WAIPA ELECTION.

Waikato Times, Volume XII, Issue 946, 16 July 1878, Page 2

WAIPA ELECTION.

THE TE AWAMUTU MEETING-. On Friday eA r ening, according to advertisement, Mr McMinn met the electors at the Public Hall, Te Awamutu. This journal had arranged for a special report of the meeting oy telegraph, and had managed through the courtesy of the telegraphists of the Hamilton and Te Awamutu offices to keep the line open for transmission of a message so late as might be required. At • a quarter past seven, the operator at Hamilton received a conversational message from his brother operator at Te Awamutu that very few were present at the meeting, and that he should return at half past nine o'clock and wire the report. Half-past nine o'clock came and the operator at the Hamilton end found he could not communicate with Te Awamutu. More than an hour was vainly spent in endeavouring to do so. It was found afterwards that Cambridge and Auckland were in communication, and that Te Awamutu had been";mistakenly cut off from both Hamilton and Auckland, the Auckland papers being quite as anxious to open up communication as ourselves, but with the same fruitless result. A. misunderstanding that the hour when the professional message was sent through, was a quarter -past nine instead of a quarter-past seven, led to the natural conjecture that the meeting, probably from the state of the weather, had not come off. We now learn that some sixty persons were present.. Mr W. Sloane occupied the chair.

Mr McMinn travelled over much the same ground as on previous occasions. He condemned the County System, approving the giving of increased power to Highway Boards as the successful solution to the difficulty of affording a satisfactory and workable system of local self government. He deprecated the timidity of the late Government and their apparent want of faith in their own measures, as evidenced by their making the acceptance of the Act optional,, and their throwing the responsibility of its working on the shoulders of the people. He compared the school of politicians as represented, by the Atkinsons, the Bichmonds, and other families —who made politics a trade—with that to which ir George Grey belonged, who came forward as the champion of New Zealand—the exponent and vindicator of the people's rights and liberties. In the matter of education, he supported the secular system contained in the present measure, but thought that. the grand fault in the Act was its not making the attendance of children compulsory, -while he was in favor of subsidising denominational schools in large centres of population. He was in favor of a Property and Income Tax. Increased taxation was necessary. In conclusion, he assured the electors that, if returned, he would be found ever watchful of their interests, and prepared to advance them. The folio-wing motion -was then proposed by Mr Walton, and seconded by Mr Bridgman, "That the electors present, having heard Mr McMinn, and being satisfied that he is a real supporter of the present Government, and also that his candidature is conducted with the entire approval of Sir George Grey, do hereby unanimously accord to Mr McMinn a vote of confidence, and pledge themselves to exercise their utmost endeavors to secure his return.*'

A show of hands was called for, when of those present—some sixty in number—-twenty-two held up their hands, and four against—the majority who were present giving no expression of opinion. A vote of thanks to the Chairman terminated the proceedings"

THE MEETING AT HAMILTON. There was a large attendance at 7 o'clock, in. the Courthouse, last night. On the motion of Mr W. Jones, seconded by Mr Potter, the Mayor took the chair.

Mr McMinn, having been introduced by the Chairman, said ohat he would have ventured into Hamilton before but, believing it was a stronghold of the enemy, wished to see what encouragement he would get from other parts of the district. That encouragement he had received to a veiy large extent. As to his regard for iSir George Grey he declared it to be an outspoken open regard and he came forward as a supporter of the present Government, and the more so now that Provincialism ceased to exist. Mr McMinn discussed the same topics as at [Pe A wamutu, the county system ; method of ratiug, the land tax, education, and other matters. He denounced the proposed land tax as tending to oppression, as calculated to cause people holding large blocks of land to sell them. He did not believe in people holding large blocks of land, but it was one thing to hold this belief and another thing to bring in a tax for the purpose of fbiving other persons to come into this b?ffti-f. Ii savored too much of class legislation. He feared it would tend to insecurity of property. He did not think the Customs duty would bear remission. He believed in a six months' residental qualification for. the-suffrage. Rq,inveighed against the game laws which were growing up in the colony, so far as affected private property. If he was returned, his amfbition would be to bea working member representing the country settler. When Mr McMinn ceased speaking, and the applause was over Mr Potter asked upon what point Mr McMinn .differed with Mr Whitaker upon any of the main subjects just discussed.

Mr McMinn said he had never heard Mr Whitaker express his views with regard to local self government.

Mr Potter—Why apply different rule to town and country schools. Mr McMinn, because in country districts, there can be but one school; in large towns, more than one, or many, and that is why i would recommend the denominational system, in towns, but not in country districts. Mr Potter asked for. the candidate's ideas on the finances of the colony. ' * Mr McMinn: The question is too vague a one. ' Mr Knox : What is your opinion on the incidence of taxation. Mr MeMnm: I have sas that taxation

will have to be increased, and that the direction must be in the shape of a PrQperty and Income Tax. To Mr Knox: I would not support Sir George Grey if he brought in a motion for insular separation, or for separating the colony from the mother country. To Mr Potter: Land revenues, he thought, should not be used as ordinary revenue, but expended on the improvement of the land. He believed in the Homestead System. Mr McDonald: Are you prepared to support Sir George Grey in giving back land to the Maoris so long as they are not brought near to Harapipi ? Mr McMinn: lam pvepared to support Sir George Grey so long as the nativeß are not brought near .to the settlers, either in townships or country. Mr Hay: What are the essential differences between your views and those of Mr Whitaker. Mr McMinn: I am here to state my own, hot Mr Whitaker's, opinions. Mr Jones proposed, and Mr Ripley seconded a vote of thanks to Mr McMinn for his address. Mr Potter proposed, as an amendment, ' " That this meeting expresses its thanks to Mr McMinn for his address, and that the electors, having heard the views of both candidates, and finding that Mr F. A. Whitaker will support the measures of the present Government as put before the country by Sir George Grey's Ministry, 'as well as all others of a similar liberal tendency, desires to confirm the resolution unanimously car ried at a recent meeting of the electors of Hamilton and the surrounding districts in the opinion that Mr ~F. A. Whitaker is a fit and proper person to represent the Waipa constituency in Parliament, and pledges itself to support that gentleman's candidature." Mr Morris soconded the amendment. The amendment was then put, thirtysix voting for it and ten against it. A vote of thanks to the Chairman, proposed by Mr MoMinn, concluded the proceedings.