WOODVILLE ELECTION.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume IX, Issue 2679, 20 August 1887, Page 2

WOODVILLE ELECTION.

MR BAKEU AT EK ETA HUM

TThfl following is the conclusion of our report of Mr Baker's meeting, published in our last issue:—

Before concluding, and being a stranger, Mr Baker thought it' necessary to contradict several stateoienta circulated about ' him. It - had. boon freely reported that lie contested the present election merely out of personal animosity to Mr Smith. No such thing; and he considered anyman who would take advantage of an enemy in this manner was not daaorv-. ing of support. (Applause.) .He was also styled the, grievanoe. man. He would not deny he. had a grievance agaxusc the Government, .but .it was a. just one. He. considered when, the Government dispensed with his sety vices they bad a right, to treat, him iii the same way as'they did others, viz.; given, him three mouths' notice; (Hear hear!) Then again, it had boon said he was contesting the election in the j interest of tho squatters. This wa equally -false. He never owned: a sheep iti-.his'lifo, unless it was a dead one. (Laughter.) With Reference to 'thereport thatheWisgoing to retire m f avorof oAeof the candidates, be ..could assure them he had no such iu-. tention. His sole reason {or comitis; forward, wag on 1 account of his having, a stake in-the country,' and believing tbat a change in the present Ministry 1 'was desirable. (Applaud.) He denied .that he owned more than twenty acres of, land, and if it could be proved that, he did so within the past six. years bV would band over £SO to the Hospital. In conclusion he- hoped they would consider'well the financial affairs of the Colony,'aud vote for, the' candidates whom" they thought would pledge themselves to cut dotin .expenses. (Applause.) ' The Chairman then called upon any piffsow desirous of doing so, • to ask questions, : -

Mr Dufty: Would you give the £SO if it could bo proved that you bought more than 20 acres previous to tho six years you refer to ?

Mr Baker •: The statement he challenged was that he had large interests inland. The whole of the property he possessed in Hawkes Bay District was three quarter acre sections.

In answer to Messrß McDonnell and Vince, the candidate said if returned, he would be in favor of altering the present system of allotting Educational .Reserves.' He did not consider tbi Heserves were properly destributed,

Mr MoDonnell: Can the Commissioners dispose of the Reserves 1 - : Mr Baker: No, they can only lease them for a period of twenty-one years. Mr Vince thought it most unfair that tbey should have to maintain roads out of their thirds and fourths, These resoirves lay.unimproved, but if he improved bis property his rates Were increased. ; ■

■ In reply to a question, whether he was in favor of immigration, the candidate- said certainly, provided they consisted of that class who would bring capital into the country but no other. -Replying to Mr E de Clifton, he was iu favpr of taxing the land according to its value. -. '•;■ f An elderly gentleman- created wueli amusement by asking the candidate if he was in favor of Irish-Yankees coming into the Colony, ' The candidate replied-that be was in favor of •auy person coming to the Colony who felt iuoliued to do :

On the motion of Mr MoDounoil,' a unanimous vote of thanks was accorded to Mr Baker for his address. A similar oompliment to the chair concluded the meeting..