THE WAIKATO ELECTION.

Waikato Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 2343, 16 July 1887, Page 2

THE WAIKATO ELECTION.

■Mr Russell at Cambridge.

Mr G, W. Russell, one of the candidates' for the representation of Waikato in the House of Representatives, addressed a meeting of the electors at tho Public Hall, Cambridge, on Wednesday evening. There were about three hundred persons present, including about twenty ladies, and the chair was occupied by Major Wilson, who performed the onerous duties connected with his post in a manner which .gave the utmost satisfaction to all. ’ The Chairman, in opening tho meeting, said he did not wish to be identified with either side. Ho need scarcely ask them to give the speaker a fair hearing, as Cambridge audiences were renowned for their fairness. He then introduced the candidate. Mr Russell, on coming forward, was received with , loud demonstrations of applause. His speech, which , lasted nearly two hours, was in all essential points a repetition of that delivered at-Hamilton. He defined his platform as consisting of three planks, drastic retrenchment, railway reform, and a vigorous, yet judicious system of protection. Referring to education, he said there was no doubt the cost was too great. The high schools, colleges and universities should be self-supporting. The tendency of the propertied classes was to vote in their own interests, the etfects of which they were now feeling. If the endowments were colonialised, he thought they would soon pay the whole cost of primary education. Higher education was necessary, and it ought, by means of a well regulated system of scholarships, to be within tho reach of all deserving pupils. He had, at Hamilton,, advocated raising the school age to seven and charging fees for all education above the fourth standard, but since he had gone into the country districts he had seen reason to modify his views. Raising the age would mean shutting up many of the country schools. He thought, however, that the cost of town schools might be materially reduced. In any casehe wonldnot agree to touch primary education until all other means of retrenchment had been exhausted. Referring to railway reform, he denied that he [was a false friend to Valle’s scheme as he had been called in The Waikato Times. There might bo features in the scheme to which he would object, but he would stand by it in ' all its essential features. He had fought for the scheme, not only in his own paper but in "The Waikato Times, and it was perfectly absurd to say that he would make a stalking horse of the scheme until ho got into the House, and then sneak out of it. If Mr Valle were returned he would, loyally support him as his commander ;he would act as his lieutenant. If he did not accept all the features of the scheme that was no reason why he should be so grossly misrepresented. (Applause). After stating that reductions in railway freights were, more requsite than lowering the passenger fares, Mr Bussell quoted from a letter written by Mr Whyte, in which that gentleman claimed that the abolition of the credit system and not a reduction in freights was what they must look for. Regarding protection, Mr Russell said it had been remarked to him by a friend that the whole of the theory was in favour of free-trade, while the whole of practice Was iu favour of protection. He quite agreed with that definition. They must go in for protection in order to find empWment for our young people, There were 238,000 children under the age of 15, and what was to be done with them ’There was no mom in the covil service. (Langhtur), and judging by the cry of overproduction there were too many people on the land. (Oh ho I) They could not expect capitalists to come forward and put money into industries without a reasonable prosi,e t of success. While putting on additional duties on those articles which might be manufactured in the colony he would be prepared lo take -»fF a corresponding .amount of tho duty on articles of domestic use, so that there should be no increase of taxation. He concluded by asking the electors to lose sight of the personality of the two men. Tho country wanted new blood. He had been told that he had been licked before ; it was quite trne, and if ha were licked again he hoped he would take his licking likes, man. Mr Russell resumed his seat amid loud and prolonged applause. The Chairman said they had listened to a very exhaustive address ; still there might he some questions upon which the audience desired to be further informed. Mr Russell was ready and anxious to answer any questions put to him. Mr John McNicol ; In the event of a vote of no-confidence in the present Government being moved by the Opposition, how would you vote ?

Mr Russell said he should vote with the' Government. In saying this, however, ha was not pledging himself to the Government party. He wished to be distinct upon that point, but ho certainly preferred Stout and Yogel to those men who had made the railway through the Piako swamp instead of along the Hamilton road, where there was traffic all the way. That,one fact was quite enough for him. (Applause.) Mr Bond : Are you or are you .not receiving directly or indirectly any assistance from the present Government in your candidature ? Mr Bussell: What sort of assistance ? Mr Bond : Assistance of any sort.

Mr Russell: I would like a straightforward answer. Now, do you mean money, Mr Bond ?

Mr Bond : Certainly not. Mr Russell; Thank you. Really I don’t know what assistance 1 could get from the Government,

Mr Bond: Moral support. (Hear, hear.) Mr Russell: Really, I cannot say whether the Government are giving me their moral support, or what it would be wortli if they, were. It is possible that .they might induce their servants to vote for me, though I hardly think it likely the latter would do ,so. (This allvision, having reference to his scheme of drastic retrenchment in the Civil service, was received with laughter and loud applause).’ If I were to accept the assistance of the Government I: should be bound to them, and, gentlemen,- I am going ■down perfectly free. (Loud applause.) MrDickinspn; Has Mr James Mills, of Te Aroba, 1 or any other person to your knowledge been in communication with any member of the present Ministry, in reference to your becoming a candidate • for this electorate in their interest ? Mr Russell said he knew nothing of what Mr Mills had :done, but after the answer he had just given, it was perfectly absurd; to ask sucli a question. (Loud cheers). Mr Hewitt: In your printed address yon state that you offer your services at the request of a number of electors. Will yon give us their names and the district in which they reside? Mr Russell said they might always expect a surprise when Mr Hewitt came forward. (Laughter). If Mr Hewitt would take the electoral roll for Waikato, and take the names of three fourths of the electors he would find the people who wanted him to represent them. (Loud laughter and applause). Mr Tuck Having stated at your meeting at Hamilton on the 20th June last that you came out at the request of an influential party of electors of Te Aroha, do you not, in justice to them consider yon should stand for the electorate in -which your requisitionists are electors ? Mr Russell said Mr Tuck was known to to be a humorist, but his proper place was on the stage, where he invariably distinguished. himself. (Laughter). He knew many of Mr Whyte’s supporters would like him to stand for Tanranga—lie was quite satisfied about that (A Voice : You’ll get well enough licked where you are !), but. he did not think it necessary to go so far. to get a seat. He was out for Waikato before the division, and though" he might lose some votes he preferred to stick to the district in which his interests lay.

Oapt. Owen ; Did you not very recently urge the Cambridge Borough Council to apply for a loan of from £IO,OOO to £13,000 for a water supply and other purposes. If so, do you call that retrenchment ? Mr Russell said this question was an attempt to throw up a cloud of dust. There was all the difference between borrowing for reproductive works and cutting down office expenses. He had urged the loan and believed it might have been spent advantageously in getting a water supply, which he did not doubt a great many of Mr Whyte’s supporters would be glad to have. (Hear, hear). The same principle applied to the Public Works of the colony and was quite consistent with a policy of drastic retrenchment. (Applause.) Mr G. E. Clark : Is Mr Gould's statement in Thu Waikato Times that a few months ago you advocated publicly the borrowing of £10,000,000 by the present Ministry true or false. Mr Russell said he had not thought it worth while to reply to the letter. He asked those present if they had seen anything in his paper to that effect at any

time. (Cries of “ Xo, no,” laughter smrl applause). 'The matter cropped up one day after a meeting of tin: Piako Comity Council. lie was upending the evening in company" with Mr Could and a few others, and. as men were wont, they formed themselves into a sort of debating society. He did not remember having used the words imputed to him, hut whether he did or not he protested against private conversations being brought up against him. (Applause and ironical laughter). Mr Cwynneth said they ought to get a direct answer. Mr Russell said he could not say posi lively whether ho used the words. If Mr Could came forward, and said he did, then he was not prepared to deny it. (Oh! oh 1 and applause.) Mr Cwynneth (who, like all the others who put seemingly adverse questions, was received with signs of marked disapproval by a small section of the audience, who “boo-hooed” and hissed most determinedly) : Wouldyou support any Ministry who, on obtaining a vote of £oooo from Parliament for any purpose, would take upon themselves to spend £97,000? Mr Russell, in reply, entered into a defence of the village settlement scheme, which he said had been organised to meet the unemployed difficulty. The £07,000 was not spent, but would last over two years. What would have been done with the 8000 or 9000 people put on the land under the scheme? Ought they to have been sent out of the country, or ought they to have been found work on some bogus railways, to benefit individuals, as bad been done in the past. He did not defend the practice of spending money without authority, but if this was the worst charge they could bring against the Ministry he would support them. It was better to put people on the land than to give large slices of it to individuals, as had been the practice in the past. (Applause.) Mr Gwynnetb said he had said nothing about village settlements, and pressed for a straight answer. Mr Russell said he would support any Government who would put people on the land who were homeless.

Mr X. Wells: Seeing- that you have stated you are in favour of Government establishing an agricultural college for Waikato, do you consider such a statement consistent with your professed desire for retrenchment ? Mr Russell read that portion of his speech at Hamilton referring to this subject. He considered that a portion of the money saved from cutting down the present system of secondary education might be devoted to giving the children of fanners a little practical education. That was not contrary to the spirit of economy. (Hear, hoar.) Mr Dyer : Yon showed on the 20th June last, that you were in favour of still further interfering with the present educational system by stating yon were of opinion that all education above the 4th standard should be paid for by the parents of children receiving the same. Have you, since the date named seen cause to alter or modify that statement? Mr Russell said he had indicated in his address the direction in which his views bad been modified. He might repeat that he was opposed to interfering with primary education until all other means for retrenchment had proved inadequate. Mr Dyer: As you have seen cause to alter your views upon the education question, are you prepared to guarantee to this meeting that no further changes shall take place in your present platform between this dale and the day ef election. Mr Russell said he had told thorn straightforwardly of the change in his views, and if any further alterations were as wise as that one they ought to be pleased. With this exception, however, the platform he had laid down was absolutely the one ho would stick to. (Applause.)

Mr T. Wells said in his address Mr Russell had stated that while two tons of potatoes could bo taken to Auckland for 14s lid, one ton would cost 2!ls (id. Was this a joke? Mr Russell said ho must have been misunderstood. He meant to say the two tons would be charged 14s !)d per ton. The matter was much too serious to joke about. (Applause.) There being no other questions forthcom lug. Mr .Tames Forrest ascended the platform. He commenced by remarking that, according to Solomon there was a time for everything, the time had now come when they should give Mr Russell all the support they could. (Applause.) He was glad to see ladies there that night. It was a sign that the election was not going to be as quiet as usual. /Laughter.) He moved a vote of thanks to, and confidence in .Mr Russell, and he trusted the audience would be brave and courageous enough to show that they intended to put a stop to the state of things that had been going on for the last 17 years. (Loud and prolonged applause.) Mr A. Clements said it gave him much pleasure to second the motion. He had known Mr Russell for about two years, and it was pretty well known that they had never ran in the same buggy. (Laughter.) He would support Mr Russell on personal grounds, because he believed he would do more for the town than Mr Whyte. (Applause.) Mr John Gwynneth moved, as an amendment, a vote of thanks only. Mr Russell stated at Hamilton that he did not believe in votes of confidence, and they ought not to force one upon him. (Laughter and cries of “ boo-hoo” etc.) The speech they had listened to was well deserving of their thanks, and these should be given.

Mr Alford in seconding the amendment, .said he would support Mr Whyte if on enquiry be found that that gentleman attempted to do all he could in the direction of retrenchment, because he believed rather in performances than in promises. (Applause.). If, on the other hand, Mr Whyte had not exerted himself in that direction, than he would vote for Mr Russell; because he would sooner trust a new man who promsed reform than an old man who had failed. (Applause). On being put to the meeting about twenty-five hands were held up for the amendment; and about seventy for the motion. The latter was therefore declared carried amid tumultuous applause. Mr Russell thanked the meeting for the vote of confidence. He could assure them that it strengthened his position very much to have it known that he possessed the confidence of those among whom his lot -was cast. He moved a vote of thanks to Major Wilson for his able and impartial conduct of the meeting. The vote was carried by acclammation, and after cheers had been given for Mr Russell the meeting broke up.

Mr Russell at Cambridge West-

Mr Russell addressed a meeting at Cambridge West on Thursday night. On the motion of Mr Dillon, seconded by Mr C. M. Bvnnskill, a vote of thanks and confidence was carried, an amendment of thanks only, proposed by Mr Tuck, not fiuding a seconder.

Mr Whyte at Lichfield.

Mr Whyte met the electors of Waikato at Lichfield on Monday evening last, when the principal matters of public interest agitating the public mind were fully discussed, and Mr Whyte’s views upon them appeared to give entire satisfaction to those present. At the close of the meeting a hearty vote of confidence in him as member for Waikato was proposed, seconded and carried unanimously. After this a committee to secure Mr Whyte’s return was formed, and the meeting terminated..

Mr Whyte at Matamata.

The electors of Waikato met Mr Whyte at Matamata on Tuesday evening in the large shed near the railway station in considerable numbers. A large number of settlers were present, and the meeting lasted about two hours. Mr Whyte delivered a short address, which was listened to attentively, and then a general discussion ensued upon the principal questions now before the electors of New Zealand, several of the settlers taking part in it. At the close of the meeting a hearty vote of confidence in Mr Whyte as their representative was proposed by Mr Skelly, seconded by Mr Dibble and carried with acclamation. Mr Ross ably presided, and a cordial vote of thanks was accorded to him. After the meeting a numerous and influential committee was formed to secure Mr Whyte’s return.

Mp Whyte at JVJorrinsville.

A very representative meeting of the electors of Waikato residing in the neighbourhood of Morrinsville was held there on Thursday evening to meat tlioir member, Mr Whyte. There were about forty pro. sent, and Mr Horrel was voted to the chair. Mr Whyte touched upon the principal political topics now before the public, and explained his views folly upon most of

them, including Governmental exTavagauce. im-manageineut i.f our rail •■■.ays retrenchment, encouragement of l"Cal industries, education, etc., etc. lie was listened to most attentively, and apiiearud to have the meeting with him light through. At the close of the meeting a veto of conscience, moved l>y Mr Edwards. and seconded by Mr Bowler, was earned unanimously, and the meeting terminated with a cordial vote of thanks to the chairman. Afterwards a very strong committee was formed to take .steps to ensure Mr Whyte’s return.