MR J. A. TOLE IN THE NEWTON ATHENÆUM.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVI, Issue 4422, 16 July 1884, Page 4

MR J. A. TOLE IN THE NEWTON ATHENÆUM.

Mr J. A. Tolo actively began his candidature of tho Eden electoral district last night by addressing a crowded meeting of olector.. in the Newton Atheiuuum, Enst-streot.

Cr. Stovonson was voted to the chair, and briofly introduced tho candidate to his audience.

Mr Tole, who was recoivcd with loud cheors, begun by claiming indulgence at the hands of tho electors, inasmuch as he was suffering from a cold which ho had contracted at Wellington. Tho people were the third branch of the Legislature, and tho duty now devolved upon thorn of aiding in tho choico of a Parliament to whom they would hand over thoir lives and interests for another period of throo years. Ho had two duties to perform that night, tho first boing to thank them for past support, and in ths second placo' to solicit a continuance of that confidonco which ho had retained during ton sossions or threo Parliaments. Although it was almost a superfluous mattor ho had primarily to expound his viowß, and foremost of all ho had to give them a clear and ringing assuranco upon tho education question. He had hitherto bowed with tho profoundost submission to tho will of tho electors on this mattor, but as all was fair in love and war, and in politics, too, ho supposed, tho rumour had beon craftily disseminated that this timo ho intended to jump tho rail. To this report ho gave a flat and emphatic denial. Ho would steadfastly oppose any attempt to sap or destroy the present educational system. Further than that, ho would support it in its entirety. Ho would not oven shiold himsolf behind tho interested assertion that it was too costly, and that consequently economy was necessary. IJis reputation was at stako, as woll as his character in keeping perfect faith in this mattor, and ho asked thorn plainly if his professions now wore not guaranteed by his action in tho past. [Avoice: "They are,"and choors.] Ho had also to proclaim his unimpaired attachment to Sir George Grey, under whose bannor ho had entered into public lifo, and by whoso sido jio had been consistently ranged over since. Ho wasthoreforo still a strong supporter of Sir Georgo Grey and an opponont of tho present Government. It was popularly considered that lawyers had narrow minds and if so Sir Goorge Grey had assisted to widen his. Thoro was no doubt about his promises and professions. He was a G reyite and not one of those so-called Independents, who signalised their entrance into Parliament by allying themselves with tho party in powor. Sir Georgo Grey had politically educated tho people and was faithfully lightingtheir battlos, and was therefore entitled to their gratitude. At the same tune, while denouncing tho self-styled Independents, he disclaimed the charge that ho was a blind follower of Sir Georgo Grey. Were his education, his political experience, and his private judgment to go for nothing? (Crios of "No.") Ho was a follower of Sir Georgo Grey by choice and reflection. Interested people, and particularly a section of the .press, found serious offence with him for voting against the Government in the late session, but did the people elect him as a 'supporter of the Government. (Cries of " No. ) No; he stood and was elected as an opponent of the Ministry of centralism, and just prior to tho last session the electors sent him down to Parliament confirmed in his professions by their passing of a vote of confidence to him. Ho did not wish to be disrespectful, but if thoro had been any change of front and of feeling in question between them it must bo on their part, for it certainly was not. It was stated that there waß a strong probability of the forces of Sir George Grey and Major Atkinson coalescing in the New Parliament, and if so 9

ho would loyally support such a coalition. Fault was found with the Opposition for bringing about tho recent dissolution, but tho only blame attributable for this rosult was duo to tho Government, who had adopted tho alternative of dissolution rather than follow the constitutional practico of allowing themselves to j bo'displaccd by their victorious opponents. There was strength enough in tho Opposi- i tion to have formed three Ministries. Major Atkinson had. blurted out his actuating motive in tho House, when ho said that if tho Opposition wore allowed to clambor into office thoy would bo ablo to work tho olections to thoir own profit. The Auckland members of that Opposition wore now twitted with tho charge that thoy had defeated tho authorisation of tho Northern Trunk Railway, but tho accusation was unjust, as well as absurd. That line of railway must go on, whatever party got into power, and tho Western route would bo practically secured by a victory of tho Opposition party. Mr Tolo went on to quoto from " Hansard " for tho purposo of proving that tho Groy Government as early as 1878 had addressed thomselvos to the construction of an Aucldand-Taranaki line —not an Auckland - Wellington ono, as proposed by tho prcsont Government —and that Mr Macandrew, as Minister of Public Works, had stated his intention of securing concessions of land from the natives settled along that Aucldand-Taranaki lino so as to facilitato its construction. In 1878 that line was practically fixed upon, and Major Atkinson's party voted deliberately against it. Major Atkinson himself abstained from voting for it, whilo Messrs Bryco and Rollcston stoutly opposed it. Yot the nowspapors said that tho Government supported that line, but thoy woro not to believo everything that tho newspapers told them. (Loud cheers). Ho also warned them against being led into any jealousy of the South, for in 1878 nearly every Southern member voted and spoke in support of the Aucldand-Tara-naki lino. As for himself, ho had done everything within his power to promote tho construction of tho 'J'e Awamutu-Stratford line, and ho positively denied tiiat it was in any way endangered by tho defeat of the Government. lie pointed them to the significant fact that whilo tho Groy Government had pledged themselves in the Governor's speech of IB7S to tho AucklandTaranaki line, no reference at all was made to it by tho Atkinson Government in tho Governor's speeches of 1879, 1880, 1881, and 1882. It was not until 1883, when they found their power waning, that they made any reforonco to it. Ho therefore proclaimed that reference to it as either an electioneering dodge or as a subterfuge. (Cheers.) And yet when'they did approach its consideration they showed a strong predilection for tho Central route. They employed purveyors to report in its favour, and at last thoy endeavoured to stave off an awkward decision by promising both lines, a proposal which they could not holp to carry. It should have been Mr Mitcholson's duty, as an Auckland man, to haro rcf-if ned his seat in tho Ministry whon ho found them disposed to quibblo or play falso on this railway question. Major Atkinson was still koeping up his policy of duplicity in order to lose no votes, for ho had positively refused at Tarannki rccontly to pledge himself to support tho Western line. Mr Mitchclson himself declined to stuto which lino ho would favour, on (ho specious pretence that an avowal from him on the subject would servo as a signal for land speculators to buy up tracts along tho proposed route. Tho Government were fearful of making an honest declaration on this momentous subject lest their grasp on ollico should be relaxed thereby. In Mating these facts, he pointed the electors to tho fact that tho Wellington candidates woro finding their chances hopeless unless thoy pledged themselves firmly to support. the central line so as to defeat "the commercial rapacity of Auckland." Unless, therefore, tho Government supported the Central line, they would not have a single Wellington vote, and he therefore cautioned tho Auckland electors against giving their support to men pledged to a party whose tenure of office would depend upon their advocacy of the central route. Ho also stigmatised the publication of Mr Bryco's native land propositions at this time as another electioneering cry. (Chetrs.) Thoy had known that he himself had all along been opposed to land sharks and in favour of small holdings. On the honorarium question, ho had to say that although ho believed in the payment of members ho could not bring himself to believo that tho representatives wero entitled to a full honorarium for two weeks' work. For that reason he supported tho Government proposal to refuse or cut down tho honorarium, but on its being rejectdcho, in common with other members who noted as he did, neceptcd his share of the honorarium. As to tho future, ho would heartily support an equalisation of tho taxation in order that tho peoplo might reap tho benofit of tho unearned increment which they created. For that reason ho would voto for a land tax, and if it proved insufficient for revenue purposes then ho would also advocate the imposition of an incomo tax, so that absentee proprietors, selfish capitalists, and professional men who at present escaped taxation altogether, should bo reached. Furthermore, wo needed an equalisation of our representation, so that tho principle of one voto for ono man should como into play. It was 08 a moans to that end that ho supported tho holding of all elections upon one day, although it might limit his chances of ro-election. Another important reform wap a thorough reorganisation of our Bystem of government, so as to remove from the body politic tho oxcrosconce of centralism, and tho vast expenditure which it entailed. In re-organising our system of local government wo should cut down the number of our representatives and allow a chanco for useful legislation by relegating tho consideration of roads, bridges, and culverts to the loca bodies best fitted to deal with them. It was also absolutely necessary that some reform of the railway administration should bo offocted, and in this direction ho heartily commended the efforts mado by Mr Vaile. Our railways had coSt us in round numbers 13 millions sterling, and for this borrowed money we had to pay interest at the rate of 5J per cent. Yot instead of making our railways pay wo woro steadily going to the bad. In 1881 tho loss upon our railways was L 181.000; in 1882 it was 1.207,000; in 1883 it was L 263.000 ; and in 18S4 it had increased to L 377,000, making a total of L 1,227,000 for four years. Reform, therefore, was urgently needed. Ho was, oppesod to any system of State paid immigration, for tho only system of immigration he believed in was a hoalthy and natural ono. As for futuro political combinations ho might declare at once that bo would not support Sir Julius Vogol. (Choors.) Itwasaroally impudent thing for a man liko him,who had mado himself a stranger to tho colony to come horo and in prosecution of privato claims sock to get a seat in Parliament. It was quito possible that a coalition would be effected between Sir George Groy and Major Atkinson in tho now Parliament, and in that event Major Atkinson would have no more loyal supporter than himself; As to his political opponents, ho could not sco what possiblo reason Mr O'Neill had for contesting tho seat against him, as he lacked that titlo which would bo conferred by a call from the electors. He was also at a loss to understand Mr Atkins action, seeing that that gentleman professed to have a warm admiration for him and to bo satisfied with his action towards his late constituents. It would have been kinder for him, under these circumstances, to have given him his support. Mr Tolo concluded by exhorting the electors to be true to themselves and to elect the man who most nearly represented thoir interests and who served tho Cause with which they had always been idoutified. The gentleman resumed his seat amid loud and prolonged cheoring. Questions. In answer to questions, Mr Tolo said : (1) That ho bad never walked out of tho Houso whon a motion adverse to tho Education systom was boforo the House, and that he never would do so. (2) That every elector upon the General Assembly rolls should have a voto in tho election of Licensing Committees. (3) That ho had done, and still would do, his very best to secure tho abolition of tho Grand Jury system. (4) That ho would favour the payment of jurors both in criminal cases and on coroners' inquests. (5) That ho did not know enough at present to express an opinion as to whether or not ho would voto for an export duty on baulk timber. (6) That all such bodies as the Mount Eden Domain Board should be elected by tho people. (7) That the early closing of retail shops on Saturday depended wholly upon the will of the people themselves. (8) That when first elected as the Eden representative, he had tho oxporionco of having served for five or six years as Chairman of tho Ponsonby Highway Board, and of having also acted on other public bodies. (9) That he certainly would support a reduction of taxation on local industry. (10) That he would favour a sum of L 2.000 being placed on tho Estimates in aid of Horticultural Societies. (11) That he might ask the audience to answer the question whether, if re-elected, he would consistently

follow the same line of conduct that he had hitherto pursued. (Cries of "Yes, yes," and loud cheers.) (12) That if a Bill wero introduced into Parliament to amend tho Education Act by instituting payment of results in centres of population, he could not support it as_ he had already pledged himself on this subject. (Cheers,) (13) That ho would support Sir Georgo Grey whatever coalitions wore formed. (14) That there was sufficient cohesion amongst the Opposition to have formed three Governments during tho lato session of Parliament. At this stage a tall individual named Gregory interrogated the electors, amidst much laughter, as to who was to beat Tolo. MrT. H. White proposed, "That after hearing Mr Tole, our lato member, we express our confidence in him at our representative in the Assembly, and will support him in this election." (Cheers.) Ho declared that Mr Tole had been_ faithful to their interests throughout his political career, that he had been amongst the most ardent supporters of Sir Georgo Grey, and that his conduct had been above reproach.

Major Burns seconded the resolution. He said that Mr Tolo bad been faithful to thorn in tho past, and until he proved recreant ho was entitled to their continued support and confidence. Tho resolution was then put, and carried amidst the utmd.t enthusiasm. Throe cheers wero then given for Sir Geo. Grey and three more for Mr Tole. Mr Toi.K briefly returned thanks fer tho perfect unanimity of tho vote of confidence, and then moved a vote of acknowledgment to tho Chairman, which was duly passed. Tho assemblage dispersed aftor again cheering Mr Tole.