MR BEETHAM AT BIDFORD

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3678, 3 December 1890, Page 2

MR BEETHAM AT BIDFORD

(From.an Occasional Correspondent). ■ 'Tbe'meeting convened for the 27tli NoTembei'attheßohoolhouse.Bidefofd, by Mr Beetbam,: duly came off,' the attendance being in excess of what was anticipated, Mr James Miller, who wis elected Chairman,- briefly introduced tho candidate, who, I need hardly sp-y, was listened to with marked,attention duriug the whole course of his long and able speech, which occupied more thau two hours in delivery. The subjects dealt with were chiefly those which have already appeared in print, and; need not here.be recapitulated, but it affords me infinite pleasure to give publicity to thefaot that the candidate was no less earnest" that eloquent, when warning ■ his audience of the folly of entering upon strikes, which, in the majority of cases, were either unreasonable or against tho laws of political ecouomy, and calculated to bring ruin upon themselves and families. , The. real sympathy displayed by the . speaker for the losses and suffering i of rnanv of the labour class who had

joined such unions, was undoubted, and went far to convince his hearers that his words were more theoutcome of true philanthropby than an attempt to seek their suffrage by fair words or resorting to tactics which might suit a quasi-Liberal, but which would be altogether iri opposition to the code of honourwhiohregulates the conduct of atrue Conservative. Many illusions were dispejled by the frank' replies given to various questions asked by several of tlie audience, and the meeting broke up with a feeling that they had that day been drinking deeply from the fountain of truth and were much tlie better for it, and deplored that so many of their fellow creatures under the designation of the Knights of Labour, should aspire to : improve their condition, by craving for the swill of the "hog tub," instead o£ the more palatable beverago which Mr Beethani had placed before them that

evening, That Mr Beetham has both meutal and morel qualifications for the position lie aspires to none will gainsay, for his proved experience during the past fourteen years is a sufficient answer to that, but that lie is physically s'a, is not so generally known, for the amount of energy he has displayod on. this and oiher occasions of contested elections in his horseback feats over rough country* when roads were almost unknown, as also bis unwearying labours during the work of the session, marks him as one eminently fitted iu all respects to again represent, the constituency, whose confidence in him, by what I hear, ia even, if anything, stronger than ever,