MR. BUNNY AT GREYTOWN.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 3, Issue 932, 23 November 1881, Page 2

MR. BUNNY AT GREYTOWN.

Tub following is the conclusion of Mr Bunny's meeting at Greytown Mr Bunny concluded liis .speech by asking for a vote of thanksjthen, and one of confidence when they went ! to'the ballot box, and sat down amid - loUd applause. . The Chairman asked if any elector wished to ask any questions,of the candidate. A long pause ensued, and as no one seemed inclined to ask anything, Mr Cimdy, sen., then said he would make a few remarks. He had been siu* prised to hear.Mr Boys at Featherston practically supporting Mr Bunuy by calling liim their old friend and praising Vogel for benefiting the colouy by means of his public works loan scheme, forgetting that it was Mr Bunny who first got up in the House and proposed to borrow five millions for public works. Yogel got, up after and proposed it bb ten millions. He (MrCundy) knew little of Mr Buchanan, either for or against him, except that lie was going to introduce a greater pest than the rabbits—the stoats and weasels. He did not see why they wished to turn out their old friend Bunny, simply to put another in. Mr Bunny had opened up the country, and when lie commenced doing so there was only one good bridge from Wellington to Masterton, and that was the Blackbridge at Greytown. Bunny and Renall had obtained the volunteers their land scrip, and tlioy should praise the bridge which carried them over safely. Support Mr Bunny and he would do all they required. (Loud applause). Mr E. Gray asked Mr Bunny if he did not think it would be advisable to alter tho boundary of the countios and make it similar to that of the electoral districts, and call the counties north aud south respectively. Mr Bunny: I would alter them altogether. The whole local government system requires pulling down and rebuilding. I would be in favour of amalgamating the counties, giving them moro power and also more money, (Applause,)

Mr Gray: Should not members repre- , sent the district all the year rounl instead of only in session, so that Ministers might consult with them when making changes, which affected the district, such as removing the policeman from Greytown, and similar cases 1 Mr Bunny: I have used those very words to Ministers. They should consult with Members as to any chauges affecting the people. A Voice: How about the Gaming and Lotteries Act? Mr Gray: It is one law for the rich and one for the poor. What is horse racing but a game of chance for people who have money to train racers I But we little people must not now meet together as wo usod to and have a quiet game of for fear of being prosecuted. (Applause). Mi' Bunny: The Government's intention was to prevent rings of swindlers, but the Act goes rather to an extreme, and when this is the case it is sure to be remedied sooner or later. The Chairman said as no more questions appeared to be forthcoming, he would ask some elector to move a vote of thanks. Mr Kempton: I would move a vote of thanks Mr Renall: I will have much pleasure in doing that. Mr Renall then mounted the platform, and was received with applause. He , oriticißed Mr Bunny's speech pretty freely, and, on the whole, favorably. Ho said ; Mr Bunny bad let "tho Volunteer Scrip Bill remain in abeyance for ihreo years, i till ho (Mr Renall) was returned and livened him up. He then repeated his ' views, as expressed at other meetings, i He agreed with Mr Bunny as to single votes, and stated that, although lift (Mr i Renall) had tho privilege of voting in two I places through owning soil in them, he did not see what he lwd done for the i country to deserve them more than any 1 one else. He alluded in amusing terms I to the circular just issued by the Babbit • Inspector, deeignating him as the Rabbit King. He did not know why Mr Bunny ! had not put a clause re rabbit fences in i the Fencing Act. He (Mr Bunny) must i have been enjoying himself, as alluded to by Mr Booth. He (Mr Renall), alluding to the plural voting, said he believed he polled more voters and less voles ilian any other candidate at the late County election. If he were returned to the House, ho would try to get this system altered. Ho did not Ihink in a country like this it was necessary to have either a property-tax or an income-tax. They took money that would otherwise lie spent on works in the various districts, instancing its effect in Masterton. He had not been able to convert Mr Bunny to his way of thinking re the Upper Honße, as he had not been alongside of him lately. He thought, if returned, Mr Bunny might furbish up the old Compensation Bill and get it passed for the new Volunteers (Applause). He 'housht ho should give his vote to his old friend Bunny after all (Loud Applause). Mr Buchanan ascended tho platform, amidst cheering, to reply to Mr Bunny's remarks with regard io what he (Mr Buchanan) had said at Carterton. He had made up his mind not' to attend the meetings of any other candidate during the present eleotion, but Mr Bunny had attended his meeting at Featherston as a spectator, and he (Mr Buchanan) had done the same at Greytown at Mr Bunny's meeting, He had not entertained any idea of speaking, but a certain statement of Mr Bunny's required instant explanation on his (Mr Buchanan's) part, He had been a careful and attentive listener at Messrs Beetham and Bunny's Carterton meeting, and was certain Mr Bunny used words tn tile effect that as a matter of course he would represent the Southern division and Mr Beetham the North. He was not perhaps as well-known as Mr Bunny, but those who did know him (and he would refer those who did not to those who did) were sufficiently acquainted with his character to know he would not wilfully misrepresent any person; that he would make no statement but what he believed to he true. (Loud Applause). Mr Bunny had indulged in a great deal of thunder and lightning that evening with regard to his (Mr Buchanan's) presumption in coming forward, but ho did not feel very much alarmed. He was afraid the audience were becoming tired of the long speeches (cries of Oh, no ! no on 1 go on !). Well, be would say that Mr Bunny had always acted fairly and honestly in the eleotion, but he (Mr Buchanan) felt he had cause to complain at his name being coupled with any other person in the present contest. Mr Bunny had dragged in Mr Phnrnzyn and Mr Booth, but he (the speaker) stood on his own legs, and always had done so. He would not take up time then to refute all that Mr Bunny had said, but would call meetings if he found it necessary for the purpose. With regard to his action re stoats and weasels, he had acted in the interest of all classes of the whole district and the whole colony, and he was often surprised to hear people speaking in a dictatorial tone about rabbits when they were neither troubled with thein nor knew anything practically upon the Bubject. With regard to his candidature he only asked them to take him on his own merits. Mr Bunny had called him a large landowner with a view to prejudice'him; but he was proud of his position, simply because it was the result of his own industry and enterprise, (Applause). If in that position he had ' been guilty of locking up land, non- 1 progression, and being general useless, he would not ask them to return him, but

lif he had prowled, worked for the progression of the district, and his efforts met their approval and gave them faith in him, he asked them then to return him as thejr representative. (Applause.) He apologised for' speaking at such length, but having been charged with misrepresentations, lie felt it his duty to reply. (Loud and continued applause.) Mr Bunny regretted that his remarks should hare called forth such anger as they had witnessed. He denied that he and Mr Beetham had parcelled out the district between them. He had taken no. part in any of Mr Buchanan's meetings (Mr R. J. Thompson: You did not> speak at Mr Buchanan's meeting!. Mr Bunny : No I Mr Thompson. Hear I hear I—laughter), If Mr Buchanan called fresh meetings of course he (Mr Buriny) should follow, and they would never get their fight over. (Laughter). Of course he did not mean that Mr Buchanan had misrepresented them wilfully, (Hear I hear I) Mr Buchanan had mistaken a word or two. He had mistaken " would stand " for" would b8 elected." There was no personal feeling in the matter, and he and Mr Buchanan were perfectly friendly in the contest, (Loud Applause.) Mr Buchanan also disclaimed any personal ill-feeling in the matter, and the vote of thanks was carried, and the usual compliment paid to the Chairman.