ELECTION ADDRESSES.

Auckland Star, Volume X, Issue 2927, 1 September 1879, Page 2

ELECTION ADDRESSES.

MR TOLE AT THE WHAT!

Mr J. A. Tole met the electors of Edon in tne Whnu Public Hall at half-past 7 o'clock on Saturday evening. The hall was crowded. On the motion of Mr J. O. Owen, seconded by Mr J. Dignau, Mr W. F. Forsyth was called to the chair. The Chairman, in a few well-chosen sentences,introduced the candidate to the meeting. Mr Tole, who had been received with cheers on his arrival, and who was again enthusiastically cheered on coming forward to address the meeting, having thanked the electors for the cordial reception they had given him, said he was not honoured with the presence of ladies, as Mr Whitaker had been, a circumstance which he attributed to the fact that his opponent's speech had so disgusted them that they did not care to hear another. By the dissolution members were brought face to face with their constituents, and a gentleman who had formerly represented Waikato was before the electors of Eden. The issue now before the electors was whether the Government of the country was to be entrusted to Sir William Fox, the enemy of the North, of Liberalism, ano of tho people at large—the ally of land monopolists iii the South, aud landjobbers in the North, whose design is to drive Sir George Grey aud his adherents from power—or whether, ou the other hand, the Government was to be entrusted to Sir George Grey, the tried friend of the people, who had made great sacrifice i to promote their welfare and happiness. (Cheer?.) Mr Whitaker was! brought forward by that party who boasted of their intention to reduce Sir George Grey to harmlessncss in his efforts for the good of the people by driving him back to the Kawau. At Newmarket Mr Whitaker had based his claim to election simply upon' his views on the ■education question, whereas ho had been rejected by tho clcetors of Waikato for other obvious reasons. By the Railways Construction Bill a railway was to be made from Hamilton to tke Thames, but Mr Whitaker sacrificed the interests of his constituents by voting agaiust it and helping to turn the Government out of oiiice on the pretence that the commencement of that railway was unconstitutional, He was reported to have said : "During the whole time he had been in the Assembly he had never seeu anything so unconstitutional. It should not be permitted to Ministers to make a change of thi* character." Tliere was never any investigation as to the line itself, but only as to whether a certain map had been tampered with, and no allegation that the construction of the railway was illegal, because the Railways Construction Bill, as already stated, authorised a railway from Hamilton to the Thames. Mr Whitaker had joined a factious Opposition, who had censured the Government for the construction of a line which benefited Waikato, and therefore he was afraid to meet his former constituents. (Cheers). Though Mr Whitaker now professed himself the champion of education, he had never before made a speech on the subject, und was not likely nfter the result of this election to have an opportunity of making another. (Cheers). He (Mr Tole) wus here to-night to disprove the statements made recently by Mr whitaker in the same hall. He had charged Mr Whitaker with cowardice, insincerity, and deception in his candidature for Eden, because Mr Whitaker had hosed his claim to election on the ground that he (Air Tole) was hostile to the present Education Act, but Sir George Grey and Messrs Shoehan and O'Rorke also voted agaiust the Bill as it was originally introduced. Why then on that ground did not Mr Whitaker contest OneliUDga against an old tried member like Air U'Korke instead of pitting himself against one whom bin leader designated a boy ? Or why did he not match himself against Sir George Grey, his natural foe ? But he had chosen to pit himself against "a boy," uud would have a bitter contest so far as he (Mr Tole) was concerned. (Cheers). If Mr Whitaker defeated him, ho would have, metaphorically speaking, to walkover his dead corpse. (Cheers). Mr Whitaker'a candidature was insincere in the matter of the Curtis Bill. His conduct was like that of Mr Macfarlane, who voted in favour of the Curtis clause and now denounced it. It would have been expected that Mr Whitaker would have strongly denounced the Bill which he now alleged he had disapproved of.but instead of that he sat perfectly silent while the measure was before the House. He made no speech ou the subject. ..Jlfaat kiud of subterfuge would not win-Mr-Whitaker the seat for Eden. (Cheers). Mr Whitaker iv his recent address at the WbuU had impugned his (tho speaker's) voracity, and he desired now to know ■whether 'the report of Mr Whitakor's speech in the Herald was correct.

Mr Owen said the report was as correcl as possible. Mr Tole : While Mr Whitaker thus condomucd the Waikato railway he was silent as to the Piako Swmup, hy connection with which transaction Mr Whitaker was almost disqualified from holding a seat in the late Parliament. Yet after Mi Whitaker hail denounced the Waikato railway, he was now crying out loudly for justice to Auckland. Mr Whitaker had playfully touched upon one point. He (Air Tole) had pointed out that seven Auckland members voted against the Government, that the numbers were 47 for the Opposition and 33 for the (!overnniCDt, and that taking the seven Auckland members from the Opposition would leave 40 on that side, and would givo the Government a majoity of one. Mr Whitaker had ridiculed this calculation, because after 30 years' experience of politics he had forgotten that had the nuniburs been 40 on each side the Speaker's casting voto, which by constitutional precedent is Riven so as not to disturb the existing Government, wonld have civen a majority of one for the Ministry. But there were actually eight Auckland[members who voted agninrt the Government, nnd one walked out, so that if all the Auckland votes had been for the Government there would have been a majority of two for the Ministry. (Cheers.) Mr Whitaker denied that the Opposition obstructed the Loan Bill. He (Mr Tole) charged them with stopping the Bill for oue mouth and with delaying supplies. The Opposition prevented the debentures from going Home by the outgoing August mail, so that they were delayed until the next He (Mr Toio) had heard that at an Opposition caucus Mr Whitaker strongly opposed the passing of au Imprest Supply Bill until after the want of confidence motion had been carried. At the Graf ton meeting he (Mr Tole) had exonerated the Government from blame in respect to the Maori dual voto, shewing; that the franchise was conferred upou the Maoris by thu Constitution Act, and that a measure passed by Mr Whitaker's friends had given the Maoris special representation. s»ir George Grey's fclectornl 13ill continued this, but imposed on the Natives as :i qualification the further condition of payment of rates, thereby educating the natives to a higher appreciation of the Highway laws, and induciug them to contribute towards the taxation which improved Maori property. The Opposition resisted that proposal and the Bill was shelved, and for this they were now maligning the Premier. The dual vote was actually conferred by v former Government, who desired to hnvo four Maori members who would be under their influence. Under Mr Whitaker's proposal to give (representation on the basis of population they would have 12 or 13 Maori members, which would enable them to exercise an injurious inllucuce over measures affectiug the European population. It was not desirable that 12 or 13 Maori members should be at the control of any Native Minister. Mr Whitaker's proposal in respect to that matter was therefore unwise. (Cheers.). He (Mr Tole) had also said that Mr Swanson represents as many people as in the whole of the Provincial District of Taranaki, meaning thereby as many electors, and had only oue vote against three, and the same thing applied to Hawke's Bay. Mr Swanson had confirmed this stateincut of the case in his recent address to his constituents. Mr Whitaker had endeavoured to make a point of this, but had failed. It was these rotteu Boroughs that had formed, the majority of the Opposition against the Government, (Cheers'): Mr Whitakcrhad pretended to be ignorant of the meaning of the term "land-ring," but he knew what it was to get 57,000 acres of Piako Swamp at 5s an acre, and to acquire 27 sections of rural land, which had been advertised at £1 an ivcro, but wWoU were withdrawn by his friends, the late Government, and soji| to him nominally at 5a an 2s .64 an acre being given buck for drainage. (Ohppvs). Ho knew what itwas to acquire 40 sections of rural land in the same way und tv coal field of untold wealth, containing 9,858 acres at 7s 6d an aero. He knew this was granted to -Frederick Whitaker, Thomas Kussoll, and William Aitken, and yet pretended to be ignorant of what was mount by a land-ring. (Laughter and choors.) This latter • concession was grautod by a corrupt Government at the cost of the general public, at a time whon the law forbade more that C4O acrqs of mineral land tq be taken up by any oue icrson. (Cheers). Yet Mr Whitaker now protested that lie never belonged to any land company (laughter), while in almost the same breath, in answer to a question put to him in that hv& he was obliged to admit that ho had be\- LuV- tI the Piako Swamp Company. T&

should be cautious as to the statements of a gentleman who contradicted himself in that way. Mr Whitaker had also congratulated himself that he (Mr Tole) had come over, to his side on the education question. He would be sorry to be on the same side in politics with his opponent. (Cheers). He (Mr Tolo) continued to hold his own conscientious, convictions. If he asserted he had abandoned them he would deserve to be discredited, but having ascertained that a majority of his constituents aye in favor of the existing system of education, he (Mr ToloJ felt that in this crisis it was necessary subordinate his personal views on a question of this character in order to assist in carrying out the great liberalpolicy,aiid to completely represeutthe constituency. (Loud cheers,) He was not going to be beaten on a side-issue of that kind. Mr Whitaker had raised the cry that secular education is in danger, and had insinuated that he (Mr Tole) would walk out of the House if a vote were taken in any measure to disturb the existing system. In. reply to that he would say that rather than allow any such measure to interfere with the Liberal policy he would stand up in the House and vote against it. (Loud and prolonged cheers.) He had been asked by one gentleman if he would support, the system of education contended for by Roman Catholics. His answer was that he did not recognise a State system as connected with any particular sect. The State should have no religion. The question of education had never been before the country except in au incidental way, and he did not believe that the question would all'ect him unless some designing legislator dragged up the matter with the object of cornering him. It had been predicted that in such an event he (Mr Tole) would walk out of the House, but if anyone was inclined to bet on that he would advise his hearers to take them up. (Cheers.) Mr Whitaker had also said that he (Mr Tole) had no idea of a dissolution, but at the meeting held iv the Theatre Royal after the session of jIS77 he stood on the platform and said the best thing for the members was to send them back to the country. (Cheers.) He had said the same thing in the House in speaking on the no-confidence motion. He never had any misgivings as to the result of a dissolution. Mr Whitaker had adopted an ungenerous course in accusing his own political colleague, Mr Curtis, of a design to re-introduce his Bill, when Mr Curtis had denied any such intention in a telegram recently received from him. (Cheers.) Mr Whitaker had claimed the credit of having " concocted "the Education Bill, and had denied that Mr llislop had assisted iv framing that measure, which was mainly an amalgamation of the Auckland and Otago Acts. He (Mr Tole) only knew that Mr Hislop was in Wellington when the bill was drafted, and was beside Mr Bowen in the House while it was under discussion in order to assist him by his special acquaintance with the 102 clauses of the measure. Mr Whitukcr had at first claimed a large share iv drafting the bill, and dually only claimed to have revised it. as AttorneyGeneral just as any law clerk might examine a document. Mr Whitaker, by a kind of special pleading, had endeavoured to get rid of Mr Hialop's share in the bill by the plea that Ministersaudnot he were responsible. Mr Whitaker had also claimed credit for being the author of a free secular system of education, while the bill as introduced by his Government contained a religious clause and a poll tax of ten shillings for every child. (Cheers.) It was the then Opposition, and the Ministerial party in the late Parliament, who reduced the Education Bill to its present free and secular form by the elimination of those clauses. Mr Montgomery proposed the omission of the words " Capitation fees to be levied as hereinafter provided," and the following voted for the retention of the fees :—Macfarlane, Morris, and Whitaker ; against it, to make the system free, Dignau, Lusk, Rees, Swauson, Tole, Grey, and Hainlin. (Loud cheers.) Mr Whitaker had attempted to wriggle out of that position, but the proofs were against him. The bill, iv its original shape, also proposed that tlu fees should be collected by the School Committees, and when Mr DeLatour, iv order to save the Committees from the odium which, the collection ot the tax would cast upon them, moved an amendment throwing the responsibility upon the Government, tliere voted for the clause as it stood : Douglas, Morris, Rowe, Whitaker ; while the members who voted to compel the Government to collect the lees were Uiguau, Grey, lliuulin, Lusk, Nahe (even the very Maori), Rccs, Sbeehau, Swanson, and Tole. To retain the clause tax of ten shillings for each child there voted, Macfarlanft, Whitaker, Williams, and Morris; while those who voted to strike it out and render education free were Dignau, Grey, Hamliu, Lusk, Nahe, Rees, Swanson, Tole, and Sheehan. Mr Whitaker wns therefore clearly a party to making the system a paid oue und not free. (Cheers.) Mr Whitaker was also an advocate for the religious clause in the Bill, whereas now he pretended that he had always supported secular education, (Cheers.) He (Air Tole) had also carried an amendment in the Bill providing for teaching the principles of domestic economy to gills. (Cheers.) Mr Whitaker had talked of Sir George Grey and walking ont of the House, but let them compare the services rendered by the two to education. Mr Whitaker had never oven made a speech on its behalf, while Sir George Grey had set aside valuable endowments and an expenditure of £50,000 in this proviuce for that object. (Cheers.) Mr Whitaker had, when Superintendent, refused to sanction a grant for education, as shewn by the following extract from his message to the Auckland Provincial Council of November 21st, IS6G :—" The Superintendent does not see his way to continue the grants for tho next year to the extent even of last year's vote. It appears to him that there is no alternative but either to reduce the aid hitherto afforded or to raise a special fund for the purpose, as it is done iv several of the other provinces of the colony. He proposes to the Council the latter course as the least objectionable. A Bill to enable the Board of Education to assess and levy rates is transmitted herewith." Ho (Mr Tole) was adducing facts. He was not circulating squibs, writing inflammatory letters to the press, or indulging in personalities. His opposition to Mr Whitaker would be conducted as one politicalgeutleman against another.(Cheers ) Ho regretted to find his opponent had published letters iv the papers on the subject of Catholic Archbishop.*, uud thus in his declining days was destroying that religious forbearance which had existed in Auckland for the past 20 year.-. In 1576 Mr Whitaker brought down a motion to colonialise the Land Fund, and his (Mr Tolcs's) side of the House voted with him. Next year Mi Reader Wood afterwards moved that the Land Fund be co)ouiuiis,ed. The members who voted against that were < ox, Rowe, Wbitakor, ami Morris, ami those who voted for it, Djguan, Grey, Nulie, U'Korke, Swan-, son, Talc, and Reader Wood. Mr Wliitaker's excuse for that vote was that the resolution was not ln'ought down properly. Ho (Mr Tole) would vote for anything legitimate, whether properly brought down or not (loud cheers). Iv ?pite of the injustice that lnid been dove to Auckland siuco 1856 by the localisation of the Laud, Fund, Mr Whitaker voted agaiust the resolution. When Sir George troy brought i\ similar motion My Whisker's name was not recorded jn tho division list, It was no excuse to suy lie was 300 milos away engaged in the case of MuGoo v. the Waikato Racing Club. To all iuteuts and purposes he walked out of the House aud left the Laud Fund to drift. (Cheers.) Mr Whitaker had asserted that when Sir George Grey brought down the motion on the Land Fund properly he (Mr Whitaker) voted for it, but his mime was not recorded iv. the. division list. (Cheers) The Railway's Construction BJU provided far a line from Auckland to Taranaki, from Hamilton to the Thames, Holensvillo to Kaukapakapa, and Whangarei to Kanio. Those who voted tor this measure of justice to the North were Dignau, Grey,. Sheehan, Swansou,. Tolo, Hainlin, and Nahe. Mr Whitakor's name did not appear anywhere, and it must bo assumed that he walked out, as a nun;,of other members did who were envious" of the credit which wou,ld, accrue to Sir George Grey and Mr Macandrew for the works proposed. Mr Whitaker had quoted the lines about "when the devil was sick the devil a saint would be," but he (Mr Tole) had substantiated the statements he made at Graf ton. Ho might say with Ho^s p.uriu Henry the IV. : ' " Ar|d I pan jcaph thop cqz to sham.o tho devil. By tolling truth: tell tru(h and shame tl\o do vil — If thqn have power \o rajsp hmi, bring him hither. And I'll be Bwoyn I have powor to shamo him honco, O, while yqu live, tell truth, and ehamo the devil."

That was what he (Mr Tole) was doiug now. Great cheering and cries of " We'ivo Tole," He doubted, however, whether he would succeed in showing him. (Laughter). Through hia (Mr Whitaker's) speeches the word '• patriotism" was never mentioned, He had no idea of the poople's welfare or of patriotism, but oould talk well of land monopolies. Mr Whitaker assorted that he had advocated a liberal policy for 21 years, yetwhouthe subject of manhood suffrage was introduced by Sir George Grey Mr Whitaker moved the previous question with the object of stifling it. Of the Triennial Parliaments' Bill Mr Whitaker said it was inopportune, and moved the previous ques- *.'■% and when.Dr Wallis intioduced it lsr r^ker moved the adjournment of the 1% Gas Fltu.

House to shelve it, and Mr ltowe voted with him, and those who voted in favour ot the Bill were Diguan, Grey, Macfarlane, Moss, tSwanson, Tole, Wallis, George, and Sheeham; There was a tic and the Speaker gave his casting vote to keep the Bill alive. Mr McLean, a friend of Mr Whitaker, next moved the adjournment of the debate, and was supported by the votes of Douglas, McMinn, Howe, and Whitaker, those who voted to. retain the Bill being Diguau, Grey, Hamlin, Moss, Nahe, Sheehau, Tole, Swan.«6n, and George. Theadjournment was carried by three votes, and then Mr McLean moved" that it be for a fortnight, and Dr Wallis moved that it befor a week. Those who voted with McLean were: Douglas, Rowe, and Whitaker, while there voted to save the bill : Ditftian, Grey, Moss, Nahe, Swansou, Tole, Wallis, and George. It was then moved by Mr Murray that the debate be adjourned for three weeks, and Douglas, Kowe, and Whitaker voted with him. Mr Whitaker's motive was to 'frustrate the passage of the bill. On thp (iubsequeut motion, that the bill be read a aou-mil time; the ayes were Diguau. Qrey,, Uiiniiiu,. Miicfurlttue, Moss, O'Korke,' Sbe/ejiau, Swanson, Tole, George, and Wallis, and the noes, Howe, Foxj Morris, and | WliiUcfcor,... The bill was thrown out. I..lAnather., element, in the ■ Liberal party' was the income tax, to which Mr Whitaker declared he is Opposed, whilst he (Mr Tule) wjs in favour of it. Of the lands purchased from the natives, four and a-half million acres are iaj.be.liands of private individual:>,whijff syntS'the foundation of the colony, the afottjl area of lands thrown open • to' selectrwt JfoMßWsttlement was only two and a«lplf tmi^tifi^cres. That would show . the exterrsMgjfflH*ie ■ land monopoly, and the nece|<.i gj protecting the small holde^J" | < North New Zealand AsF.ociatiojr- m< ti properly known as tlio^'Xand AcTfijfi?ilios;3 Protection Association," conteud';d^[|l|||| land monopoly would be met.by a laud rrii|| but they did not state that the monopolists'1; would retail the laud to small purchasers at an enormous profit with the Land Tax added. There were still 7,000,000 acres in the hands of the natives, which should be cut up into small farms instead of passing into the hands of great land owners. But that would not suit Mr Whitaker, who was constantly speaking contemptuously of the "400 happy families" in a swamp, but what .about his monopoly of a coalfield on a hill? (Cheers.) This cry about education being iv danger was ihere nonsense and moonshine. If there was any threat of attack on the Bill there might be something in the cry, but that was not the case. They should not send trimmers to Wellington, who would injure Auckland, but men who would follow one leader. It was for. the people to exact a pledge of support towards the man who was:devoted to their welfare. (Cheers.) They should have manhood suffrage, re-' adjustment of representation, and Triennial Parliaments, to create a free Constitution. Mr Whitaker h.td amply come out to assist in driving Sir George Grey from power, but he would not get elected. (Cheers.) He had been'always the 'determined enemy ef the Premier, in; the interests of the lan,dsharks and monopolists,'.^ but the. electors should see that everyone had a chance of getting land. ■ (Cheers.)' ivory means ofintimidation was.,being used against electors in the present contest. He knew instances where capital was .being used' ] coerce labour, aud pressure was being brought to bear. 11 c was not afraid, however, that the electors would not do their duty(cheers),and it was well they had the ballot. He restedhis claim .upon ■'the affections of the people. Though Mr Whitaker had called I him "n boy," there were certain things he would not stoop to. He would deal with facts. Mr Ait-ken, the land agent, had charged him at the Grafton meeting with voting for the Curtis Bill, and he (Mr Tole) replied: "There is another land monopolist there," at which Mr Aitken was very angry, because the laugh was turned against him. Mr Whitaker had told a meeting that his (Mr Tole's) brothers had acquired a block of land in the Waikatu, .and endeavoured to deceive his hearers into the impression tbr.t it was stolen from the natives. Mr Whitaker said it was surveyed by moonlight, rushed through tha Court, Crown Grants obtained, and it was now iv the Tole family. At the time this land was acquired, he (Mr Tole) was a boy attending the Sydney University. That would shew what a late Cabinet Mjuister and Attorney - General would descend to. He (Mr Tole) had made a calculation of the whole of the property owned by the Tole family, eight in number, and he found they had what any ordinary homestead settler would have, about 300 acres each. (Loud cheers). Compare that with the wholesale landsharking of 87,000 acres in Piako, got for £13,000, now worth £100,000, and tho coalHeld of 10,000 acresfor 7s 6danaere,aud other monopolies, and yet Mr Whitaker said he would do in the future what he had done in the past. (Hisses). He had asserted that the land wu surveyed by moonlight. The survey, as shown by the deed, was 051 the 2Sth October, IS6/! He (Mr Tole) was kiudlv allowed to see an almanac of that year by Mr Chapman. His (Mr Tole's) In cithers informed li'm that the survey was made a day and a half or two days before the 2Sth. He had looked in the almanac and found that there wasa new moon at ono o'clock in the moruiug. (Great cheering). They would thus see that instead of being a survey by moonlight it was all moonshine. (Laughter). There was total darkness ou the night the alleged moonlight survey was made. In conclusion, Mr Tole urged his own claim to re-election. If defeated, he cou'd resume his profession. He was not asking {or reelection to further any persomil interests, but for the Liberal policy, In conclusion he thanked the meeting for the patient hearing it had given him, and resumed his seat amidst loud and prolonged cheers. In reply to Mr Bollard, Mr Tole said he had heard that the men employed in $\e Piako Swamp received only " Chinamen's wages." He did not know what w«s paid for the Tole laud ju Waikato, b,ut believed it was n great deal more per aci c than was given lor thel Pinko Swamp. He would support free secular education all over the colony. As long a.s lie n\ight be the revivescntntlve of Eden, if any measure iv the ; nature of the Curtis Hill were introduce i, he would vote against it. Mr Bollard asked whether the Roman Catholic Church had not denounced secular education. 'I he question caused great excitement, which nearly resulted in a free fijih.^. The Chairman ruled lhe question out of order, aud Mr Bollard, withdrew it and soon afterwards \eft the platform. Mr Adams, manager for Dr Pollen, attempted to make a speech in favour of Whitaker, but could not get a heavius. In reply to other question^ Mr Tole said he would endeavour, if elected, to have the warders at the Lunatic Asylum and Gaol plnood ou au equal footiug with others, throughout the colony. Mr J. Buchanan, iv a very eloquent and powerful speech, proposed : "That, seeing that Mr Tole has given close attention to tlie requirements of the electors, that he has rendered a consistent support ifi- the Liberal policy with Sir (Seorge C|rey, the leader of the mvty, during ivfc Parliamentary o«roer, ai\d also th;>t he has now given sx pledge not to disturb, the present system of secular education, this meeting of electors expresses confidence In him as a suitable member for Kden; and, further, this meeting is of opiuiou that Mr Tole has satisfactorily answered, the assertions of Mr WMtaker on a fovu.\er occasion in this hall." (Loud ciioers). Mr J. O. Owen seconded the.ruotion. Mr Bollard deuied that \n ki^ questions to Mr Tole he hada,«yd,es.heto grouse vejigious acrimony, The Ohajvinau put tlie resolution, which \\-as carried by 46 to 3, amidst loud cheers. Mr Tolo thanked the meeting and moved a vote of thanks to the Chairman, which was carried by acclamation. Three cheers were given for Mr Tole, three for Sir George. Grey, and three groans for Mr W^itaker. The meeting: was frequently disturbed by two persons who were charged. \vUh being non-electors,