Nomination for City West.

Auckland Star, Volume X, Issue 2928, 2 September 1879, Page 3

Nomination for City West.

Tim nomination of candidates to represent the Electoral District of City West in the House of Representatives took place at noon to-day iv Hie rooms of the Young Men's Christian Association, There was a large attendance.

T. Cotter, Esq., Returning Olltcer, .said the district was entitled to return two members, and then read the writ and electoral notice. He then called upon the electors to propose candidates. He urged that none but duly qualified electors should take part in tho proceeding's, and that a fair aud impartial hearing snould be given to the speakers. (Cheers.)

Mr A. Black, who was received with cheers, said the gentleman whom he had to propose had stuck to his colours in the House and had not ratted. He proposed James Wallis as a Jit and proper person to represent City West iv the General Assembly.

Mr Johnston sccouded the nomination. He referred to his former opposition to Dr Wallis, but said that during his stay in Wellington last session he had seen reason to change his mind.

Mr Ewiugton proposed Mr Joseph Newman. (Groaus). Mr Newman's past carect was a proof of his fitness. He had served a polical apprenticeship in the Municipality, Provincial Council, and iv the General Assembly, and it seemed extraordinary to him that the electors should take Dick, Tom, and Harry in selecting gentle^ men for the higher functions of political life. Mr Newman would be a staunch supporter of Sir George Grey, (laughter, and a voice, "It won't wash.") He would reiterate the statement. (No, no.) Mr Newman would, however, exercise his own judgment, as MrSwausou had done. ("No no," aud a voice, "There's no analogy.") If a man had large property iv tho North, as Mr Newman has, they might rely upou it he would look after his own interests. (Laugh tcr, and "You bet.")

Mr French seconded the nomination. He contended that Dr Wallis did not represent a htrge portion of his constituents ou the subject of education, upon which he had been iuconsisteut.

Mr W. Swauson, M.H.R., who was received with loud cheers, proposed W. J. Hurst, whom he had known iv the Provincial Council ;ts a friend of Liberal measures, and one of the party of progress. He was a member of the Provincial Executive which did moro work with less moucy than any other. He had also been au cllicicnt member of the City Council and an excellent Mayor of Auckland. Mr Gee seconded the nomination. Mr T. Maselicld said he would propose a gentleman who had come out iv the Liberal interest, aud who was prepared to foster the local industries of the coutry. (Cheers.) Ho referred to the unfairness of the Tariff with regard to machinery, ironwork, and timber. He proposed Robert Adam Mozley Stark. Mr Hunter seconded the nomination ou the ground that Mr Stark had enunciated a policy which entirely agreed with the policy of the Working Men's Association. (" Has he got a chimney to build!") He was prepared to deal with anyone who had a chimney to build. Mr Stark was also a supporter of Sir George, aud a representative of the working man.

Dr. Wallis was about to jtddress the meeting, when

An elector .suggested that the candidates' speeches should be limited to time. The Returning Officer said he had uo power to place any limit on the length of the candidates' remarks. Ho was completely in the hands ot the meeting. Dr. Wallis contended that he had fulfilled the pledges made at the last election. He was a Democratic-Liberal, the meaning of which he explained. The Liberals were neither destructionists nor revolutionists, but reformers. The prcscut dilliculty was to distinguish the true Liberal from the false. Even Mr Newman professed to bo a Liberal. There were such things a.s wolves in sheep's clothing. (Cheers.) M. Stark professed to be a Liberal.

Mr Stark : So I am, more Liberal than yon.

Dr Wallis: The Government of the country had been in the hands of a set ot men who had obstructed constitutional development, and it was necessary now to follow the leader who had enunciated the Liberal policy. Think of Mr Newman following Sir George Grey. (Laughter.) The reforms which were ripe for legislation were : extension of the suffrage, Triennial Parliaments, re-distribution of scats, amendment in the Legislative Council, aud reform in the j linances. The indebtedness per head was £62, and the cost of Government £6 por head. The time was also ripe for reforms in the Law Courts. He denied that he was au enemy of local industry. He had tabled a motion in favour of the representation of minorities, and of all shades of opinion and interests. He was an advocate of women's rights, but that question was not ripe for legislation. He was a free-trader. Great Britain had prospered for thirty-four years under a system of free-trade. Was the Colony to isolate itself by a system of protection, or to prosper by commerce under a system of free-trade. But he was favourable to the fosteriug of local industries in a young country as a temporary measure until they wore able to stand on their feet. He had been most unfairly mis-represented on this subject. He would endeavour to secure justice for tho North. Mr Newman, who was only a hypocritical Liberal, was respectable in comparison with another of the candidates. Towards the end of his speech the doctorwas frequently interrupted by cries of "Time !" In reply to questions from tho Working Men's Association, he said he was in fovour of re-adjusting the tariff to protect local industries! would check Chinese immigration, would favour manhood suffrage with a residential qualification of six to twelve months, aud if Auckland failed to secure justice he would support insular separation. (Cheers,)

Mr Newman, who deprecated personalities, said he had been here long enough for his character to compare favourably with Dr. Wallis. He (Mr Newman) belonged to no clique, had formed no committee, and would not spend more than £15 on the election. We had an immense country with resources, climate, and soil that would compare with any in tho world, and he was surprised at the slow progress of the North, which had been placed at a disadvantage by the monopolisation of the Land Fund, tl'ie unequal expenditure of loans, and the want of development of the waste lands by roads. Ho sought to secure justice to the North. Nothing less than a railway to the North would satisfy him with regard to the claims of Auckland. The Waste Lands Board had lands in the North to which there was no communication. Between Hokianga and the Bay of Islands 70,000 acres of land suitable for settlement were lyingdormant. Thesettlementof thecoiintry was a more important question than that of fancy representation and women's rights. He would support manhood suffrage with proper qualifications, but he wouldfalso allow a ratepayer's vote where the person possessed property in another district. He would support the Auckland party in securing justice to the Ni*th, and, if need be, would favour a re.coutse^ v ,tlio block vote. The Land Purctpase IJeP^Sient had been a barrier to t> ne pr°p s*°;> North. TheGo _ vernment \^ere the re» ,n 4 sharks of tho ii. V

: day. If the Government had taken tbo > position of agents for the natives, instead of hucksters—buying cheap and selling &w t —they would have won the confidence of the natives, and not theif suspicion, anil wottld, not have aroused in them a feeling that they were being robbed. He did m b blame the present Government, but successive Governments, for this state of things. The . Native Oliice had been a doling establishment. Sweep these departments away, and go upon a principle of truth and honesty, and we should yet win the confi- ; deuce and respect of the natives. (Cheers.) : He considered that taxation should be upon evils and luxuries—('Put it on scrip')— but materialsrequired for local manufactures should be admitted duty free. He endorsed the Laud Tax, and if necessary anincome tax. They were necessary evils. He would use all his energies to secure the re-imposition of the timber duties. The speaker adduced arguments in favour of protective duties to foster local manufactures. He had long advocated Triennial Parliaments. Secular ; education was in danger from the Biblereading Association, and he would resist any attempt to disturb the present system. As a Sunday-school teacher of twenty-live years, he would say that one hour of Sunday teaching was better than a whole week's teaching of the Bible in the schools, which would introduce an element of discord and dissatisfaction. Away with all this talk about an ungodly system. He could conceive the painful process by which Dr. Wallis had devoted himself to the work of the ministry. (Hear Dr. Wallis rose to expostulate, but was put down by cries of " Older.") He could hardly understand why Dr. Wallis had entered politics. It was a good thing that people should stick to their places. He would not say in the words of the old Book, "What doest thou here, Elijah?" (Mr Staines: "Give us a hymn now.") Dr. Wallis had spoken of his constituents as "teetotal ganders." (A voice: "What is the context?") The context was that when they saw a gander there was generally a goose not far away. (Great laughter.) Mr Hurst could beat him at making promises, and he wouM suggest that ho should give all of his constituents a new hat so as to encourage local industry. He would support Sir George Grey in bringing down and carrying the Liberal measures embodied in the Governor's speech, and would vote against, any want of confidence motion till a fair opportunity had been afforded for carrying out those measures. He approved of the Native policy advocated by Mr Sheehan in hit recent speech. He was not connected with any institution which would prevent his rccordiug his vote impartially, but he would refuse to sit as the nominee of the Central Committee. To show that he had no connection with land monopolists, he only possessed 110 acres, sixty acres of which were at bis own home, and forty of which ho would sell if elected. An elector asked whether the candidate sympathised with the ratting of Macfarlane, Whitaker, and others, Mr Newman said he did not think he was called upon to sit in judgment upon members of the late Parliament. He had never laid himself open to the charge of being a turn-coat or a " ratter." He would oppose Chinese immigration, and support manhood suffrage with a six months residential qualification. In large and sparcelypopulated area representation merely on the basis of population would be unsatisfactoiy. Iv reply to Mr Seabrook, as to how long he would support Sir George Grey, aud what he considered a "fair opportunity " to carry the measures, he said he could not put the matter more explicitly. • Mr W. J. Hurst, who was received with clieers, said he had prepared lengthy observations, but in order no tto weary the meeting he would postpone them for the present. He was surprised that Mr Newman, after deprecating personalities at the outset of his speech, should have launched out into bitter personalities. Mr Hurst, then referred to bis exertions in the Provincial Council in favour of bonuses for the manufacture of paper, tweed cloth, his exertions in the establishment of a glass manufactory and the growth of tobacco, If elected lie would move for a committee to inquire into the whole subject of the tariff, aud to report. as to the best means of protecting local industries. Representation on the basis of population would bo| playing in the hands of the South Island, which had used its predominance of voting power iv the House to increase its population. He supported an income tax, especially on absentees. He denied that Sir George Grey had endeavoured to excite class differences; lie had only tried to secure justice for all classes alike. The present Education Bill was the outcome of those very useful local institutions which abolition bad swept away. They bad nothing in their placo but a huge debt, Ho would vote for tho reimposition of the timber duties and for a review of the tariff, so as to protect local industries. He would support restriction of Chinese immigration, manhood suffrage with a residential clause, so as to qualify every bona lidc resident. He would support insular separation if the South refused justice to the North. If elected, be hud no object to serve than to come back with their approval, lie kucw of no higher ambition, and his honest desire will bo to serve the constituency well. He would give an unqualified denial to the statement that be wis assisting Mr Macfarlane's candidature for Waitemata. He had recommended those who had waited on him with reference to the subject to vote for Mr Wood. He would be prepared to subordinate his personal views to those of his constituents on all essential questions. On mere matters of opinion be would vote with a majority of the Auckland members. He would support the Local Option Bill in new districts, but would leave discretionary power iv the hands of the Government, lie would do his utmost to remove the evils of drunkenness. Iv reply to an elector, Mr Hurst said ho had retired in favour of the other candidate of the party for Waitemata. He did not retire in favour of Mr Render Wood, because he felt very angry with Mr Wood, who he thought was the tool of a party, but he had retired in the interest of the Grey party. Mr Way mouth put a question to the candidate which the Returning Officer refused to PUt ~ . ,-c-. Mr Stark said the working men of City West should have a special representative. He was not a new convert to tho Liberal programme, as he was nurtured iv the very centre of Liberalism in Manchester. He would support Sir George Grey, and would endeavour by a modification of the tariff to promote the well being of local industries. Import duties should be so levied as to encourage these industries, aud make our artizaus more prosperous. He held that the working men were the true gentlemen of this country. The cause was a good one ; they had a good leader. He (Mr Stark) was the only true Grcyitc that had come to City West. He was not ashamed to suy that lie had worked for his daily bread. He considered Sir George Grey was the only statesman in New Zealand, and there was no choice between him and chaos. He would consider it a honour to follow such a leader as Sir George Grey. In reply to questions, Mr Stark said he would certainly support it Bill, not only to restrict Chinese immigration, but to keep them out altogether. He would support manhood suffrage, with a residential qualification of.six to twelve months. Representation on the basis of population would do injustice to the North. He would support Insular Separation failing justice for tho North. The Government should be pressed to introduce a Bill to compel contractors to pay their workmen weekly and in current coin of the realm.

Mr Simpson said, as a member of the Working Men's Political Association he wished the meeting to understand that Mr Stark was not brought out by that body. In reply to other qtiestions.Mr Stark said he was in favour of the Local Option system in regard to new houses. He approved of the settlement of the country farmers.

A show of hands was then taken with the following result :—

Wallis 59 Newman 10 Hurst 63 Stark 51 The show of hands was therefore iv favour of Messrs Hurst and Wallis.

Mr Ewington aud another elector demanded a poll on behalf of Mr Newman. The Returning Oflicer announced that the poll would take place from 9 to 4 at the Young Men's Christian Association on Saturday.

Mr Hurst moved a vote of thanks lo the Returning Officer, and took that opportunity of reading a telegram which he had received from Sir George Grey ;is follows :—" Glad you are standing for City West. Wish you success."

Tho vote of thanks was passed by acclamation, and the meeting separated, with three cheers for Sir George Grey.

The iron ship Antone, recently front London, was found to be on lire hist Friday morning in the fore-hold. The vessel was along-side the railway pier, Sandridgc. She was towed out in the stream and scuttled in 24 feet of water, where she now lies. She had only arrived a few days previously, and but two tons cargo were discharged. The value of the oargo was £30,000. The cause of the lire, it is believed, was sailors going with lights into the hold. She is a line .ship and commanded by Capt. Robertson, formerly of the steanier'Grcat Britain.

"The Bilks" is the name which the San Francisco papers apply to a party in the California btate elections.