MR A. E. G. RHODES AT GERALDINE.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2515, 13 June 1893, Page 2

MR A. E. G. RHODES AT GERALDINE.

Only about fifty persons attended Mr A. E. G. Rhodes’s meeting at the Volunteer Hall, Geraldine, last Friday evening. In the unavoidable absence of Mr A. White, chairman of the Town Board, Mr M. C. Oi'bell was voted to the chair. The chairman, in introducing Mr Rhodes, said it was unnecessary to request a fair hearing for their member, as he had always been respected in Geraldine. His (the speaker’s) sympathies always went out for the members of the House of Assembly, for he considered that they had very arduous duties to perform. They were expected to visit their electors at all the small centres, and be at the “ beck and call ” of everyone. There was hardly a trivial matter that came up in the district but what the member was appealed to on, and he had no hesitation in saying that Mr Rhodes had always carried out his promises, and had been most attentive to the requests of the electors. In conclusion, he thought that the County Council should be made more use of in local matters, and the member’s attention should be given to the affairs of the colony. Mr Rhodes, who was received with applause, said that a member, as a rule, was only too glad when the electors in his district gave him information on local matters. Such information was useful in dealing with public matters, and it was very hard for the member to know what. was going on in his district without being informed. Of course, they were expected to do a great deal in local matters, and it, was impossible to ai tend to everything, but almost every member in the House would do his best in this respect. Ha was sorry the weather had turned out so bad and affected the attendance that night, as he was probably giving his last address as their representative at Geraldine. Unfortunately the electorates had been altered, and very few people seemed to understand 1 the new boundaries. The Wweea the Rangitata and the Pareora electorate, he believed, would run up towards Winchester, and then on to the boundary road past Mr Deßenzy’s ? thence up through the up through road, through Woodbury, and then up the Waihi stream. Pj-aetically the whole of Woodbqry, with the exception o f Mr Flatraan’s house and the school, would still bo in his electorate Geraldine people would bo included. With the people on the other side of the Rangitata right up to Ashburton, with whom, as far as he G°uld see, they had little in common, He was sorry thqt t})o commissioners had so diyided tlie electorate. The Pareora electorate would be one of she biggest electorates iq Canterbury, and, being scattered, would be a very difficult one to uorh. Mp Rhodes then dealt with the various political questions as already reported iq his Temuka speech. Referring to the new Ministry, he said it was rather premature to judge Mr Seddon’s fitness for the Premiership, as he had not yet had a fair trial; but he considered that in Mr Ward they would have an excellent Colonial Treasurer, Coming to local matters he said that for two years past they had been trying to get a telephone to Peel Forest, but he regretted that the Government had not done anything in the matter. Now that Mr Ward was Colonial Treasurer, however, he had hopes that the Peel Forest people would soon have their wish realised. In conclusion, he was sorry there was not tv

larger attendance present,jas he was near the end of his three years’ stewardship, but he assured them that if he were elected for the Pareora district he would not forget his old Geraldiue electors, but would still be willing to d > all he co id for them. (Applause). He thought he knew their wauts fairly well, and he had always received great kindness from them, and was sorry that they were cut off from his electorate. (Loud applause). Mr W. E. Barker asked if Mr Rhodes had changed his views on the prohibition question, with respect to the direct veto and compensation. Mr Rhodes replied that he would stand by his pledges made at last election till his three years were out; then he would be prepared to state his views for the next election. Mr W. S. Maslin asked whether the previous Government had availed themselves of the accrued sinking fund, and why its use should be singular to the present Government. Mr Rhodes replied that he did not object to any Government using the sinking fund, but he objected to the present Government saying they were using the revenue of the colony to reduce the public debt, when really they were using the accrued sinking fund. Mr Maslin asked if the present Government were not entitled to take credit for having paid £200,000 to the Public Works Fund, seeing that they had not other funds to use as the Atkinson Government had; Mr Rhodes replied that the Atkinson Government went into office with £400,000 deficiency, brought about by the 'itout-Vogel Ministry; and had to face this with a revenue not nearly big enough to pay their way. They put the whole finances in proper order, so that there was £143,965 surplus when they left office. This surplus had naturally increased since, because the finances had been put on a sound footingMr A. W. Ensor proposed a vote of thanks to Mr Rhodes for his clear, lucid address, and in doing so regretted that there wore not more electors present to say good-bye to Mr Rhodes, seeing that he would not represent them in future. Mr W. S. Maslin seconded the proposition, and said he was sorry the coll weather had kept so many people away, for he was sure Mr Rhodes was suffice!] tly respected in Geraldine to entitle bim to a large audience. He hoped to have seen a greater number of Mr Rhodes’s own supporters present!; as it was, the larger portion present were Government supporters. He was sorry Mr Rhodes had such a cold night, and such a cold subject to deal with as to speak against the satisfactory progress made by the present Government. (Hear, hear.) He hoped that when Mr Rhodes came forward at next election he would see fit to change his views on the direct veto, and other questions, and be found on the right side of the House. (Hear, hear.) Mr W. M, Moore, as a supporter of Mr Rhodes, was sorry to say good-bye to him as their representative. He was perfectly certain that whatever member they got in the future he could not be more assiduous in his attentions to his constituents, or more courteous to everyone than Mr Rhodes had been (hear hear). He did not care who was elected for Geraldine in the future, for he would still go to Mr Rhodes for help whenever they needed it at Geraldiue. (Hear, hear, and loud applause). The motion was then put and carried unanimously. Mr Rhodes in return thanked the electors most heartily for the kind reception they had given him. Not only that night, but during the election and ever since he had been before them, he had received the utmost kindness, both from friends and opponents and he would always remember them as long as he lived. Right throughout South Canterbury he had been treated well, and he felt proud of this. (Loud applause). A vote of thanks to the chairman terminated the meeting.