THE ELECTORAL CAMPAIGN.

Auckland Star, Volume XXI, Issue 257, 30 October 1890, Page 2

THE ELECTORAL CAMPAIGN.

SIR MAURICE O'RORKE AT ONE-

HUNGA

Sir Maurice O'Rorke. one of the candidates for Manukau, addressed the electors of thab district ab the Onehunga Public Hall last evening. There was a crowded audience, including a number of ladies. Amongst those who occupied scabs on the plabform were Messrs Shaldrick, Moonoy, Hill, Stewart, Hutchison, Jackson, and Colonel Carrß. Captain Yates, Mayor of the Borough of Onehunga, occupied the chair. In opening proceedings bhe Chairman said the meeting had been convened by Sir Maurice O'Rorke, who had come before them bo address them on mabbers of general interest to every person in bhe community. He had no need bo ask them to give Sir Maurice a patient hearing, because he knew that would be accorded to him, as ib had always been. During the last two years, since the presenb Borough Council had held office, bhere had been several mabters which had bo be eebtled, and they were settled through the insbrumentaliby of Sir Maurice O'Rorke. (Hear, hear, and applause.) He had often heard ib said thab Sir Maurice came before thoin and addressed them on political matbers, and bhat when he afterwards proceeded bo Wellington there was no more about it. Now, he (tho Mayor) could state for a fact bhab whenever any mabber had arisen involving bhe welfare of bhab town Sir Maurice had always been most willing and anxious, and had taken the deepesb inberesb therein. (Applause.) SIR MAURICE O'RORKE having been thus introduced, addressed the audience as follows :—" Mr Mayor, ladies and genblemen—no truer words could have fallen from you than bhose which you have iusb übtered. The election of arepresentative for the Manukau district in the Parliament of New Zealand is a most importanb undertaking. So full am I wibh anxieby on account of the present state of affairs, bhat, anxious as I am to obbain bhe renewal of your confidence, I am still more anxious thab this occasion—the general election of represenbabives of the people of New Zealand—should be tho means of putting the best men the colony can produce into the House, and thereby securing the best governmenb thab can be obtained for the people of bhe colony. v (Applause.) I feel thab everyone imbued wibh patriotic spinb mu3t sink himself on an occasion of tins kind, and thab the desire which I feel in my hearb bhe whole of the people also entertain, bhab those only who possess their fullest confidence should be enbrusbed with looking after their interests, and the affairs of the colony as a whole. (Applause.) Whilst I come forward and submit my conduct for your approval or ' dissaproval, as you may decide, I repeab, I am more anxious bhab bhe besb men should be returned rabher bhan I m>self as an individual. (Applause.) Whilst I plead thus in the inberesbs of the colony I am sure thai; you will weigh the merits of whatever candidates may offer bhemselves to represent tho elecboral disbrict of Manukau, and thab you will give your confidence to him alone on whose polibieal inbegriby you can rely, apd who does nob, in seeking your vobes, make any abbempb to deceive you by any flattery or by any hollow promises ; and I will go further and say thab you will nob allow yourselves to be cajoled out of your privileges, or so misguided as to lisben to any aspersions or slanders or backslidings thab may be thrown on any candidate bbab- may offer himself bo you. (Applause.) I have said thab this is a time when bhe posibion of affairs requires your earnest consideration. We have been undergoing y . .. .- - A LONG PERIOD OF DEPRESSION. We have had upon usastrikewhichseemed to tend to paralyse tho whole of this colony, and at a time like that, when ib requires your wisest heads to control bhe affairs, ib becomes your bounden duby bo watch whab takes place in the nexb six weeks. (Ap plause.) I have alluded to THE STRIKES. They did not come upon this colony alone, bub seemed to pebrify all bhe civilised nations of the world. I, for one, cannot subscribe to the doctrine which has been propounded by some of our leading sbabesmen in New Zealand, thab all bhere is occasion for the public men bo do is to keep aloof—to leb employer and employed struggle till one or the obher, or bobh, bleed to death. (Applause.) I can subscribe to no such doctrine as thab. I turn to the other, side of the picture, and I say that on such a terrible occasion as this ib is the bounden duby of every pabriob, every philanthropist, to do whab within him lies bo avert bhe djsasber which is threatening this country, and the people in ib. (Applause.) I should, were I in bhe position to do so, come forward and cay, ' Allow this eminent person, or that eminent person, to mediate,' because I fee) thab a mediator must come amongst us. _ (Applause.) I know there was a time when ib was almosb held as a crime that employees should combine to fix their wages, or to limit bheir hours of labour. Thank God, thab bime has gone by, and thab it is now held thab the labourer's wages and his time of labour can be fixed by himself, even as bhey were in bhe olden time fixed by bhe employer (applause). While I claim thab righb for the employed throughout the counbry, of course, ib ia on condition thab it is used in obedience bo the laws of the land. (Applause.) Ido nob intend to-nighb to recapitulate all that has occurred in bhe history of this lamentable affair ; bub I do hope the time is drawing near when, by consulbation and by moderabe concession, these evil days may disappear, and thab employer and employed may meeb togebher in amiby for bhe sebblemenb of bheir differences. (Applause.) THE PAST SESSION. g lb is usual on an occasion like the presenb, when a dying Parliament is passing from our view, for the old member to offer his congratulations to his constituents on the great services rendered bo the country during the past session. I regret thab I have no such congratulabions to offer you. lb is brue bhab we have spenb bhree monbhs ab Wellington, but if you take the Statute Book there is nothing there thab "bhree weeks would nob have passed better than three months. Ido nob ask you to take up and handle and weigh the six-and-twenby numbersof 'Hansard,' and winnow through the 2,200 pages of thab publicabion for bhe grain of wheab that may be found amongst bushels Of chaff; bub I do regreb thab there has been so much washed time during (■ the pasb see-ion, that both inside and outside of the House persons have begun, to say, ' Can no better system of government be devised for this country than that which exists ?' So-far did that feeling go bhat some of the members brought forward a schemenob an English scheme of governmenb—bub they had recourse bo some cantons of I , Switzerland, and invited bhe House to ! * -%J)ropound such a system of governmenb as exists there. It is called a 'referendum' or a coalibion of public men. I do nob think that will satisfy the English mind. Wibh all bhe dissatisfaction that has arisen in many countries wibh regard to the Parliamenbary systems of government, the people will not part,wibh them lightly. Ib is bruo bhat- defecbg may appear, and thab some dissatisfacbion is creabed by bhe delays that take place, bub the people will (pradualiy come to insist upon the people's House being put in order, thab the business of the country shall be attended to, and time nob wasted in prolonged and useless I discussions. (Applause.) * . ENCOURAGEMENT OF LOCAL INDUSTRY. Some three years ago, when you entrusted me wibh the represenbabion

of this community in the Parliament of New Zealand, things were in a very depressed state, money was scarce, and people were leaving our shores —some of our beat artisans, indeed, had already lefb the country. Amongst the schemes that were then devised, and which I supported, was one to encourage the local industries of the country. To encourage these local industries ib was a matter of necessity that high taxation should be imposed upon the importation of those classes of goods which we were able to produce. Under thab system various industries have been established, but I think, myself, we will have to give them still greater protection and still greater encouragement. (Applause.) In this town you established several industries, and I am glad to say, for some of them, not only is the system of protection maintained, bub also I am happy to say thab for the further encouragement of the iron industry in this town a system of bonuses has been granted. (Applause.) One of the lasb thing 3 done in the House was the sanction to issue a bonus to the extent of £20,000 for various classes of ironwork. The.c notifications have nob appeared in the 'Gazette'up to the present, bub I am informed they will do so in a day or so. (Applause.) However, I have taken care.bhab this necessity of the industry will be supplied under conditions to which those interested have expressed themselves satisfied, so bhab nothing further could be done on my part for bhe enoouragemenb of thab imporbanb industry. (Loud applause.) COLONIAL RECIPBOCITY. Now, whilst I tell you that I am a sbrong protectionist wibh regard to our local industries, I mußb go a libtle further, and state bo what extent I am in favour of free trade. When I look around the greab and important and growing colonies thab England has established in these southern seas, when I recollecb all the efforts bhab have been mads to draw thorn more closely to one another, and more closely to the Empire, I, for one, think we ought, asfar as possible, bo practically make one common family; and bhab between New Zealand and the three or four millions of people on the other side of the water, on bhe vast Continent of Australia, . there should be a free trade. You are aware bhab last year a very important com-en-bion was held in Melbourne, and bhat wo were invited to take part in framing a constitution suitable to the whole of Australasia. Ib is rumoured thab the idea of New Zealand federating with Australia is nob generally popular, but, addressing you as I do to-nighb, on important public questions of the day, ib is my duty to explain my views on these matters. You would nob think well of me —I would not bhink weli of myself, if, on an occasion like thie, I did nob give expression to any views I entercain on public questions of bhe day. I know you are nob going to judge me by mere isolated points, bub bhab when you come to weigh in the balance the candidates bhab may offer themselves bo you, you will bake a broad and generous view of your old repre--Benbative, and will judge of him by bhe general benor of his politics—not by any little point which it may be said I have nob bestowed sufficientbhoughbupon. (Applause.) When I Bay I know this is the manner in which you will judge me, ib is because you have judged me so for the lasb thirty years. (Applause.) I do nob think thab, during my long service, you have ever had to call me to account on any broad question affecting tho colony, affecting bhis community, or affecting any portion of the. province of Auckland. I can say whab very few members can say—bhab I have stood well with my consbibuenbs during that long period, and that, whilst other persons have been called on to resign from bimo to time, I have never been called upon by any of my constituents to lay down my offico until ib had run its course. (Applause.) Therefore, when I have said that I blank we ought bo maintain our connection wibh Australia, so thab New Zealand should become whab I believe she will become —the of thab great country—l have said nobhing thab mighb have milibated against us joining. . On thab subjecb you will bear in mind thab no kind of federabion can tako place without the sanebion of bhe represenbabives of the people of New Zealand ; bub I, for one, would bo very sorry if by our taking up a selfish posibion and saying thab we would sband oubsido this great federation of Englishmen, thab we would depend upon the Home market, and would nob take a share in supplying the four millions of people in Australasia, I fear there would be even worse times for agriculburisbs bhan exists at present. Therefore, 1 hope those gentlemen deputed by the Parliament of New Zealand bo attend bhe convenbion — Sir George Grey, Sir William Fitzhorbert, and Captain Russell, Colonial Secretary— I do hope those genblemen will so arrange terms thab if Now Zealand wishes ib may join the federabion, and nob be shub oub if ib should desire to enter. (Applause.) lam nob going to dwell any longer upon thab topic. There are others probably that will interest you more; -bill bhab was nob a quesbion I could pass over in silence, because ib is one bhab weighs very much upon my mind. ' EDUCATION MOST IMPORTANT. Now we will turn to anobher matter, which I have no doubb will inberesb you, and I do ib wibh the greaber pleasure because I believe it is one of those branches of governmenb bhab there is bo be a raid made upon. I allude to a most imporbanb quesbion, thab tho people of this country have a good deal to do wibh, and to maintain. Probably in my younger days, when I came forward to claim your support, I would have eaid that bhe greab quesbion of bhe day is— before the election takes place "Register, register, regisber -.' bub, coming, as I have, bo tho downhill of life I say there is a o-reater question for the people of this country bhan being on the roll, and that question of questions is 'Educate, educate, educate your children.' (Applause.) What ia it will give the people of New Zealand sbrengbh in any contesb thab they may have to enter upon ? It is education bhab they will receive in the schools of bhe country and which I trust, sir, the people will not allow to be encroached upon. I have said I undersband there is to be a raid made upon education in all its branches. I hope you will allow your representative, whoever ho may be, if he wishes ib, to sband up for education in all its branches, and, if he be ono who does not wish it, that you will insist upon him doiner all thab lies in his power bo maintain ib in all its branches. I have heard during the lasb year or so bhab • education oughb to be reduced —cub off at bhe bottom and at the top;' bhab you have dono enough for bhe children of this colony when you have taught them bo read and write and arithmetic. I, for one, am nob satisfied wibh bhab. When bhe people's money is being expended on education, ib is bhe duty of bhe people to insist thab the very best education shall be given to bheir offspring, and that all who have the ambition for higher education than that provided by the primary schools shall have an opportunity of obtaining it. (Applause.) I have been bold often by Auckland men bhab Auckland Bbould bo sabisfied wibh merely elementary education, with thab given them in the primary schools. Whab would you say fco me if I sought to sib down contented, losee secondary schools, grammar schools, and colleges, existing in other parts of the colony, and nothing of the kind here? Would you think I had done my duty in hob obtaining tho same benefits for this community bhat existed in Otago and Canterbury? I am happy to say'to-night thab, nob one or two, bub many efforts have I made to obtain "bhe same educational advantages for tho people of

this end of the colony, and successfully did I contend for them. (Applause.) And what I say is this, bhat for those who enter our primary schools, if they are to stop there, how are they to compete in educational abilibv with those from the South ? Ib is absolutely impossible. And again I hear ib said : ' Are you going to have bhree universities?'Thereisbutoneuniversiby—bhe body thab grants degrees. Is bhe colony of Now Zealand tosaybhabbliere is bo be bub ono place,-thab every person of humble means is bo bear enormous expense, that they would have to send their'son3 and daughters to one particular place—probably to Otago, the most remote of all. el say ' No.' We must bring the education to the doors of the -oeople, and we must bring them the besb~class of educabion, otherwise we shall cease to continue in the educational race of the English people. (Applause.) I have said ib was bhe intention, and ib has been openly advocated, to cub off educabion in bhe primary schools, both at the top and the bottom. The children were not to be allowed to enter ab the minimum age. _ It is true five seems a very low age, at which bo allow a child to enter, and those who preach that the age should be raised say, ' thab bhe schools are converted into nurseries, thab persons avail themselves of bhe public schools for the purpose of saving themselves from looking after their children of five or six years of age.' I am assured by those who know better than I that no such abuse is perpetrated by bhe people of New Zealand, and bhab cases are rare where teachers are called upon to look afber children five or six years old. I have ib on bhe best aubhoriby, leb those who gainsay what I say disprove ib. Again I heard you are willing to have your children educated in bhe 'Three R's.' Thab is nob my opinion, and I hope thab whoever tha representatives of bhe people of New Zealand may be, bhey will bake caro bhab bhere shall be no diminution of education, bub that, if possible, its benefits shall be exbended, and thab ib shall be characteristic of the people of New Zealand thab sound, substantial education can be obtained freely through all parts of the colony. (Applause.) SETTLEMENT ON LAND. Passing from this subjecb, there is no mabber bhab comes more forcibly to one's mind than bhe sefctlemenb of bhe people in the country. ,If there is one thing bhab makes bhe colonies dear to English people ib i 3 bhab they have hitherto formed, and I hope they will long form, a home for the 'disinherited of the earth.' Those who are familiar wibh the history of the English people know how difficulb ib is for any individual to geb a foothold of property in their mother country, and what has been the greab inducemenb thab has brought myself and others to this colony ? Has it nob been bhab we might secure a home for ourselves and for our families? (Applause.) Therefore, every inducement should be given to the people of New Zealand bo settle on bhe land, to form homes for them.eives, and to live free from rent. (Applause.) I am told there is a tendency now amongst Englishmen generally to congregate in the cibieß, bub I bhink bhab, in the colonies, if there is one thing desirable ib is thab faciliby should be given for bhe sebfclemont of the people on the land. (Applause.) I know there are a greab many who ab present bhink you should nob give anyone the freehold of the land. I have no sympathy with thab doctrine. I bhink a greab inducement to ; people to come to the colonies is thab bhey may obbain a freehold, and bhab bhey may live free from the paymenb of rent. I do nob objecb to persons being allowed bo selacb land on deferred paymenbs, or on perpetual lease, provided always bhab bhey are permitted to convert these deferred paymenb lands and perpetual lease lands inbo freeholds whenever bhey are in a posibion to do so. (Applause.) ACQUISITION OF NATIVE LANDS. And, speaking of the land question, I cannob pass on withoutrefemngtowhatlalwaya consider was a greab misbake in this colony, thab was the abandoning of Governmenb claims upon the nabive lands, and allowing bhese enormous possessions bo be scrambled -for by land-sharks, capibalisbs and syndic*ates. When I came to bhis country firsb bhe Governmenb had the sole right of spurchasing those lands, and thereby procuring land on which bo place European settlers. Under the clamour of people who were impatient to obtain enormous estates/ 1 the Crown —much against my wish, against my vote and against the vote of all those who were with me — abandonod that right. Whab ha 3 been bhe resulb?— thab the land has been scrambled for. Shall I say that the native owners have been defrauded ? That ib has brought undoubted injury upon both races. When bhat mabter was fought out a quarter of a cenbury ago, I held the Eamo opinions I hold now, and I then obtained the sympathy of the people of this district. This quesbion is nob over yeb. Year after year we have the native land laws tinkered with. I am not going to say the Crown will be sbrong enough to resume its rights, bub I say whab I have said bo show you how my sympabhies lie. (Applause.) TAXATION. We hoar a great deal of the enormous amount of taxabion borne by tho people of this colony. No one who has hud to do with the public affairs of this counbry, bub must feel sad ab hearb when he reflecbs upon the enormous interest thab we have to pay on our enormous debt, year by year ib is growing upon ua unbil, ab the present time, not our Customs revenue and property tax combined can pay the interest. There is one thing which I am sure you will never consent to, thab you will never entertain the idea of repudiation. We must bear our burdens, and we musb pay our debts bhe best we can. (Applause.) I mentioned now this matter of THE PEOrERTY TAX. I, for one, would be very glad if bhe tax could fairly be removed, bub whilst ib has been a matter of debate off and on for bhe lasb seven years, we have bad no financier yeb skilfurenough bo come forward and say whab is to replace ib. Ib would be a very comfortable doctrine for a member to be able to say that he could see a way whereby bhe property tax could be done without. For myself, I cannob see how bhe counbry can forego bhis £350,000 that ia yielded thereby, bub if the future Parliament can produce financial ability able bo propound some means whereby we can geb rid of ib, I, for one, would be very glad bo see thab time arrive. (Applause.) Bub whilst this property tax is now mostly upon property holders, I cannot see how it can be imposed, upon those who aro holding less amounts of property than those who ab present payib. THE EVILS OF BORROWING. Bub there is one thing thab musb be done ; an effort musb be made to bring our expenditure wibhin our means. I take ib for granted you are all of one opinion, thab no further "borrowing phall be attempted. It is to borrowing, entailing the large amount of interest, that is abbribubablo very much of our present depression. Therefore, I say, any further borrowing musb be steadily pub on one side. We must not borrow, we must not repudiate ; we musb rebrench, and thab retrenchment must bedone on some large system. It musb nob bo effected in any petty, mean way, bub in such a way as will bring about a substanbial benefit to the colon}^. PERSONAL MATTERS. Now, I daresay there is a matterwwhi n you think I should have probably alluded to before. I think it was bhis day week that the candidate who opposes me for the represenbabion of this constibutency appeared before you. The first time I heard thab Mr Buckland was to be my opponent, was on the day I arrived from

Wellington, when I was told as the steamer drew near the wharf. I said then I was extremely gratified thab my opponenb was to be Mr Buckland. I had known Mr Buckland for many years. We sat together in bhe House. He had assisted me on many occasions, and no unfriendly word had ever passed bebween us. I bherefore felb exbremely grabbled, and sbabed bo everyone I meb bhab I was glad bhab in tbe coming contest my opponent would be an old friend. (Applause.) I have nob meb Mr Buckland since I came back from Wellingbon, bub I felb then it would be an extreme source of gratification to me in entering upon this election contest that I should shake hands with Mr Buckland on the day of nomination, on the day of polling, and ab the declaration of the poll," whichever* way the balance swayed, I should shake bands with Mr Buckland. (Loud applause.) But whilst these thoughts were running through my mind, I greatly fear no such feeling was circulating through Mr Buckland's heart. (Appause.) And when I looked at the accounts of his meetings held at Otahuhu and Onehunga and other places, I felb that he rested his claim upon this constituency, nob on his own merits, bub on his attempt to blacken my character. (Applause.) I know thab your spirib of fair play will resent thab conducb sbrongly, because I have done nobhing to deserve such treatment ab his hands, ab your hands, or ab the hands of anyone in this counbry. I have endeavoured to serve bhis counbry to the best of my ability, and, for the aspersions that have been cast upon me, if bhey concerned myself alona I indeed would breat bhem wibh contempt. Bub I owe ib bo bhose who are my supporters bo expose the falsity of tho charges, and to rebut the slanders bhab have been casb upon me. (Applause.) Mr Buckland has been pleased bo tell the electors of Manukau of my incompetence to fill the Speaker's chair. I am nob going to dwell on thab, bub is it nob a singular thing — this assertion of a candidate for your suffrages, when _ the House of Representatives have five times unanimously placed me in the Speaker's chair? (Applause) Would the nineby and odd members of bhe House of Representatives have placed, five times in succession, an ineompebenb member in the Speaker a chair ? And that is nob bhe worst of whab he says ; he bells you bhab I have sold myself bo the Soubh. and bhat the Southern members have placed me in the Speaker's chair because they bhereby weakened the vote of the province of Auckland. When Mr Buckland says thab I, who have served you so long, have sold myself for bhe salary abbached to the position of Speaker, he presumes to play upon your ignorance. How often have you elected me, notwithstanding thab I am charged wibh betraying your interests ? Four times have you re-elected me, and did anyone in this community dare to level such a charge against me unbil bhis candidabo for your suffrages has bhoughb proper bo do so ? I say bhab black musb bo the hearb bhat for a moment said I had been bought by bhe South, and thab I am placed in the Speaker's chair in order to silence my vote. Has the South willingly given up thab Speakership, which I so long enjoy? I am the first Auckland member bhab ever was raised bo bhab position. You all know thab Sir Charles Clifford, Sir David Munro, Sir Dillon Bell and Sir William Fitzherberb were all Southern men, and I should never have been placed in the chair of the House of Representatives bub for tho consbanb re -.elecbion by you of me bo bhe House, and by having proved my fibness for ib by long service in bhe chair in Committee. (Applause.) I bherefore hope—and I hope bhere are. some of Mr Buckland's supporbers here—you will repudiabe wholly bhe baselessness of bhe charge when he says I have sold bhe righbs of "this constituency for the Speaker's chair. You know why you have re-elected me four times to bhe consbibuency whilsb I held bhe posibion of Speaker. (Applause.) Bub Mr Buckland isnob content wibh reviling me. Probably 1 would lot that pass. But he can revile the officers of bhe House, he can revile bhe clerks of bhe House, and he is nob content wibh that. There is a humble class of persons atbached to the House, and whab does he go about preaching ? _ Thab I am thab exbravagant that I maiutain a messenger for every member of the House. I bhink he might have lefb bhe messengers in the House alone. Wo have 95 members in the House, and if I maintain a messenger for each of course I musb have 95 messenger to attend upon them. I engage every session eleven messengers to wait upon 95 members. Is that maintaining a messenger for every member of the House ? I am sure my friends will laugh bo scorn such a charge. I am sure the supporters of Mr Buckland will be ashamed thab he has had recourse to such a miserable attempb to villify me as bo say I employ some nineby messengers to do the work thab is well done, by aboub a dozen. Then, as" to bhe charge that there are baths kept there, wibh persons in attendance upon them. Well, there is water laid on, and there is a key to the bathroom, and I have no doubt Mr Buckland has made use of ib. (Laughter and applause.) Bub when he tries to delude you by asserting thab I encourage bhese extravagances I think you will have taken his measure before this. Mr Buckland seems ab last to have got fairly to soa in the matter, bdcause he finally wound up by referring to tho magnificence of the buildings down there, and the luxuriance with which he was treated, because ho describes the building and establishment as a floating palace. It is true, he said, and I am sure you will gratify him in this; bub he was nob very anxious to geb into bhe House. I think thab feeling of his will be grabified. (Laughter.) He has indeed pleaded to you, but because he was six times rejected and thab he had been once elected, I do not think thab history of his will weigh much with you : and bhab probably, if he has been rejected six times, he may find bhab bhere is a sevenbh rejocbion sbill in sbore for him. (Applause.) Mr Buckland has assailed my management of bhe House of Representatives. He complained of the luxuries they enjoyed, and finally sebbled down on bhe junior clerk. I have been told thab Mr Buckland made greab capibal oub of bhe facb thab the junior clerk was my own son. This junior clerk had been appointed to fill a vacancy; the situation had not been made for him. Some years ago the junior clerk retired. I did my best to induce him to remain because he was a valuable officer, but withoub avail, and my eon, on my recommendation, was placed in thab posibion. The clerk who retired had been receiving £225 a year; in the following year ib came bo be my duby to adviao the House as regarded the salaries of its officers. I had to invite the House to reduce the salary of the junior clerk from the sum paid to his predece_sor to some £150. I do not think bhab thab was a very trifling reduction for an officer who had to do the same work as the clerk who had retired, and wbo had been trained to it by experience as a supernumerary clerk. I myself felt thab it was due to the country bhab I ought also to submit to a reduction of salary ; and during the whole of the lasb Parliament my salary was reduced by the sum of £2.0 per annum below that which my predecessors received. 1 do not think thab showed thab I endeavoured, bo probecfc myself. (Applause.) Other officers of the House had also to submit to reductions, and altogether I rebrenched to the amount of something Hko £2,000 a-year; a greater reduction bhan had ever been made by any previous

Speaker. (Applause..,) There were also reductions made in bhe sbU-% and there are now only four clerks, amJ by promotion bhe salary of tho junior c.te'rk has been raised to £250. I am now prepared to answer any questions bhey mi'&'ht put to me, and will conclude by. saying that I believe we are enbering on this contest wibh every confidence in the result). I am not going bo say lam going bo lead you bo vicbory, but I feel bhab I will be borne to victory by the willing hearts and strong arms of those nave hitherto supported me and those wOO have approved of my political career daring a, peripd of .Ojyear.." (Loud and continued applause.) QUESTIONS. Questionshavingbeeninvited.severalwere handed up to the Chairman and answered as follovvs :—He thoughb any member wibh a spark of honour, on receiving a request-from two-thirds of his constituents, would accede to the request to retire, and do so ab once. (Laughter.) (2) He had never personally bad such a request made to him. To encourage local industries and bo give the utmost facilities for sebblement upon bhe land would, he believed, prevent a continued exodus from this colony. He thought Mr Ballance's village sebtlement scheme a very good one, excepb that bhe lands selected were in such out-of-the-way places ; (3) bhe presenb Government claimed to have given more facilities for the acquisition of land than any of their predecessors, but he did not believe sufficient inducement had' been given to encourage small sebble__e»b.s; (4) tew people earned a living harden" than gumdiggers, and he thoughb no hardships ahould be imposed upon them which .could be avoided; (s)i. Bellamy's were maintained by bhe Governmenb, and ab public expense, he would abolish it, bub members should be allowed to maintain Bellamy as a club from themselves; (6) if any person were on bhe roll improperly qualified ho mignb be sbruck off, but notice must first be given to bhe person concerned in order bhab he mighb have an opportunity ot proving his claim ; (7) any further attempt to impose ; additional burdens on tho agriculturist he would resist to bhe übmost; (8) he was in favour of bhe übmosb extension of bhe educabion of bhe people of the colon. , even bo those who from religious scruples could nob avail themselves of the presenb system ; (9) he believed tho workmen of bhe .country had an undoubted right to combine to protect their interests, and that anything of benefit to the workmen of the colony was a benefib bo tho colony as a whole; much as he deplored the presenb sbrikes, he believed good musb come oub of them ; he believed all governments should endeavour bo make a more equitable distribution of wealth, and thab ■ this could be soonest brought aboub by law- ] ful combination in the shape of Unionism ; (10) he strongly approved of the eighb hours' system as being quite long enough tor any person to work; (11) he was nob sufficionbly wibh bhe timber trade to express an opinion on bhe proposal of imposing an exporb duty on baulk timber, bub on a future occasion he would, no doubb, bo able to give a satisfactory reply to the query. THANKS AND CONFIDENCE. Mr J. D. Jackson said they had listened to what he mighb call, withoub exaggeration, the speech of a statesman — not to the speech of a politician, made for the purpose of catching votes, not mere claptrap, _ bub the experience of a number of years in practical politics. (Applause.) For such an address as they had heard, Sir Maurice was no doubb entitled to their thanks (applauso), bub he wanted to go a libble further and ask a vote of confidence. This, he thoughb, was nob boo much to ask for a member who had consisbenbly and well served his consbibuents for a large number of years. Mr Jackson also mentioned an instance in which Sir Maurice O'Rorke, when a member of a Vogel administration, threw up a good salary, good position, and a good deal of honour for tho sake of his principles, and to show his disapproval of the proposal made by Vogel to sweep away the provinces. (Loud applause.) Another question was here asked with reference to charges made on boatmen in Manukau Harbour. Sir Maurice said he had communicated with the Government on bhe subjecb. He found the boabmen ab Auckland were charged 20s, and bhe boatmen of Onehunga 10s per annum, and sent an answer accordingly. A further question with the answer abbached, imparted the information thab Sir Maurice O'Rorke gob bbem a cemebery without their having to pay for ib.

Mr R. D. Stewart seconded the motion according a unanimous vote of thanks and confidence to Sir Maurice O'Rorke, which was carried without dissent. Sir Maurice O'Rorke briefly returned thanks, and the meeting concluded with a vote of thanks to tho Chairman.