THE CITY ELECTIONS.

Evening Post, Volume XXII, Issue 130, 2 December 1881, Page 2

THE CITY ELECTIONS.

♦ NOMINATIONS FOR TE AHO. The nomii ation of candidates for the T« Aro Electoral District took place at noon to-day, Mr. James being the Returning Officer. The place of nomination was the balcony of Mr. Nicholson's furniture shop, and in the road in front of this about 500 pereonß were congregated. After tho usual preliminary business had been disposed of by th« He turning Officer, Mr. B. Peabcb came forward and proposed Mr. Charles Johnston as & fit and proper person to represeat Te Aro in Parliament. Mr. Johnston, he said, had an honest conviction that he could be of ttte to the district in Parliament, and ha wonld be a, through supporter of the Government, knowing it wonld be well for the distriofc to strenglhan their hands. (Cheers and groans', and a voice " cut it short.") He (Mr. Pearce) fledged his word that if they put Mr. Johnston at the head of the poll they wonld never have cause to regret it. Mr. Buck seconded the nomination, urging them to elect the candidate who would go in for educating the poor man's children up to the 6th Standard. (Cheers and cries of various kinds.) Mr. Pbick next tteod up, and said he appeared before them in a different position to what ho expected. That morniag, after oonEultation with Mr. Shaw who was n friend of his, he had decided to retiro in his (Mr. Shaw's) favour. (A Voice — How much did you get?") He now had pleasure in nominating Mr. Shaw, who oame before them as an opponent of the present Government, and who wonld be in favour of giving to tho people the rights and libortioa they were entitled to. It would, he said, bo a disgrace to the electorate if they allowed themselves to be represented by a Con. eervativa. Ho called upon them to use their influence to return a Liboral candida*o like Mr. Shaw. (Toioes — " Cut it short," " shut up, old man," " time," &o ) He then proceeded t* address the " temperate class, but could not be heard for the noise. Mr. Jennings seconded the nomination. Mr. Greenfield next came forward to propose Mr. K. Stafford. (VoioeB : " He's not a bad old chap," and " He's no good.") He hoped they wonld return him at the head of the poll. Mr. J. Smith seconded the nomination, asserting that Mr. Stafford'a principles would just Btfit the electors of Te Aro, and he believed thoy would return him to Parliament. The Returning Officer then called upo» the candidates to address the electors. Mr. Johnston Baid he would not detain them long because other candidates had to follow him, as he hoped thoy would hare to follow him on tho day of election. His platform was tho resumption of public works expenditure, whioh the restored publio credit wonld enable us to do upon good terns ; liberal land laws so that the settlement of the country might progre*; and the encouragement, through the tariff, of looal industries. Mr. SHAW said that whatever opinion might be held, no man could mistako his views. He objected to the power held by a small but powerful clasa in the House. The country has existed under an oligarchy, who had used their inttuenoo for the furtherance of their own ends, and owisg to this the Publ'o Works polioy had not bsen the success it ought to hare been. A change was necessary in the mode of settling tke lands of the colony. If elected, he would do his best to bring about a beneficial ohange. He hoped the electors wonld place him at the head of the poll. Mr. Stafford said the whole of the dootrine of the last Bpeaker was condemnation of the p st, but lto had not shewn the electors what ho wan going to do in the future. (A. Voice-" Well, yon tell us now.") Mr. Stafford replied that it wonld take too long to do so. He hoped they wonld not take Mr Pearco's advioeto return Mr. Johnston. .Ho (Mr. Stafford) was bound up with this city, where he was born. He h id no special class interest to serve, but if they returned him to Parliament he would endeavour to do, as honestly as possible, what he could for the colony as a whole. His published views were perfeotly clear, and he wonld stand or fall by them. A show of hands was then taken with the following result :— - Shaw > 70 Stafford 60 Johnston "..! 30 Mr. Johnston demanded a poll, whioh will be taken on the 9th instant. Notwithstanding tho various interruptions, tho proceedings m&y b« said to have been orderly, and passed off with good temper.