THE ELECTION CAMPAIGN.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVI, Issue 4418, 11 July 1884, Page 2

THE ELECTION CAMPAIGN.

MR C. A. DE LAUTOUR IN PONSONBY.

Mit G. A. Dk La UTOUn addressed a crowded meoting of the Newton electors last night in the Ponsonby Hall, both the body of the building and the gallery being quite full.

Mr Jam km Cotn'LANi) was voted into the chair, and after some general remarks, introduced the speaker of tho evening to

his audience

Mr De Lautobk was received with prolonged cheers. He said he was quite suie that a spirit of fair play would actuate an Auckland audience, and that was all he wanted. Political games were always rough, and they who would not givo hud to take. It was his desire to take. He was no stranger to Auckland. 110 camo hero a poor hid very many years ago, and struggled hard for a living. It was v fur more difficult period for thai than the present, for it was full of trouble, engendered by a war caused by the insatiable greed for land. It was not his fault that ho had failed in tho struggle and been driven elsewhere for a subsistence. (Cheers), 110 was sorry that he had some personal remarks to make, but he would be unjust both to himself aud his cause if ho did not venture upon them. When, fi or (i years ago, he assisted to fight, the battle of the Liberal party in the liouse, ho felt, as soon as the victory had been secured, that, his first duty was to his wile and family in earning a livelihood for them. He therefore had placid his resignation in the hands of tho Speaker, in order to retire from public lite, when, through the persuasions and assistance of Sir< J. Grey and Mr Bees, he was induced to elder lor a course of sliuly for the Bar. He did so, and having [Hissed successfully through the probationary period, ho had been admitted to practise us v barrister and solicitor. He was grateful to Mr Rees for his generous help, and yet his connection with that gentleman was now thrown in his tooth uh a reproach. Ho mistook the people of Now Zealand, however, if such a feeling was allowed to prevail among them. (Cheers.) With regard to his lute constituency of Mount Ida, ho wished them to understand that it was a vast und unexplored mining district, 100 miles in extent, and that he had decided not again to seek election thoi'o, simply because for tho last live years he hud boon a resident in the North Island, and therefore considered it would bu ungenerous in him to retain any longer tho . iiffrugcsof its people. But he had received do/ens of telegrams from the Mount Ida people assuring him of his curtain return if ho would but stand again, let him reside where ho plousod. He had firmly doalinodallsuch persuasions. TheMountlda

(Continued from Page Tico).

electors, however, far from being satisfied witli this refusal, hud again urged him to stand, so that in caso he wero detoated in Newton he might be safe for their district. But even this advice he had lirmly repelled. He felt that he was not going to be defeated in Newton (cheers), for ho was accustomed to lorfc men in tlie face, ana lie had boon iflSd with confidence by the reception he had met with in thin Auckland constituency. As to Mr Peacock, ho had known him for two years, and his only differences from him were political ones, for he respected and admired him as a man. They might, therefore, rest assured that throughout this contest not one word of annoyance or of disrespect to Mr Peacock should fall from his lips. (Cheers.) [A delay here ensued while people who were crowding into the hall were accommodated upon the platform.] If Auckland did not want to weigh down the colony with the number of her representatives, it should be her high and honourable aim to draw to herself the public men of ability who were seeking to give thenservices to tho country. What he meant was that thoy were not called upon to make Mr Peacock a gift of the seat because he chanced to live in Ponsonby, and to throw a stone at himself because he did not reside there but to select the man who best represented their views and interests (Cheers.) lie denied the allegation that lie *.is thrusting himself upon them, lor lie had only consented to come in response to a very general wish. .A voice: "And you'll have a good show too,'' followed by cheers J Now, coming to the presontposition of the colony, why was there such a scramble for power and wealth, and such a grinding of the weak and poor, instead of allowing all to live in comfort? It was because men were content, first of all, to rely upon thenown resources, but that after a while wishing to attain a fancied bcnelit out of their reach, they entered upon a courco of borrowing, tho result ol which wi W that the poor starved themselves to death, only to heap heavier and still heavier burthens upon themselves while aiding the wealthy. This was our position. (Cheers). Wo were paying interest on loans, and meeting delicieney bills out ot borrowed money, and the eli'ect of it would be that the next Treasurer would have no loan to resort to. We had now a million and a half of interest to pay per annum, and ono great financier wanted to expend more borrowed money in order to bring hither more people to share the burthens with v«. ' The only means of relief was that to be expected from the social revolution which was now slowly but surely woi-kin"- to fruition. The time was coming when the lands of the country would have to bear their share of the burthens now heaped upon the people. The problem for our consideration was how the colony could progress as a whole, and then how the North Island could individually progress. We wanted to place this island in the same position as that occupied by the Southern one. Allowing for the difficulty of road construction in this island, he had found upon calculation that it would require Llo\ooo,ooo to place ourselves in the same position as the South Island. While this was so, and without any main trunk lines of railway, it was sheer suicidal madness for the cry to be railed here of separation from the South and internecine strife. He knew that the feeling in the South was favourable to the North, but how long would it remain so if these factious cries'continued V It was therefore with a feeling of great satisfaction that he had read the grand and generous resolution passed on the previous night in St. .lauvV. Hall deprecating any feeling of jealousy towards the South. He know the wants of the North, and it was with a desire to help it that he had declined again to stand for Mount Ma. (< Vera.) In the first place we should be satisfied at present, with one trunk line of railway in--tead of elainourintr for two (Cheers), which could not be expected. Intimately connected with this matter was the question of native land administration. The chief merit of Mr ISryeo's pre-emptive system, according to him, was that it would not cost the Government one penny, seeing that they simply provided the machinery for working ir. But did we know that all the surveys of this island were wrong, owing to the want of a proper triangulation, and that proper surveys would have first to be made before the Government sy.tem would work at all.Yet Mr Bryce had declared that, given his system, in six months he would have enough land ready for settlement. An experienced engineer had told him that it would take two years to complete a minor triangulation of a portion of the East Coast District alone, so by extending the calculation tlioy might understand how far .Mr Bryce's hope tallied with the probability. He bad read with interest Judge Kenton's letter in the previous night. Staii, but that gentleman had made the mistake of asserting that tho chief reform tobedesired was a rehabilitation of Native Land Courts—which ho thought had degenerated (pardon the thought). And this reform he would effect by freeing them from Government control. But we were better vs ithout them altogether. Thoy had arisen through our desire to in.lividualise the native title to land—a thing foreign to all Maori habits and customs— anil in doing so wo had opened the door wide to all sorts of corruption. It would be a happy thing if we could undo it altogether—put down a race of interpreters, and abolish all the incrusting corruptions which were so revolting to a free people. [A Voice: East Coast Land Company.] He was coming to that. Tho native lands should bo subject to taxation, just as European land was. We should not protect the natives then from the results of their own improvidence. At present wo were killing them with rum and whisky, and if their improvidence resulted from this, they should feel the effects of it. And now with reference to the East Coast Land Company. This was a voluntary effort to make use of the n itive lands around Gisbome and the coast adjoining. Tho natives had been selling in batches, and litigation ran riot over tho place, stifling the existence of tho whole district. It was therefore thought that if a company wero formed to advance money to relieve encumbrances, assist in the completion of the title, and facilitate the obtaining of grants undor the Land Transfer Act, it would be a real benefit to all concerned. In this way 8,000 acres had alroady been treated in the vicinity of Gisbome. But there was need of Government supervision. Tho Cotapcny merelyheld the land as trustees for tho natives, Incurring heavy responsibilities and expenses thereby, and deriving a share of tho revenue. He was proud to havo had a share in connection with that Company, and a serious responsibility withal, but ho saw dangers besetting it which he was anxious to have avoided. Free competition in sale had had to be resorted to, and in many cases reckless prices wero paid, which crippled the purchaser. Such a system had prevailed in connection with the sale of Crown lands also, and had proved disastrous. Mr Rolleston had tried to apply tho cure of perpetual leases, but wo could not have leaseholders settled side byside with freeholders. Ws must have all freeholders or nono. (Cheers). Mr Rolleston had been obliged to admit that there were ol landholders in Canterbury who had each 3,000 acres and over, and yet there were 7,000 people in Now ton. We must have the land tax as the cure, (Cheers). In that respect ho was opposed to Mr Peacock, and at ono with his opponent, Mr Garrard. (Loud cheers and laughter.) It was on account of their hostility to this land tax that he had opposed the Government. The Grey Government, by putting on a land tax, however small, gave us a starting point. But how were wo to get a land tas if the lft/>d had six votes as against our one? (Cheeis.j In that respect he was also opposed to Mr peacock, who supported both a property and a leasehold qualification. Moreover, in order to progress, wo needed to insist on education. He therefore cordially agreed with Mr Rolleston in opposing the abatement of one penny of the education vote. (Cheers.) Our elementary system was good, but our secondary schools were abused through being worked in purely class interests. We should have them placed more within tho reach of our deserving youth, allowing want of nu.ans to be no bar to entrance there. Then, tor., ivc had to complete tho means of communication with our eastern and western coasts, so that Gisborne should no longer look upon Auckland as distant, or Napier regard it as an onemy. (Cheers.) Abovo all, wo should rise superior to all sorts of jealousies of the South, set our face against any impoverishment of the people—to be cured by fanciful schemes of national insurance. (Cheer.-.) We had come to support our Btato charitable institutions and hospitals, and they wore quite as efficient under the voluntary system a_ before. [A voice: "State Churches."] No; we would have none _£ them, (Cheerr,) Ho exhorted them to preserve themselves from Government interference as much us possible. Why should wo set up a State idol for a thousand pen. to castigate and a thousand tongues to praLe'.' (Cheers). AVo should insist upon managing our own affairs, provide for our own roads and bridges, leav. ing our representatives freo to deal with large national questions instead of electing them upon paltry considerations. At present it was a racecourse at Timaru i which would decide the election thero. Wo

were too much in thehabitof worshipping the idol of centralised Government, and a proper and harmonious system of local self-govern-ment was the only cure. The basis of his opposition to the Government was their centralism. He opposed them also because of their repeal of the land tax—(Cheers;— because they adhered with molluscnn tenacity to office, despite all rebuffs ; because they had educated us into a scientific corruption through district votes as marks of favour ; and because they shattered parties by their bribes. (Cheers.) The Government had now gone to tlie country in order to seek assistance to checkmate the nine rogues who had turned them out—(cheers and laughter)—and yet one of their number, Mr Dick, had already deserted. Mr Bryce had stated that he looked with dissatisfaction upon the state of public works, while Mr Mitchelson, instead of being here to lead public opinion, had nothing to say in defence of his party. Still he was the best of hisparty. The Ministerial party had notvery cheerful prospects before them. They would only gain one seat in Otago, another in Canterbury; they would got none in Westland.and onlyonein Nelson. In Wellington theymight win 10 out of II seats, and if they got S seats in this province, and that was giving them Newton—[A voice : " But they won't have it," and cheers]—they would only have '_.. votes in a House of 90. The people were being carefully instructed that tho real issue was between Vogel and Atkinson, and for that reason tlie press urged them to send Sir Geo. Grey to Parliament alone. But why should they do such a thing? Was it that, like Samson, he might wrest down the pillars, in his blindness ? It was with a determination to assist Sir Geo. Grey that he hod come here, and he was resolved to stick by him. (Loud and prolonged cheers). He respected Mr Peacock for his consistency in adhering to tho party he had always served, but Sir Geo. Grey had the greatest claim upon the people. (Cheers). lie had devoted his life to the advocacy of their interests, for he hail no selfish ends to serve. (Cheers). In his own address he had not, glanced at the past, for that was useless, but he had directed them to the future, towards which thoy should set their facts as flints. Let them go on educating themselves as Sir Geo. Grey had educated the Government until he had extorted from them progressive acts of Liberalism. If he was to continue to hold the balance which should give him this opportunity, it was necessary to send men to support him in Parliament, careless of the detractions that assailed the honourable close of a noble life. (Cheers.) Coming back to himself, he confessed to a laudable ambition to represent the largest constituency in the cobny. (Renewed cheers.) And in aspiring to this honour ho had told his Mount Ida constituents that as he was a resident of the North, his services should be given to it or kept to himself. He asked them, therefore, gravely and carefully, without any reference to Sir George Grey's name, if he could be of any service to them. (Cheers.) He believed that he could, because for years he had warmly supported the views he had laid before them that night. It was not a virgin service or a hireling voice that he offered them. He had been tried, and had not proved unfaithful. (Cheers.) He asked them to pardon this vanity, for it wai their justification. (Cheers.) If he had displayed any vanity at .-ill, it was a fault they could assist him to cure. (Loud and prolonged cheers, during which the speaker resumed hi:, ioat.) Questions. In answer to a question whether he had informed the Mount Ida people prior to the dissolution that he did not intend to stand niruin lor that, district, because he considered they should be represented by a local candidate, Mr De LACTOURsaid that he had issued an address to the electors stating his reasons for retiring, which hail been published in the Auckland papers. He had told tlio Mount Ida people prior to the dissolution that he would not again seek their suffrages. (-2). In reply to the question whether he had introduced a bill drafted hy ..(essvs Whitaker and liv.-.11, and promoted by the New Zealand Loun anil Mercantile Agency, giv. ing the Native Lands Company, of which ]he was secretary, special powers for the acquisition of native lands not pos«e*eed by the public, Mr Do Lautmii--aid all the world knew ho had introduced the East Coast Land Settlement Company Bill. As a director of the Company, it woiddhave been a piece of hypocrisy for him to have allowed anyone else to introduce it. He had, however, told the Government that if they objected to it he would withdraw it. They did object, and it was withdrawn. (.1). As to whether he would vote for a want of confidence motion in the t lovernment on tho __semhly of Parliament, he might reply hy asking, '- Would a duck swim" (Cheers, and loud laughter.) (-1.) That he would follow SirGeCt. Grey, no matter whom ha should join with—whether Atkinson or anyone else—even Sir Julius Vogel. (Loud cheers.) (i)) That the meaning of the "unearned increment" was the value given to land by wealth and labour combined, and in the benefit of which labour did not participate. (6) That he proposed to start from the present and absorb for the people the revenues of tho land, leaving the past to take care of itself. (7) Thftt he would not vote for granting -peoinl conces sians to denominational education. (Cheers.) (.) That Mr Macandrew had never hinted at insular separation, but merely wanted local government in each island, the cause of the absurd separation cry being a foolish speech by Mr Montgomery. Separation had nothing whatever to do with the defeat of the Ministry, and he was against separation altogether He had told the Mount Ida people that he was against the disturbance of the unity of the colony at all hazards. (9) That if the property tax were abolished, and another one beside the land tax were required, he would favour an income tax upon professions. ilO) That he had always contended that we ought to have side by side with our Universities trade schools and polytechnics, and he would go to any lengths our funds would warrant in encouraging and promoting teohnical schools. (11) That every householder—female as W-ll as male—should have a vote in the election of Licensing Committees, (12) That the decisions of those committees should be linal—appeal to a higher tribunal was unnecessary. (13) That if aMr Waterhouse had said in "Hansard" that there was no necessity for a main North Island trunk railway, it must be the Mr Waterhouse who had been appointed Deputy Governor. (1_) That if it was true that the name of every child boi'R In Taranaki was entered in a book as a candidate for the Civil Service, ho would take care that the book should be printed when Sir George Grey was made Premier. (15) That ne saw no necessity for an eight hours bill, soeing that the people had the power in thoir own hands, and that thpy should not address themselves to the Government. It was a question for the working classes to decide for themselves. They had no evldeuce as to what was the proper amount of labour, and they must remember that the minimum of labour meant the minimum of pay. (16) That he did not approve of tho present J.P. system, and would be inclined to replace it with a better. (17) That he had never been able to discover the value of a grand jury where the petty jury system existed. (IS). That the minimum for the income tax would be that for which a man could livo without luxury. He could not say what sum it would take for a working man to live, but that would be the right minimum for an {ncomc tax. Ifo would not support a high minimum. (10) That he had received requisitions from 300 Newton electors, and that night ho received invitations from some 700. (Cheers.)

Mr Wm. Rosskr proposed, "That we, the Ponsonby electors, have much pleasure in thanking Mr De Lautour for his able address, and that we have every confidence that he will rpake a most able representative of this constituency of Newton," (Cheers.) Mr JfiUJffi seconded the rpsojution, but the meeting would not allow him to make a speech. Mr Thorne, amid determined groans and other marks of strong disapproval, proceeded to move an amendment. After trying vainly for several minutes to get a hearing, lie explained that on a previous evening ho hat! made some rather strong expressions against Mr De Lautour which on calmer reflet tion he would not have given expression to. His opposition, however, was to the candidate, and not to the man. Ho was astonished that he should have spent an hour and a-half that night in saying things which, stripped of their glamour, could havp been said in five minutes. [Groans, yells, and erica of "Dry up," " Put the question," and " Divide."] An elector here mounted the platform and explained that l[r Thorne was trying to gull the meeting. Mr De Lautour appealed to the audience by their friendliness for himself to accord Mr Thome a fair hearing. This appeal was effective, and Mr Thorn then moved, " That this meeting, while thanking Mr De Lautour for his address, decline to entertain his candidature as their representative in the new Parliament." The gentleman again attempted to speak to the proposition, but his voice was lost in a tumult of determined opposition, amid which the Chairman wan asked to take the sense of the meeting as to whether or not Mr Thorne should be heard.

The Chairman made a strong appeal for order, after which Mr Thorne retired.

Mr W. Lev.s seconded thn auiendmen., but was also ineffectual in getting 0 hearing. The amendment was then put, but not more than a dozen hands were held up fo_ it, while quite a forest of hands were held up, amid cheers, against it. This was followed by three cheers for Mi- DeLautour, The amendment thus having been lost, tho original motion was then put. and carried by an overwhelming majority, only three hands being held up against it.

Mr Dk Lautoi.k, in returning thanks, said that iiin reception by the electors of Newton was a noblo encouragement for every young man who would endeavour, by honest effort to rise, as he had done, even from the milk-pail in tho Auckland streets, to the honours of the Senatei (Cheers.) On the proposition of Mr I.,uxr,a vole of thanks was passed to the Chairman. The assemblage, before dispersing, gavg three cheers for Sir George Grey, andth«B more for Mr De Lautour.