THE WAIPA SEAT.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 2710, 23 November 1889, Page 2

THE WAIPA SEAT.

ELECTION OF Ft OX. .TOKEN BRYCE, UNOPPOSED

Thursday, the 21st instant, being the day fixed for receiving nominations for the vacant Waipa .seat, a number of influential electors of the district assembled at the nomination place, the Court-house, Hamilton.

The Reluming Officer read the writ declaring the seat vacant, and the advertisement fixing the time for nominations. He then called mi the electors to propone someone as a fit and proper person to represent Waipa. Mr Edward Lake, ex-M.H.R., Waipa, said : This will be the last time we will have the opportunity ot proposing a member for Waipa, as before the next election the two districts will again merge into the old Waikato district. It is with mingled feelings of regret and pleasure that I now rise to nominate a candidate for Waipa. Scarcely two months ago the whole electorate had been painfully shocked by the sad news of the fatal accident to their old member on his way home from his sessional duties, weary no doubt with the work (for he had been whip to his party, and any 0110 who has had anything to do with Parliamentary life knows that a whip has 110 light work), but cheered by the thought that he had at last secured recognition for the services of many of his old comrades, for which he had long struggled in vain. T had not the honour of an intimate acquaintance with that gentleman, and it would bo out of place for me to pronounce any eulogium 011 him, even if such were necessary. J (is best memorial will be found in the living memories of his old comrades 111 arms, to whose success he had over taken so lively an interest. Suffice it for me to say that as a brave man, pond officer, enegetie pioneer settler, and a Rood neighbour, ever ready to assist with hand or counsel, he was a man the district could ill afford to lose. 111 expressing my deep sympathy with his widow and relatives in their great trouble I feel sure I am but echoing the vuice of the whole community. His untimely end placed the district in this position, that just at the busiest time of the year any candidate engaged in country pursuils would find it difficult to leave," and this difficulty had been accentuated by the fact th.it. the district would shortly he merged in Waikato, and the candidate who might venture 011 this one session would have r.o claim in the new constituency. 111 the election of 18S7 strenuous efforts were of course made by the other side to defeat the respective leaders, and two of the most prominent men in Xew Zealand, Sir Robert Stout oil tlio one hand and Mr Bryce on the other had been defeated in their constituencies. This had been generallj* felt, consideiine the high character of these gentleman to be a great loss to the country, and by a fortunate coincidence the idea had occurred nearly simultaneously in different parts of the district that now was the time when we might remedy the _ loss by asking Mr "Bryceto represent us in the ensuing session, and thus restore to the country the services of a man whose firmness and rectitude of character were particularly wanted at the present crisis, and who had been rejected in his own district fiir purely local reasons. It is not for me to praise him, " Honest John Bryce's ' reputation is colonial and his character is appreciated in all parts of the colony, and assuredly that general appreciation was not lessened when recently lie undertook the journey to England and the protracted law suit in the famous Ivusden scandal, in which it was felt that he was defending, not only his own honour but secondarily, that of the 'It may be said that Mr Bryce has 110 interest in this district, nor lias he, but yet it is not perhaps entirely without significance that in what I believe was his first session in Parliament, as long ago as ISljli, I find hun voting in a minority to assist the Waikato Militia to refer their claims fjr back pay to the Supreme Court. In recent year* he has been taunted with being the .Jeremiah of the House as regards our borrowing pnlicy, and his known opinion on tins matter, combined with his firmness ot character, a firmness which his detractors would .say verged nearly on obstinacy, had caused him to be selected by many as the _ coming iuhii for the present crisis ; and it is an open secret that had he been elected, lie would probably have been requested to fc.»ke the office of Premier. I have read a definition of firmness and obstinacy which says firmness is a decided will, obstinacy is 11 decided won't, and a decided won't is what the country now wants. It wants a man who won't go in for more borrowing, who won't increase the taxation, who won't be intimidated by the Civil Service,who won't allow any more wild-cat political railways, but will not rest until we make both ends meet and restore our credit at home and abroad ; one who, once he had put his foot down, could not he induced to give way, unlike our present leaders, who have shown themselves squeezable to a dangerous extent. This is the sort of man the country wants, and 1 have therefore very much pleasure in nominating Mr .John Bryce as a fit and proper person to represent the electorate of Waipa, (Apulause). Mr J. W. Ellis said : I have not a personal acquaintance with Mr Bryce, but I feel that I know him well, and I am willing to take his past services as a pledge for his future actions. I hope that the election of Mr Bryce will show men of his stain)), who have refrained from entering political life, that there is one district in the colony which places the interests of the colony in the first p'ace. It was supposed by some that as Native Minister Mr Bryce had been unpopular with the natives ; but this was not so, as they placed the same confidence in him as we do, and they were pleased that lie was again going to enter political life. Everybody must have been disgusted with the weak and vacillating policy of the Government during the session, and men of firmness were the ones now wanted. I have much pleasure in seconding Mr Lake's proposal. (Applause.) No other candidate being nominated, the Returning Officer declared Mr .Mm Bryce as duly elected for Waipa. (Loud applause.) A vote of thanks to the Returning Officer was carried with acclamation.