MR WHITAKER AT GRAFTON ROAD.

Auckland Star, Volume X, Issue 2925, 29 August 1879, Page 2

MR WHITAKER AT GRAFTON ROAD.

Mr.F. Whitakor met the electors uf Edenterrace in the Grafton Road school-room last evening. There was i fair attendance. Mr H. Waite was called to the chair, and opened the meeting by claiming a fair hearing for the candidate. Mr Whitalcer said the matters which lie had to bring before the meeting were somewhat numerous, and would contaiu little that was new, but Mr Tole in that building had devoted two columns of a newspaper to him, and ho had thouglit that the best way to answer him was in the saino Imilding. Taking Mr Tolc's statements seriatim, he would say that Mr Tolc liiid drawn upon his imagination for his facts. l\e would not charge h.im with wilful misrepresentation, nor would he mulio any unfair or personal observations with regard to him, though it would be perfectly legitimate to show that what Mr Tole said witli respect to him was absolutely without any foundation whatever. They ought to look upon these matters in a political aspect, and avoid ill-feeling and disorder. l'hcrcforc he hoped that iv these contests they would eschew personal feeling and ill-natured remarks, The speaker contrasted the disorderly election contests he had seen at Oxford in his early days with that of elections iv New Zealand. He agreed with Mr Tole that when the House voted ou the no-confidence motion it was not in respect to the policy, because the policy was' that of the country, and had nothing to do with with Sir George Grey, Mr Tolc niade some kind of indistinct charge against him with respoot to tho Waikato-Thames Railway. He found that the plan of the railway Bhowed only a line from Hamilton to Tc Aroha, but instead of the railway being begun at Hamilton he found aston^BhVnent that the line was ])egun at Qratyamst'own, Ho conscnd#fl

that the estimate was for the line at the Hamilton end and that Ministers did wrong iv going outside the authority of Parliament. The meeting between the Government and Tawliiao was unsuccessful, though some arrangement was made with Kewi of n satisfactory character. He thought this constant interference with the Maoris.aud teasing them to do particular thiugs,was a great mistake. He denied that the Premier had withdrawn Sir Donald McLean's proposals, because Sir George Grey made great additions to those former proposals. Sir G. Grey withdrew his own proposals and not those of Sir Donald McLean. The speaker denied that the Loan Bill and Supply Bill were obstructed by the Opposition. All that the Opposition did was to insist that they should know what the Government proposed to do with the money ,but Sir G. Grey always wanted things done in hia own way, or he would throw them down in a pit. A man in a popular assembly should he conciliatory and willing to respect other peoples' views. With regard to Mr Tole stating that he would do nothing to disturb the present system of education, if he was a sincere convert [they would be glad to rereceive him to their ranks, but he was a very recent convert. At Newmarket, on the 4th July last, Mr Tole said the State had no right to inquire what wa.s the religion taught in the schools, but had merely to ascertain that the education was up to the standard and to pay over the fair contribution. That was denominational education. On a former occasion Mr Tole had assured the electors that the existing system of education would be more productive of revolutionary inllueuecH than anything else, but six weeks afterwards lie entirely changed his views. Well, lie had no faith in these death-bod repentances. They were aware that Sir George Grey was also a denomina(ionalist, and therefore, it' Mr Tole would follow him blindfold, ho could not adhere to bis recently uttered views iv favour of preserving the present system. Either Sir George Grey must go over to him or Mr Toll! must again change his views and go over to the Premier. Mr Whitaker explained his objections to the Maori dual vote, going over the sumo ground as at IS ewmarkct. With regard to Mr Tola's statements in regard to representation, the Constitution Act entrusted to Sir George Grey the power of making electoral districts, and if there was anything wrong thiit win through Sir George Grey's fault. In 1554 he (Mr Whitaker) was in the Assembly, and he prepared a Bill for Major Greenwood in order to remedy the injustice which wa.s dove to Auckland by its not being allotted the number of representatives due to its population and area. Mr Tole had*shown ignorance of this. He was very young in politics, (A voice : A boy.) Ho had described himself as a "poor boy," and ho (Mr Whitaker) would not quarrel with the term. (He wouldn't be it poor boy if he had a share iv the Piako Swamp). He could only say that if Mr Tole bad to find his share ot £100,000 to expend on the Swamp he would find hia pocket very light. He (Mr Whitaker) had got so deep into the Swamp. (A voice :— " Can|you swim ?") It was like that place in Shortlund-streetwliichMrSamuel Brown had commenced, and which had been called the " Grave of his sovereigns." Mr Tole had misrepresented statistics when ho said that Newton had a greater population than Tarnnaki, when'the fact was that the former bad a population of 6,845, while the latter had 9,4G3. Mr Tolc's statement with regard to Hawke's Bay was worse, because Hawkc's Buy has a population of 15,015. Auckland at the present time had 18 European members, and if the representation wore adjusted upon the population,a? given iv this last session, she would have only 16J members. Was it a fair thing for a candidate to conic and tell a meeting that Auckland was underrepresented. Mr Tole was a young politician, and he should remember that there was nothing so likely to damage bis reputation jus the milking of statements having no foundation in fact. There was no use in going howling for things to which we arc not entitled, which must only weaken our case. The speaker contrasted the population of Wellington and Auckland, and saiii if any place had any right to complain of under representation it was the latter. He did not gay this because he was a friend of Wellington", because he did not like to go there. (A voice: "Then why do you want to go (here now?") He would repeat that he was not saying this as a friend of Wellington, but he would never desert his colours. (A voice : I beg your pardon, you have, and you ought to be tried by courtmaitial). The speaker passed on to deal with the question of taxation. The land fund had contributed largely towards the payment of interest of loam. The speaker disclaimed any connection with native land purchii.se, reiterating his statement at Newmarket. The old land claim which he bad lately completed negotiations for ho had been'obliged to sell and put the proceeds into the Swamp, which still cried out like a horse-leech for more. Ho did not soe that Mr Hicchim mid the North New Zealand Association had elucidated the Native land question. He had always disapproved n£ tlu: abandonment of the pre-emptive right of the Crown, and In: thought if that right could be resumed, and the land, afier being acquired by the Crown, was sold in small sections', either by auction or on the deferred payment, tliat would be the bust solution of tlie difficulty. He knew that the natives were averse to surrendering absolute freedom ill dealing with their lands, but he would give bis best assistance to the Government ill bringing into operation the scheme he had referred to. He found from returns that whereas the Government had paid 2s to 3s for the native lands, private purchasers had paid 6s and 7s. Where the natives wasted their money iv dissipation, it wa* a question for consideration whether or not a high price for land was an advantage lo tho natives. He explained that on a former occasion he hud declined the Huperinteudency because it would not reimburse him for the neglect of his businoss, but he accepted a salary of £1,500 a year, which did not nearly pay him for loss of time, in order that ho might improve the finances of the country, and only on the condition that he might be permitted to resign at the end of the year. Mr Newman had also charged him with passing a Bating Act and Poll Tax.but they were nnssod rivo years after he had eosised to be Superintendent. Mr Tole had charged him with supporting a land ring, but he denied that he nad any connection with any association formed for the purpose of land speculation. He would give them an example of a land ring. Mr Larnach, who had v preseuj, o,f £2,000 from the present QqvQsimont to stwt with, WPl't lwi»c to sell some land belonging to himself and friends iv Otago and infested by rabbits. The speaker dwelt at some length on the prospectus of the New Zealand Land Company, and asked whether it was fair to call the purchasers of the Piako Swamp land sharks whou such speculations sis those- I\e h,ad mentioned. Wore- Oil, Tliero were some pcqplp \y\\Q had, acquired a block of 2,000 acres at Ngainuku, beyond Cambridge, which they surveyed by moonlight, and which tho owners to this day refused to give tip. And who was the person who did this? Mr Tole'a brother. (Disapprobation.) If he were accused of being a member of the land ring, why should lie not show the connection of Mr Tolo's family with such such transactions those of Ngamuku. (Ai\ pJcptOK SOVQral times demanded that Mr Whitaker should give the narne'qf the person he referred to.) He bad never board Mr Hislop's name in connection with the drafting ot the Education Bill. In Cabinet ho (Mr Whitaker) had objected to the praposodj ,;;x on parents and tho. clause yiviividjUß for tho Lord's prayer and reading 6T the iJihle in fho sjcljiioXs. lii Cabinet, Mr Bivwon desired to keep the latter clause, and the Treasurer the former, because he said he could not do without the £30,000 that would be raised from the fees, and ultimately at his instigation the proposed tax was withdrawn^ On a subsequent occasion he (Mr Whititker) voted on the division in which tho Bible reading clause was ftruck out of tho Bill. He walked out of the House on the Piako Swamp question because he was interested. The speaker concluded by inviting any of the meetiug to attend his meeting at Newmarket.

In reply to questions, he said tlio £1,5.00 paid to liim as Superintendent paid him. very badly, but the £200 "would pay him much worse. H^e had, no. interest'with Mr Ktud.liolmc hi a run, at \Vajk;\to Hei^ls, AVhilo libSy^s iii qflice ho received £150 for rcsidonoo n.'llow-a.nco and ;CSO for travelling expenses for the year, whereas tho present Ministers had residences well furnished at the public expense, and he believed that Sir George Grey and Mr Sheehan had drawn £SOO aycar travelling expenses. He could not say whether he had erected a toll-gate »t Newmarket, but would look into the mutter and reply through the pros*. He would be in favour of !i law to protect workmen employed on contracts from boing defrauded by their employers. He agreed with the Local Option principle us applied to new houses, but not as to houses already established without compensation.

Mr. Bivll compared the district to, tl\cgarden of Eden, and warned, the electors if they desired to bo pure- to keep the old serpent from beguiling them. (Laughter ana cheers.)

Mr Cole, in a speech eulogising Mr Tolc, who lie said was a boy engaged agaiust an aged warrior—a David against a Goliah— proposed a vote of thanks to Mr Wliitaker tor his address. ' '

'Mr White seconded the motion,. He. said, tl^cy wo.iild, lil^e M$ 'Whitakei;' \o un.-'

derstand that at a former meeting they had passed a unanimous vote pledging themselves to support Mr Tole. Let the electors send no man to Wellington except such as were pledged to support Sir George Grey. Mr Tole had made only one mistake in the House, and that was on the subject _of education, but he had given pledges which bad satisfied the coumitueucy. The speaker went on to eulogise Mr Tole, and concluded by hoping that he would be placed at the heild of the poll, so that Sir George Grey might have a, loyal supporter. The Chairman said he had heard in town that day that a body of men was comin" to Eden Terrace to prevent Mr Whitaker getting .1 fair and impartial heating, and he had to thank the meeting for its conduct.

'1 lie motion was agreed to. Mr Whitaker thanked the meeting. Three cheers were given for Sir Georee Grey and three for Mr Tok, and the meeting dispersed.