a declared candidate for the Bangitata seat, but it was understood that, after he bad laid his views before the electors, he would if so desired, and his views were approved of, be most willing to contest the election. . , , . . The Mayor occupied the chair, and in a few appropriate sentences introduced Mr Brown to the meeting. Mr Brown, on coming forward, was greeted with very hearty applause. He said he was before them as an elector, a farmer, and a colonist of many years standing. In the course of a long and able address he dealt with the political questions now before the oountryi condemning the Atkinson administration and giving reasons therefor. Ha declared himself a strong supporter of the Government, belie ring it was the best we have ever had in New Zealand, He was cordially received, and resumed his seat amidst loud applause. After he had replied to a number of questions, Mr B Hug hes came forward, and said it was plain to him that if they wanted to Bend working men to Parliament they had only to look amongst their own neighbors to fine. I snob men as Mr Brown and Mr Buxton,

gentlemen who were possessed of great intelligence and honesty, end who could be thoroughly trusted to represent our interests. But in the present oaie they had one Government candidate in the field already, and if Mr Brown stood it would simply mean a splitting np of the rotes, and the returning to Parliament an enemy to Canterbury, Sad Mr Brown been earlier in the field he would hare found a large amount of support. Mr Bnzton, however, was amongst them, and it would be a pity to spoil his chance of being returned.

Hr R, Riston proposed that a hearty rote of thanks be accorded Hr Brown for his very able address that evening, and this was seconded by Hr Darid Thomas. Mr Brown stepped forward and said he would not oppose Hr Buxton. This announcement was received with applause, and the motion was then pnt and earned unanimously.