MEETING OF MR, TONKS COMMITTEE.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXXII, Issue 5261, 23 August 1876, Page 3

MEETING OF MR, TONKS COMMITTEE.

Yr.MKHU^ afternoon a meeting of Mi. I'. Tonks' Election Committee, otheiwise Sir Gooige (Jiey'b Cential Committee, was held iu the Tomper.wite Hall. Brtween 20 and :K> eleetois wcu- piosent, and the mooting was piesided over by Mr. J. M. Sheta, who opened the meeting b> reading the following telegiam from Mr. Tonks :— "Goveinment Buildings, WeHington,Monday I thought it would bo dosir ible, if tho Auck land members would meet, to nsceitain if all, without lefeienct to paity, could agree on aii\ measmos foi tho mteiest of Auckland. I asked Su GeoigoGiey to call a meeting, but, in con sequence of misapprehension, those only who voted foi Sepaiatiou wcie asked. It w.i-i igieed to call anotUei meetiug of all the Auckland membeis foi to d.iy. All attended except 31 1 Wood (absent). Sir George Giey read a jupei , and declined to meet any Auckland mombeis who voted againit him on Separation, and then letheil. After a desultory convention, the meeting bioke up, without doing any business I legiet the attempt to unite all in common m terests failetl, and, in justice to myself, ask yon to make tlm public. — B. Tonks." The ( 'ii 4IKMAN also read the following telegram, received in tho forenoon : — '"Government Buildings, "Wellington, Tues day, 11 a. m — Huvius? done only what I couceive to be my duty to Aucklmd and my con stituents, I have nothing to apologise foi , oi to explain fuither.— B. ToSKS." The Ohaikman" remarked that, in his opinion, the two telegrams from Mr. Tonks should be read together. When they did that, it would be found that the second telegram from Mr. Tonks was not so objectionable as it at first sight appeared. After some conversation, relating to the political situation generally, Mr. J. T. Bo\ r,,vv moved, " That in the opinion of this committee Sir George Grey's course of action in not mooting the Auckland opposition members is heartily approved of. That Mr. Tonks was returned to sup poit .Sir Georgo Grey, and nothing elso " It vra3 only right that the committee should express such an opinion as would show Mr. Tonks that he could not play fast and loose with them, and as Sir Geoige Grey's action was approved by them, they should state so in a formal resolution. Mr. 11 Giuham thought an improvement could be made on Mr. Boylan's resolution, by which it would be much shortened. He suggested that they should simply pass some such motion as the following: "That this meeting cordially approves of the couise adopted by Sir George Giey." By adopting his suggestion instead of Mr. Boylan's motion, they would endorse Sir George's action on all that he had taken part in since tho session opened, as well as his notice of motion that the Counties Bill be read that day six months. He considered that .Sir George had done riyht in refusing to act with the five Auckland members who were in opposition to his policy. In this matter lie had acted wisely. Was it likely that Sir George Grey would sit with those who were now ni opposition to his views, and disclose his policy and course of action before them ; Certainly not. If he did so it might be telegraphed to tho Cuoss or other papers opposed to him, by winch his plans would be frustrated before the time came to give them effect Sir George Grey was justified in not sitting with those men. Mr. Tonks had his duty to perform, wlncli was to support Sir George Grey He had no right to do as he had dono. His duty was to support the polity of Sir Geoige Grey, and to give him what aid he could to carry that policy into eflect. By adopting some such motion as ho had suggested, he believed greater good would be accomplished than by passing that proposed by Mr. Boylan. Mr. .1. Morton seconded the motion of Mr. Boylan, and thought the Auckland inembets should do what they could to support Sir George Grey. Mr. J. Oadman approved of Mr. Graham's amendment. It would have tho same effect, if passed, as the motion proposed by Mr. Boylan, and it was a shade milder. He did not think it wise to single out individuals for condemning, because that made it appear in tho eyes of some as if they were martyis, and thus had a contrary eil'ect from that intended. It would be very much better to put the resolution in the milder form sug geated by Mr. Graham, and suggested that that amendment should bo madf the sub stantive motion, ltcoveied all the actions of Sir George Grey since he went down to Wellington. Mr. Dooxin agreed with what Mr. Cadman had said, and did not think it would be well to be too sovero with these vacillating people. Naming thorn in tho motion would be, in a sort ot a way, conferung honour upon them. Mr. BoyIjAN expressed his willingness to withdraw his motion in favour of Mr. Graham's suggested one, it the meeting desued it. Mr. Doon'in thought the meaning of Mr. Tonks' action was that Sir Julius Vogel had got the soft side of Mr. Tonks, and had thus succeeded in placing him in opposition to Sir Geoi go Grey. Mr. Masei ii.i,d thought the object for which the meeting had been convened was to consider Mr. Tonks' action, and not for considering any new policy. Ho thought they should get tho opinion of tho meeting upon the conduct of Mr. Tonks generally. It appeared to him that Mr. Tonks had been attempting to frustrate Sir George Grey, and .something should go forth from that meeting expressive of their opinion of Mr. Tonks' conduct. After various suggestions had been made by different electors present, Mr. Gkviivm tabled his motion in the following foi in:— "That this meeting coidially suppojts the course taken by Sir George Giey, and that ho still retains our unbounded confidence." Mr. Cu)M\n seconded the motion. Mr. BoYfAN withdrew his motion, and Mr Graham's was carried unanimously. Mr. Hamilton- then moved, " That Mr. Tonks be telegraphed to by the chairman of this meeting to the following effect : — " 1. That you aie elected not to truckle to Mimsteifl in tho hope «f gaining some paltiy temporaiy advantages for Auckland, but to unflinchingly and unsweivingly follow the line of policy stated by Su Geoige Giey at the meeting of Auckland nieinbeii yenteiday. "2. Tli it yoiu committoo itrongly disappioves of the couise you have adopted, but hopes it was an en or of judgment on your p,n t. " 3. Should your views have clunged wince yom election, your committee calls upon you to lesign at once, in ordoi that a membei may be elected who will cuiy out the wishes of tho people of Auckland City West Fui ther, the meeting is of opinion that your talogi.un U unsatisfactoiy," Mr. Thompson seconded the motion Mr. (' u>m v\' thought it would be a senous matter to send a telegram of that kind to Mr. Tonks, but consideied that his action was the most impudent breach of good faith which had yet occurred in this province. Mr. (toi.dik supported the motion, but thought tbuio was some excuse for Mr Tonks. Foi instance, he lead in the llnnbl that " Mr. Tonks |thought tho game was up, and that they should beg from tho Government, and get the most they could." When it was remembered that he was possessed of that idea, his conduct was more pai donablo Mr. Maserki.d would be willing to seud some resolution to Mr. Tonks, but would not go bo far as tho motion of Mr. Hamilton did Some milder form of a resolution should be passed. Mr. Gkviiam considered the motion q.u to right. It was only a conditional one. It stated that, " if he had changod hu views, fee, and it was only upon that condition that he was asked to resign. Mr. Mortov said the case they had to consider was a very simple one. Inere was a telegram from Sir George Grey respecting the action of Mr. Tonks. Mr. Tonka wag sent from City West at a delegate to aid hir George Grey in carrying out hu L H 1 .^: This Mr. Tonka had no? done. They had also a telegram from Mr. Swansou, which stated that Mr. Tonks had very good intentions, but that he had led to vciy great confusion. His conduct had been a cause ot rcry serious losa in the House of Representatives for Auckland, and it was a duty in-

• unbent upon them to show that their in. 'in hers could i'ot beha\e in siu h i way as lie h id done l-'iom wli.it he could loam ol Mr. Ton I <*' (oiiduct, ho seemed to have bun trying to be nude head ot the Opposition If that w as front vanity or any othoi cause he did not know, lmt the action was o.pullv objectionable If his views upon the policy of Sn Oeoigc Grey had changed, he should 1)0 .isked to lesign. Mi ( ' V i» \u n repudiated the idea that M i . Tonks w as a delegate. I to w ent from Auckland (Jity West a fiee, unfettered and nide pundont man. He was bound only to the. viow-i ho cvpiessed on the day of Ins noini nation, and was sent down by the doctor of Uity West to carry those views out. Mr. Hewiv said if Mr, Morton would put Ins views in the form of a icbolution askni'- Mr. Touks to resiqu, as he had undoubtedly biolccn faith with tho electoi s, he would second it. Mr. Gkaham thought it would be better to pas.s the resolution moved by Mr. Hamilton If Mr. Touks had changed his opinions since he went to Wellington he should resign ; if not, 8ir George Grey may yet need his vote Mr. Masei rKi.D moved, as ail amendment, "That the second and thud clauses of Mr. Hamilton's ie3olution be adopted, and that the following wotdsbe added : 'and further, that your telegram is unsatisfactory.' " The amendment was seconded The Chwkm\n stated that he had |iist been infoimcd by Mr. Brett that a telegram had been received in Auckland fiom Mr. Lusk, stating that Sir Geoiye Urey had condoned Mr. Tonks' offence, and that hopes were cherished that the electors of City West would also condone it. When about to put the original amendmend to the meeting, the (Juaiioun stated that thd word "truckle" was a strong one. It was for the meeting to consider whether it was not too strong. Mr. Himfl'iov suggested that the word " negotiate " should be substituted for it. Mr. Hewin objected to this alteration Mr. Boyi,an considered that Mr. Hamilton's resolutions should be passed in </hlio, or not at all The electors were willing to forgive the past provided Mr. Tonks will support Sir George Urey for tho future. He had been Mattered and made a fool of. There was no doubt of that. The amendment was then put and lost. The original motion was next agreed to unanimously. On the motion of Mr Ma&efikld, a vote of thanks was passed to the Chairman, after which the meeting separated.