The Eden Electorate.

Auckland Star, Volume X, Issue 2920, 23 August 1879, Page 3

The Eden Electorate.

MR WHITAKER AT PANMURE,

Mr F. Whitaker fiadressed the electors of Panmure last night in the hull at the rear of the hotel.

Ike building was crowded to excess, ■while many people stood around the windows outside in oi-der to gain a hearing. Mr Barton Ireland was voted to the chair, and briefly requested a patient and fair audience for the candidate. Mr Whitaker rose to address the asscmLlage amidst loud applause. Before silence was completely restored a stentorian voice called for "Three cheers for JVr Whitaker, the father of our secular education." The icsponse was lusty and cordial, 'i lie gen.tleman commenced his address by observing that an electioneering visit to Panmure leiuinded him of olden times, and he trusted that the indulgence extended to him on those occasions would be accorded him also ihat evening. The purpose of his last visit there was to solicit their votes in a Superintendency contest, but now his mission was of a slightly different character. He ■wished to represent them in the Parliament of the country, and ho would therefore proceed to lay before them the political principles which he was prepared to advocate, and upon which he asked their support. IN'ow-a-days they heard a great deal about Liberal programmes—in fact it was ii fashionable appurtenance, anil everyone seemed to possess ones Well, ho was a Liberal in polities, too, and he had his programme, which was as liberal as any before tho country. It had always been, and ever would be, his endeavour to secure the success of. liberal legislation, and to do all that tended to the enhanced happiness and prosperity o£ the country at larj;e. He was not, however, going to give them empty professions—he would not make the mere statement that his views were thoroughly liberal, but he would refer tbem to his actions, extending over a period of 35 yeavS, for an indication of the character of his opinions. He had always been in favour of Liberalism, and his whole interests were bound up with those of the province. They might differ somewhat as to what was best for the province, but there were momentous points upon which difference of opinion was impossible, Ho was fully sensible of the unjust treatment which Auckland had .hi tiierto received in the matters of public works and immigration, and, if elected, it ■would be his earnest endeavour to secure for Auckland what so long ago she should have obtained. A rive million loan was to toe borrowed, and by determined And able cllort on the part of their representatives he thought it feasible to obtain a sum sufficient to cover the deficiencies of the past. The speaker then proceeded to give {.he figures which he cited at Newmarket the other evening in proof of the assertion that Auckland had been denied that proportion of the public expenditure to ylueh, by her population and area, she was justly entitled. He then Went on to refute a number of personal aspersions which lie I said interested people had given currency to for the purpose of damaging his chances in I the election contest. In <loiug so he expressed pleasure that tho charges had been made, for they gave him the opportunity of showing how baseless they were, and also of laying before them what ho really had done for the country. One of these charges was that through his action the seat of Uovonunent had been removed from Auckland. J.uc statement was utterly fallacious-with1' out any foundation whatever. Mr Whitaker quoted from the Parliamentary records of the day, and by the citations established his innocence to the satisfaction of the audience. Ihe gentleman then referred to other charges, viz., that his action in regard to the .Land Jb'und had uot been a sincere or energetic one, and tother that Separation had received from him only a lukewarm support. He detailed his acts with respect to those questions, and showed that while thera was any hope of success he had continued his agitation. He had never abated Ilia efforts to secure justice for the 3n orth and to gain for it a fairer and more equitable share of the general revenue. (Loud applause.) It was absurd to think that any representative who had any stake in iiis province should not use his endeavours to obtain for it justice ami good government. It was to their interest in every respect to do so, and he believed that in the new Parliament whenever the Auckland interests were concerned their members "would be found acting unitedly and determinedly. Although he was not a supporter of Sir George Grey for many reasons, yet Sir George Grey supported-his attempt to get the Land Fund made colonial revenue, and he did the same when Sir George Grey made his attempt. They might depend upon it that when the interests of the province were affected their representatives would be found in one body irrespective of party considerations. The speaker referred to his support of the Land Tax as having been given with the desire of reaching the wealthy laud-owners, and in doing so lie remarked that his advice frith respect to it had been disregarded—the effect being a failure* He advised the Government to mature their plans find devise proper machinery for the levying and collecting of the tax', but his counsel was not accepted. The administration was bad, and this was because no counsel would be taken or heeded. He was not a factious opponent of any party, and his greatest charge against the present Ministry, was that wliile their measures were good they had made very little endeavour to carry them out. They had iiown in tho face of a large section of the people—they had made many promises which they had never used the slightest effort to fulfil—and they had treated with the utmost unconcern very grave representations made in regard to many matters. >lr Whitaker passed on to deal with the question of native land and in approaching it he cimtrasted the provinces inwhich private purchases of land had taken place .largely with those in which the natives had been allowed to retain the bulk of land in their own hands. Their only hope of prosperity was the extinction of the native title and tbe bringing of the land under cultivation. At the present ratio of sale iv the Worth, 150 years would elapse before the land would be out of the hands of the natives, and was the colony to contentedly wait till that distant day. arrived? They were already lagging behind in the race of progress, and Otago, Canterbury, and Wellington were advancing rapidly. They could not have a better illustration of his remarks than the prosperity of Hawke's Bay as compared with tho stagnation and impecuuiosity of the sister province of Taranaki. It was a trite objection to arguments such as his that the effect would be to the aggrandisement of the wealthy land sharks and the accumulation of large estates. This dreaded contingency and the fear of a landed aristocracy was the purest rot imaginable. The imposition of a good tax on uncultivated land would speedily burst up large estates, and would facilitate the much-desired work of settlement. Now, who were the aristocracy of the country ? (Avoice: The working man.) Yes, his friend might be right. (Another voice : No-the land shark.) Well, who was the land shark ? He would very much like to be favoured with a definition of the term. (A voice :—A monopoly—the Piako Swamp). Well he was glad the Piako Swamp had been mentioned, for it atlorded him the opportunity of making a desired explanation. Pour or live years ago this large swamp was a dreary waste -a morass of vast extent, which no one dreamt of cultivating. Well, an energetic settler of the Waikato, named Captain toteele, conceived the idea that a. large and effective system of drainage would render it a fertile piece of agricultural country. The idea was discussed, aud the result wai the formation of a company for its acquisition, and on application being made to tho Government they at once saw the advisability of having it made arable land-and after some some negotiation sold it at 5s per acre, with ii deduction to the extent of one half on roads being made. With but little loss of time they commenced systematic operations and during the four subsequent years their expenditure had been upwards of £20,000 per annum. They not only benefited the country by the expenditure of this large sum, but also by drafting off the uncmploy edf roni such centres as Auckland and the Thames, and providing them, not only with work but with homes. And what were these large land sharks—these inveterate enemies to peaceful settlement—doing now? They were actually cutting up what was once a swamp into small lots in order tosell them to purchasers of moderate means -in fine, to 'the working man. Any of them who desired a slice of the famous Swamp could now achieve his desire at a reasonable price, and without being put to the expense of drainage operations. (Applause). It would be to the oenelit of the colony if there were a few more such schemes afloat, and if those who exclaimed so loudly against the Swamp would but just take a look at it now he thought the effect would be to appease their wrath. He had been frequently accused of being a large land shark, but unfortunately the charge was not true. He owned but little land, and had but a share in the Piako Company. If the company were stigmatised as a land shark, he could show that it was not such a land shark as Sir George Grey and contributed more to the revenue of the country than that gentleman. He would give one instance. The Piako Company's payment on the land tax amounted to £250, while tho fertile island of Kawau, the favourite destination of excursion parties on gala days,

and, the homo of many people,[only yielded the- very Mall pittance of £3 2s Gd. This TOlklne anomaly had evoked from an indignant Nelson settler named Andrews a remonstrance in the shape of a letter to the Press, and, with their permission, he would read it. The gentleman read the letter, and afteymakingafewadditionalrcmarks regarding it, he passed on to deal with the Native question. We were, he said, in averyunsafe and undesirable positioli, and an injudicious shot at any moment might plunge the emuitl'.v into war. He deprecated war altogether, for the Maoris were a fast dyingrace, while the European population was ' increasing very largely year by year. Ho ! commended the liriii and conciliatory attitude taken by Sir George Grey With respect to the recent troubles at Waitara, and lie was entirely opposed to such ii foolish project as that proposed by some people who wished to fit out an expedition to go up and fight the natives. He thought they could afford to put up with a. few indignities from the Maoris, for they were much tile weaker people. He censured altogether the distribution of lollypops to the natives, and thought great amendment and reform were required in the department. Bo much money should not be expended yearly without an account being given, and he thought the expenditure in this matter was also susceptible of much reduction. He was lViit pl6ascd with the removal of, the duty from timber, for it had inflicted a grievous blow upon the leading industry of Auckland, and had operated most prejudicially with respect tr) the chances of continuous employ riignt for by no means an insignificant number of the people of the province, j Then on the educational question he was ] a firm and consistent supporter of the present' admirable system. It was the only one that I could meet the peculiar requirement's of the colony, and the only one that was calculated to give deep ani. thorough satisfaction to the colonist?. In places of the size of Pan-

mure, deiiommationalism was simply impoiiinble, for it could neither guarantee them efficient teaching nor satisfactory teaching. The speaker entered into a eulogy of the secular system, and indicated the facilities which it afforded for the imparting of religious education by the acknowledged teachers of tile various communions. The gentlemAn then went on to point out that the only aristocracy of New Zealand was aristocracy of the brain, The best men came to the front and guided the destinies of the country. Was it the wealthy landowners who govei'iied the country? Certainly not. It was men like Mr Sheehan and 'men like himself, who had deuced little. (A voice: We don't believe that.) Well, they might accept his statement, for in such matters he was not in the habit of telling lies. (Kenewcd laughter.) He had never made a shilling out of politics, and he could truthfully Bay that politics had ruined. Mr Slieehtin's chances of affluence. People Were inclined to think that large salaries were highly lucrative to .their statesmen, but it was not so. Those men had abilities which, turned to any other business, would acquire for their possessors plenty of wealth. Had politics benefited in pocket Mr Sheehaa and Mr Kces, and such men? No. A though not on the same side of the House, he had no hesitation in saying that Mr Sheehau was a very smart man, aud if it was not for certain peculiarities which ho need not mention, but which must he known to them, he would undoubtedly be the leader of the House; The gentleman concluded an apt speech by a reference to the dangers which threatened the integrity of the educational system and by an avowal of his devotion to the Liberal measures, of which he had ever been n most strenuous supporter.

An elector inquired if the candidate would n?c his endeavours to secure an extension of the railway to Panmure in the event of his" return to Parliament. (Laughter and applause.)

Mr Whitaker said he would endeavour to get the railway if his questioner would but guarantee that it should pay its expenses aud the money expended iv its construction. Whenever he could see that a railway would prove a profitable investment and would pay, he for ;one would vote for it. (Applause.) In answer to further questions, the candidate declined to pledge himself to Sir Geo. Grey or to his party ; promised to advocate Separation if by no other course justice could be secured to Auckland and the North, and explained'lds opposition to "The Government job " of extending tho Thames KailWay without consulting the House. In regard to this latter matter be deemed it an injustice to his Waikato constituents that the Hue should be commenced at the Thames end, and he thought the £17,000 which was required for the unauthorised mile aud a quarter extension could have beeu more beneficially spent elsewhere. Mr Whitaker further said that he was in favour of retrenchment, but not in cutting down the salaries of Ministers, and the only effect of that would be to place the tiovernment of the colony in the hands of wealthy men, and to debar clever, but not rich, meu from accepting any share in it. Mr White wished to know if the candidate had increased his own salary while he was Superintendent of the province. Mr Whitaker said he did not. He lost money, however, by accepting the appointment. Mr White asked if while the gentleman was Superintendent he signed the cheque for his salary on the evening of one day and resigned the following morning, leaving his colleagues to carry on as best they could. Mr Whitaker denied the allegation. To the best of his recollection ho only fouud fourpence iv the Treasury when he went into it.

An elector enquired if it was true that the 80,000 acress of the Piako Swamp were purchased at 3s 6d per acre, and were now worth £3 per acre. Mr Whitaker said it was not true. 'I lie land was bought at 5s per acre, and although £100,000 had oeen spent upon it, he would sell it at once for£3per acre. (Applause). Mr Banks proposed, and Mr fcj. Dcwar seconded, a vote'of thanks to Mr Whitaker for his address.

Mr Thomas Cleary proposed as an amendment, "That a vote of thanks be given to Mr Whitaker for his address, but that as he had no confidence to go back to his Waikato constituents, this meeting has no confidence in him." (Applause). Mr White seconded the amendment. In doing so, he said that while he acknowledged Mr Whitaker's ability, he thought that Mr Tole had a stronger and better claim on the constituency. Since his cloction he had worked for them as no other member had done, and tmtil he had been heard it would be unfair to pass a vote of confidence iv anyone else. Mr Whitaker said that he had neither asked for a vote of thanks nor for a vote of confidence. He then gave the same explanation of his decision to contest Eden, that he made at Newmarket on Wednesday

evening. An elector: Will you support Curtis' Bill for £100 when you get into Parliament ? Mr Whitaker: No; I will not. Mr T. Cleary said that it appeared to him that Mr Whitaker's action in the House had been such that the Jeducation question was the only cloak that he could draw around him. (Laughter and applause). Tho gentleman had really deserted the Waikato in order to permit the return of one of his companions for the seat. (Cheers and applause). Mr White said that from his childhood he remembered Mr Whitaker, but failed to recollect anything great that he had ever done for Auckland, while, for the short time he had been in the House, Mr Tole had worked very hard (indeed) aud had done a great deal. The fact was, that in order to defeat their member Mr Whitaker had made a handle of the Education Act. He had it from MrTole's own mouth that in deference to the views of his constituents he was prepared to retract his opinions on tho Education question. Cries of "We don't believe it," and "He'll have to give it to us in print."

Mr Tole had never done anything to forfeit the confidence of the electorate, and had never made a promise which he did not endeavour to fulfil. (Applause anil, loud cries of "question.") Mr White then made an appeal to the electors to return a man pledged to support Sir George Grey and not to allow their attention to be distracted from the real issue by a cry of "education." Eden was looked upon as a Grey stronghold, and Mr Whitaker's desire and that of his party was solely to defeat a Gtey candidate. (Cheers and applause.) The speaker then went on to read the following telegram that had been received from Mr Curtis in reply to a message inquiring his intentions respecting his Kducation Bill, viz :—"I intended to withdraw it in deference to pubUc opinion, but at the same tiiue can keep my own opinions." Then Mr Whitaker had called himself a working man, but in saying that he was only deluding them. He had never seen or heard of him doing any work. Mr Whitaker explained that he was as much a working man as Mr Tole, inasmuch as they both plied the same avocation. It had been said further that Mr Tole had never broken a pledge, and he did not accuse him of doing any such thing. But if lie did not give his vote for denominationalism he would be breaking a pledge as they might see from a reference to the speech made by Mr Tole on the 4th of July last before he went down to Parliament. Buthe did not believe that Mr 'Jole would do anything so dishonorable. He was convinced that the gentlema would adhere to his opinions. Then Mr White had

said that even if Mr Tole were opposed to secular education such opposition would not endanger it U c coiildnssert positively that it would be endangered, and, in fact, was at present endangered. A mijority of the Ministry was opposed to it, and the action of tho Bible in (schools Association in Otago might convert the present small majority of four and five into a minority. If they had any regard fora continuance of the present system it behoved them to return men pledged to light for and support it. (Cheers.)

Mr John Bollard challenged the assertion that Mr Tolo had never broken a pledge, and stated his ability to bring documentary evidence to prove that he had. When contesting. Eden with Mr Taylor, Mr Tolo pledged himself at the Wliau to support secular education, and yet had accepted the first opportunity that presented itself of voting against it. How then could they repose confidence in a man who had already shown himself unworthy of such confidence, Besides Mr Tole had expressed his determination only a month and a half ago at Newmarket to support Curtis's BilK Mr Ewiugton, taking up the same line of argument, proceeded to show the preferability of supporting a man who bad the present system at heart rather than one who had fought against it. Supposing other things to be equal, however, Mr Whitaker was a trained politician, and the better man of the two, and to him, therefore, he would give his vote. A Voice : You say so, because Whitaker will give you a billet. (Laughter and applause).

Mr W. 1. Taylor proposed as a further amendment and Mr Lilewall seconded, a vote of confidence in Mr Whitaker.

Mr James Wrigley proposed, and it was seconded, that their expression of opinion should be deferred.

At the desire of Mr Whitaker all the propositions save the one giving him a mere vote of thanks were withdrawn. Tho vote of thanks was passed unanimously, and a similar compliment was accorded tho chairman. The meeting then dissolved.