THE ELECTORAL CAMPAIGN.

Auckland Star, Volume XXX, Issue 159, 7 July 1899, Page 5

THE ELECTORAL CAMPAIGN.

ME GEORGE FOWLDS' MEETING.

At the Tailoresses' Hall last night there was a large gathering of Mr Fowlds' supporters. Mr Thomas Webb presided and said he felt sure that .success was within their reach if they worked well together, and that the people of Auckland were to be congratulated on the prospect of having such a representative as ~Mr Fowlds. He moved: "That all present form a committee pledged to do their utmost, to secure the return of Mr George Fowlds as senior member for the City of Auckland." This was carried by acclamation. Mr Fowlds expressed, his pleasure at the large attendance, and contrasted it with the small number that used to come to his committee meetings at the last election. This showed progress in Radical thought, and that people were beginning to understand the essentials of reform. He had absolutely nothing' to g"nin by election, for all his personal and business interests lay in an opposite direction, but to some extent lie felt that he had a mission which it was his duty to fulfil, and if they placed him in Parliament he would endeavour to fulfil that mission as far as it lay in his power. He felt very strongly that purity of administration was essential to reform and that it would be a great safeguard if they had an Elective Executive, so that the will "of the people could find expression without the waste of energy and the tendency to corruption which the present incessant struggle for office involved. Under present conditions it was absolutely necessary to work on party lines, and ..the Liberal party was emphatically the "party of progress." It would therefore be his duty to support the Liberal Government in all liberal measures. He would advocate reduction of taxation on all necessaries of life and recoup the revenue by an additional penny, in the £ oh land values. Several speakers eulogised Mr Fowlds and promised their cordial support, and over a hundred names were handed in as members of the committee, Mr Alt Bartlett being unanimously chosen as honorary se<> retarv.