AN ECHO OF THE ELECTION.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 13289, 5 December 1908, Page 10

AN ECHO OF THE ELECTION.

THE TIMARU SEAT. Mr W. D. Campbell, the Opposition candidate for Timaru, who put up such a good fight against the Government nominee, at a social by his numerous friends and supporters in Timaru on Thursday night, when he was presented with a purse containing 150 sovereigns, and an illuminated address. The gathering was of a most enthusiastic nature. . Mr .1. Wallace, chairman of Mr Campbell's election committee presided, Mr Campbell occupying a scat to the right of the chairman. Others on the stage were:—Mr C. A. C. Hardy, M.P. for Selwyn. Mr AY. Jeffries, the Opposition candidate for Geraldiue, Messrs R. Porter, G. Williams, W. A. Pearson, Jaxon, F. Palliser, F. J. Rolleston, A. Beck, Dr. G. E. Gabites, and the Rev. T. Farley.

Speeches of a nature highly complimentary to Mr Campbell were made by Mr C. A. C. Hardy, M.P., the Rev. T. Farloy, Mr W. Jenries, Mr F. J. Rolleston and others.

Mr_C. A. C. Hardy, in a vigorous and well-timed speech paid a glowing tributo to "young Campbell," as he was pleased to term the guest of the evening', and also to his parents, his remarks being liberally punctuated with applause. Mr Ijardy said ho had known Mr Campbell he was a baby, and he was pleased to be there that night to do honour to him. He knew his father well, and his mother better. He was the son of ono of the cleverest women m New Zealand (applause)—and he (Mr Hardy; would say, "Well done; Mr and Mrs Campbell, for having had such a good son as, I believe, young Campbell is going to grow into." Their guest was born near whore he (Mr Hardy) lived. His father was a small but independent farmer, and his mother was still more independent. (Applause.) Mr Hardy then traced Mr Campbell's scholastic career, and went on to say that Parliament would be better for such men as the defeated candidate for Tiniaru. The jjreat desideratum and aim should bo to return good men to Parliament, and if they did that they need not take the party question into consideration, for good men would give them good laws, and good administration, and that was what they wanted. (Hear, hoar.) They had no use for a weakkneed Government, which said to the people that it would give, them all they asked for. It should bo recognised that grown people, like children, sometimes asked for that winch should not, in the interests %r t£ * countr y> bo given them. Mr Mardy paid a warm tribute to the Leader of the- Opposition as a hardworking, conscientkxus man, -whose nim ■was to do the best in the interests of a-U classes, and ho reminded his hearers that Mr Qlassey was a man of the people, earning his living from his farm, and largely from Jiis cows. Mr Hardy referred to the people of New Zealand as spoon-fed, and 6trongly advocated a Teturn to the Samuel Smilcs's policy of "self-help." (Applause.) The present Government bought and sold the people with their own money, and it was time that this was stopped.. (.Hear, bear.) He was himself now getting into the eear and yellow leaf, and ho would say that if they did- not want young Campbell for Thnaru, ho would put him in tho House as the member for Selwyn. ("No, no.") They wanted such men—men of strong convictions ar.d high ideals, and ho hoped to ccc Mr Campbell in Parliament before very long. (Applause.)

In the course of his remarks, Mr W. Jeffries mentioned that since 1902 the Government vote had increased by about 10 per cent., while tho Opposition vote had increased 80 per cent, in the same time.

Mr F. J. Rolleston, who was also given a cordial reception, -spoke of tho value of the sympathy winch, so many kind friends had given to Mr Campbell, and lie, too, heartily congratulated Mr Campbell on the efforts iho had put forth to win the seat. It afforded him much pleasure, he said, to bo there to do honour to Mr Campbell that night, and he went on to say that the electors oi Timaru had a good deal to be proud of The Opposition voto in Tiniaru had increased from 2400 to 2900 in the past three years, and this, he took to be ono of the most gratifying features of tho campaign. In Mr Carr-pibell they had probably as good a candid'aito as they could have fbucd, and there might be a silver lining to the cloud. Ho earnestly hored that Mr Campbell would stick to New Zealand and that he would go ibaek to the editorial chair —a .position which his abilities fitted him for so well. (Applause.)

Mr Wallace then made tho presentation, doing so in a well chosen speech in which ho paid' a high compliment to the recipient. ■ Mr Wallace then handed over, amid great applause, tho purse of sovereigns and tho address. -

Mr Wallace mentioned that the purse of soveroigns had been contributed to as freely by the workers ns by the man of affluence, clearly showing that Mr Campbell was held in high esteem by all classes. (Applause.)

At this stage, tho audience rose and united-ly sang "For ,He's a Jolly Good Fellow." Following this, oheers were given for Mr Campbell.

On rising to reply, Sir Campbell was given a great reception. Ho said that this was the hardest part of the campaign, and he could never express adequately in words a titho of the gratitude he felt in his heart. Ho was deeply thankful for the many kindnesses he had received, and he desired to thank all who had so loyally assisted him. He would not talk politics that night. Tho fight was over now. and he had fought enough fights in his time to know how to take defeat or victory. (Applause.) Hundreds of pecplo whom he did not even know must ftUve rendered him great assistance to placo him in. such a. good position at the poll. He was a great believer in self help, but a political candidate must have something more than self help; ho must have the support, of the people, and he was glad to know that he had had this in a marked decree. (Applause.) What lie (Mr Campbell) had doubted was his ability to spea.k well to them, but they had borne with him, and his only regret was that they had not had a more popular candidate aTid one better "known than ho was, for if tn<ry had had such a man ho believed tho Timaru seat would now be won for the Opposition.. ("No, no.") But he had done his best. It wat his nature to fight hard, and ho had followed the dictates of his nature in this contest, and had stuck to his firmly-rooted convictionsr - (Applause.) Cheers were again given for Mr Campbell, an extra one being added for Mrs Campbell, and a final one for "the little Campbell."