PARNELL ELECTION.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXVI, Issue 3968, 11 May 1870, Page 6

PARNELL ELECTION.

go in antagonism to me, 'I defend myself, (Applause.) Aa to the Tariff, I am' in perfect harmony with Mr. Abbott; but I thought that, in addressing you to-night, it was useless to attempt to embody details of that kind, in a general outline of political opinions. There is no doubt that, for tlie List fewyeW, the Tariff has been excessive upon almost all imported articles ; and I am convinced that ifc has created a trade in sinujgHag- which is exceedingly injurious and prt^udici.-.l to the country. Of course, Ido not kwow t\ hat the government programme for the session ma - be, but as it is the last session of t'ie IVliament it will probably be a short one. Ido not apprehend that so important a question aa an alteration of the Tariff -will be entered upon ; and if a private member endeavoured to introduce such an alteration, I think it would be altogether without success. Whenever a revision of the Tariff does come on, you may depend upon it that, if I am in the Assembly, my exertions will be towards mitigating existing heavy duties. I believe that it would be of the greatest possible importance to the colony if a veiy small duty only was imposed uponlight Australian wines; and I am inclined to agree with Mr. Abbott) that the introduction cf those wines would be a far more practical measure, and one more likely to mitigate the present dreadful evils in connection with drinking, than any Utopian notions abont teetotalism. No other person rising to put questions, the Chaikman said he would declare the meeting to be closed. Mr. Sw*nson, who said he came forward only at Mr. Wood's request, made a rather loDg speech. Ita substance was a statement that, years ago, Mr. Wood asked for a pension ,• and, also, that he had been guilty of gross cruelty and wrong towards him (Mr. ywanson), as a poor mail, in reference to j some land. He also advised the electors ta ascertain what Mv. Wpod meant to do as to the new Muniojpal Corporations gill, wtyob, ,a3 it was said, was meant to iijcorpqrate j Pamell, not to speak of Newton, and other suburbs, with the city of Auckland. Mr. Wood gave a detailed reply as to the charge of cruelty. He said that he had only very recently come to know the cause of Mr. Swaneon s animosity. The matter as to land occurred fvqiq. 1$ iq years ago, when he was in charge of the finance" buatnes^ p,f fcfce Surveyor- General's department" ' Ah to iUe alleged torturing delay, he knew nothing about the lands^ljij h^<J n.o control whatever in the matter — ho simply f^qlc^. iq Hfr. Swanson what he had been instru'etgd to tell him by Mr. Ligar, the Surveyor-General. He indignantly denied Mr. Swanson'a charge, and, as to his being harsh towards or wronging men because they were poor, he had heiged j^r men often and giduly. A »out ihe^ehsion (cQijtjqued Mr. Woqi) I have only to say that the stqry js faisg— or incorrect, I will say," Mr. Swaxson : Then the Journals of the House are wrong. Mr. Wood : No, they are'nofc. Those are the facts : — For seven years I was a subordinate (Mcer }u ghfi §r t ryey Office. I had receiyecf, m a singfe montfc* as, muclf q$ J3yO.QQQ fqr Land .Revenue.. Afy'a^counta \ye.re"V f e.i r cr onco so rnuah as que.s£jbne.d. A£ t^e er^i of the seven years, there was seme shift or change between the Governments ; and I received one month's notice to quit. I thought that that was exceedingly "hard lines,' 1 and I senb a petition, through Mr. Beckhfrttji, fo fhe House of Representatives, setting forth my sei-vl^ea—j^ tout that had been reposed upon me— tlie shojt notiqe I had received ; jjn4 J asked the House for |SS^? b^^tßSßS^tion for hasty diamisqal as the House «?O.iigh£ I de§eryg4. Tg Mr. Beckham, who preseitfed tnafpe4Uq% J. §aid f " All that I ask is half a year's salary • with that I shall be perfectly satisfied." I say that I ought to have got t™!: ™onev ; that I \tpY9t g>9o io / ?i?A t- uafc la m bettor pleaseu this moment tljaj; f {jaye r^t gQfc jfe. I have ahyayg Uyed by my ow'n gxertiqns : fiieitwe God, I will continue to do so, At all eyents, j I will never ask for a pension. (Applause.) As to the Municipal Bdl, I did not know that one was being prepared. If the people cf Pdrnell allow themselves to be attached to the city, it will be the most foolish thing £hey htoe evee permitted yet. " If the question is brought forward ji^ "the Assembly, and I represent you, I will do every thitvg j.n my power to pi event such a union. Mu. W. fj r IJjsjslino moved, "That this meeting U«s every confideiioe, iq Mr, Wood, and pledges itself tcj secure \^ retupn." Mr. J. Ooplantd seconded the motion ; and it was adopted, a large majority of ihose present voting for it, and one hand only being raised in opposition. i Mr. Wood acknowledged the vote, and I germinated the proceedings.