"THE PARTY OF PROTEST."

Evening Post, Volume LXX, Issue 39, 15 August 1905, Page 2

"THE PARTY OF PROTEST."

NEW LIBERALS AT THE TOWN HALL.

ENTHUSIASTIC THOUSANDS.

fNO RELAXATION IN THE ATTACK.

Long discussions in Parliament, passionate Speeches reported at a length almost unprecedented, columns upon colums of the various phases of the swiftly shifting kaleidoscope ( of ;the startling drama of "the Fisher charges" — a reiteration almost to tho point of importunity—these have apparently not dulled (he edge of the public's appetite for the one question that is occupying the political landscape to the exclusion of everything else. Although the views of the New Liberals have been repeated again and again, in the House and on platforms from Invercargill to Wellington, tho announcement that the four distuibers of the political peace of the Government Mould talk in the Town Hall last night proved to be a fascinating summons to ' the people to come and hear. • ' . • - '

Before seven o'clock the. Town Hall was tho focus of a steady stream of "peo^ pie, and before half-past seven o'clock the ample floor space and the magnificent sweep of the circle was almost entirely filled by spectators anxious to miss no move in the absorbing game. Soon afterwards the hall was filled. It had been anticipated that the meetings, would be orderly, perhaps enthusiastic, but there were' always those who were ready to accept ,as fore-ordained a certain amount of rowdiness. Rowdiness there was none — the meeting from beginning to end was the acme of orderliness and attention. There was practically no hostile note^ — no audible hostile note — and the proceedings would have been flat but for the frequent bursts of applause ana endorsement.

Precisely at half past seven the four stoimbirds — Messrs. Fisher, Laurenson, Bedford, and Taylor— filed on to the stage, whicb was already occupied by a score of press reporters at two long tables, and a storm of greeting pulsated strenuously from the great gathering. The Chairman of the meeting (Mr. N. Turner) introduced the membeis in a speech of a length that the audience did not appreciate. Urged by stern orders to ' "hurry up," the Chairman succeeded in getting to the "end of an eulogistic preface interspersed by sudden rolls of applause! His very first protesting reference to "the Star Chamber enquiry" provoked a roaring endorsement from an audience evidently politically awake and cognisant of the faults of cellars and inquisitions. At last the Chairman concluded, and Mr. Taylor rose, dark and alert. He received the welcome of a Paderewski, and a tremendous explosion of applause, rising and falling like a wave of the sea, fringed with the foam of handkerchiefs and shot through with a hoarse vocal blend of shouting, suddenly ceased, and found its echo in three stormy cheers. "Three cheers for Seddon 0 came a valiant voice, and a cheer from the faithful was lost in a- storm of hooting. "A fine impartial opening," said Mr. Taylor. He begtim rather quietly, with cheers for his punctuation points, and he showered epigrammatic salljes, and baptised his Party — "We are a Party of Protest." And this Party appealed to fact — "a tear-drop ha sbeen the answer to charges of Government maladministration. We ask that ' tne tear-drop argument be discounted." Delighted, the audience again burst into applause, and sent laughter into their cheering when he announced that tfie Party was going to keep close to the Premier — to keep him in sight.- > He quoted his motto, with the culminating epigram : ' For men in earnest have ...no time t,o waste - • "•» i • In patching'^fig-le'aves for the naked- truthiHe pnsse'd rapidly over the charges, and arrived at the memo system, and cynically explained his offer to resign if his charges on this point, were disproved by dec?aring that he "likecD to bet -on a certainty." "If you're sure you're right," he added as an aphoristic gratuity, "you can depend upon it you won't get much by way of reply." Point after,.point. he drove home, and the audience- lifted him along on waves of applause. The Premier's health trip on the Hinemoa came under review. "Perhaps the Premier will come here, and what will he say? Probably he will produce a tear-drop." Old history reared its head, and the national purse flashed into view, and: one heard! of "patriotism with a price." That denial of the Premier's in tlie'London press was "a trick that would do honour to a three-card trick man.'' "This Government has done as much to damn Socialistic experiment as any Government could have done." And' he epigrammatised, now thoroughly warmed up, and finally, throwing down his notes, ho ended in a bright and vivid v series of antithesis and sat down in a loar of applause. Another warm welcome, and Mr. Bedford was carrying on - the attack. Beginning softly, lie was urged to "speak up," and implored to talk of the voucher. One man at the back of the hall became insistent, but ' he was lost in the applause. Quickly the speaker secured attention and was listened to in a silence, shattered at intervals by loud approval. Now and then the audience fretted to applause, and refrained and chafed, till at last it rushed 1 forth like a geyser. His speech was logical, and he stopped while the audience was still with him) and still interested.

'■ "Mr. Laurenson will now address you," said the Chairman. "We want Fisher," ciied the audience, but it was polite and listened, and was quickly pleased. Who' were against the'Paity? Mr. Laurenson named a list of them, and the horrifying climax "and Jerry Twomey is against us" doubled the audience up. "You are witnessing the first throes of the birth of a new political force," was his explanation of the recent convulsions. Mr. Laurenson's voice has the gentle melancholy' that is tlie patrimony of his countrymen since Dr. Johnson devoted his malign attention to -its porridge. But his candid confidence and unsmiling humour kept tho audience anxious to give the salvo of .applause that sweeps up to a sudden attentive silence for the Jiext item. His recital of the Party's achieveHi en tJ_"Wo have held the largest meetings' of • tlie ' colony ; we have held the rowdiest meetings ; we have held the mast enthusiastic; we've charged one shilling to- come in and they couldn't all get in ; and we've libel actions in hand." And the audience rippled to a final roar of laughter. And genial appreciation was his lot thenceforth. • t

Mr. Fisher, as the focus of the trouble, had a noisily superior reception, culminating in three cheers. A calm voice called for cheers for Captain Seddon, and they came in a minor key with a discordant volume of hooting. There was one man ho wanted to publicly thank, said 1 Mr. Fisher— Mr. John Duthie. The audience quickly burst into applause; and ' gave three warm cheeis for John Duthie. Mr. Duthie, piominent in the circle, went a little pink, us "Mr. Speaker," pitting bebide him, whispered to him. Frequent ftarcoatic references to Mr. Hall-Jones and

his statesmanlike mind delighted the audience, which evidently studies politics. The audience sat up when it came to the affidavits, but it learned nothing new, except that Mr. Fisher would to-day attempt to lay them on the table of the House. As the previous speakers had quoted niottoes, Mr. Fisher gave his motto : '"A crowded hour of glorious life Is worth an age without a name." "And," he added, "I!m going baldheaded, baldheaded- to have a merry session." The audience gqt'away before half-past' 10, quite satisfied in spite of the' absence of violence. THE MEETING. Mr. Nicholas Turner, who presided, said his mind carried him back to a meeting Jield in April last — when the Town Hall was filled to overflowing with an audience resembling the one he now saw before him— when that big audience listeived to an appeal from a candidate whom the electors two days later sent to-repre-sent them in the House of Representatives. The Chairman ventured to say that never had a young and untried man done bettor work than had been done by the man elected on that occasion — Mr. FFisherr r (Applause.) Now, from the Three Kings to the Bluff the name 'of Fisher and the voucher was in the mouth, of everyone. .Whatever one's opinion might be on the matter of tho voucher, there could have been no two opinions as to the righteousness of Mr. Fisher's action, arid he was sure that whatever the opinions of the peoplo were regarding his recent action everyone would feel the deepest admiration for his singleness of purpose and his pertinacity, and the- courage he had shown in the House and out of it. The Chairman then introduced the' speakers to the meeting.

THE LEADER OF THE PARTY.

Mr. Taylor, who was received with a perfect roar of applause, was the first speaker. He expressed pleasure at seeing so many young men in the audience — a greater number than at Dunedin. or Christchurch, and he had the idea that the next election would be participated in with a keener relish by the young men than any of its predecessors. (Hear, hear. )

A PARTY OF PROTEST.

Tho New Liberal Party, strong out of all proportion to its numerical strength becauso it consisted of meu who had the courage fo their convictions, was a Party of Protest, continued Mr. Taylor. Mr. Seddon had asked, Why should he not remain in power? and he (Mr. Taylor) proposed to answer that question. Lately, when his administration had been challenged, a teartlrop had bsen the answer. (Laughter.) They would not be satisfied with that, and the Party did not intend that ho should be able to dodge with a series of clsver tricks the impeachment they would make against him. (Applause.)

NO MALICE.

He wanted first to ask them to believe that in speaking of any public man he would not do so by way of malice. Their facts, were strong enough. They desired to get away from class legislation, andto endeavour to roach the family ideal, which was the only ideal which was democratic. There was also confusion of ideas as between legislation and administration. "The people were the legislators— no question was legislated on until it was 1 made dead ripe by .the opinion of the people, and that opinion could no longer bo ignored. Tlie peoplo could check legislation, but administration • was quite another thing. They could only check it by having in the House a number of men who could and would challenge the administration. (Loud applause.) That was often a difficult and unprofitable task, but if the administration was continuously bad they had a right to discuss it from start to finish. Ii ho could show it had been at a low level from 1892 to 1905 he was entitled to discuss it as a wholo. (Applause.)

THE MEMO. SYSTEM.

Turning to the debate on the" last Imprest Supply Bill on 28tb July, Mr. Taylor said the new Party made tlnee or four charges — abuse of the "memo." system by sending _ long reports of the Premier's Pahiatua speech to the Lyttelton Times, Oamaru Mail, and Dunedin Star, for instance. Mr. Taylor dealt with that abuse at some length, on the lines of his former speeches, objecting to a partisan report going over our telegraph wires without it is paid for by the recipient or the sender — a sentiment that provoked loud applause. As a result of their protest instructions had been sent to the various Post Offices largely curtailing the evils they complained of.' (Applause.)

THE HINEMOA TRIP.

The next point was tlie charge of 30s a day travelling allowance made by Mr. Seddon during his Hinemoa trip in search of health — a> matter against which they protested in the House. In a few weeks time Mr. Seddon would come along and tell them what a large amount of work he had done on that trip. Well, perhaps, he signed a telegram or shed a tear. (Laughter.) He (Mr. Taylor) had not the same command of tear-drops as Mr Seddon.; as a rule he preferred to handle facts. Mr. Houston told them in the House that the Premier transSicted a large amount of business at Mongonui. That was equal to saying ; that tho Premier called at 'Island Bay and transacted a large amount of public business. Supposing he feigned a telegram or kissed a baby, he was drawing his, salary of £i6OO a year, and surely for the little fragment of work he might liavo done on a trip of that character, he might have been satisfled with his ordinary income, and not have collared 30s a day for "hotel expenses that you and I have to pay." (Loud applause.)

£69 AND A COMPARISON.

As to this £69 that the Premier took, they were fully justified in making this comparison. A few weeks ago a ,man was before the Magistrate charged with theft. In the Court it came out that he had a sick who and child to maintain, that he received 30» a week wages, and had to pay 14s a week rent. Tho amount that the Premier received during his health' trip whs 'as much as that man earned in twelve months, and on which lie maintained a wife and child, and paid his way. (Loud applause.)

MINISTERIAL WRIGGLES.

"Tho Ministry wriggle away from facts," continued Mr. Taylor, turning to a fresh branch of his indictment. He thereupon harked back to Ihe Police Commission for instances,, of the Pieinier's shuffling, and quoted the well-known case of a police sergeant who was discharged from the force as a lesult of the enquiry, and subsequently granted compensation for loss of office. When the vote came beforo tho House (during Air. Taylor's absence, he having been beaten at tho polls) the Premier, on the vote being challenged by Mr. SymcK, saul thnt officer was not mixed up with unyUiitig at all, and there was no black mark against him. And that officer got £183 because, as he (Mr. Taylor) believed, lie had been known for many years to membeis of the Ministry. (Applause.) "The National Purse" episode was also mentioned by Mr. Taylor as an instance of the Premier's peculiar methods, and which Mr Taylor characterised us being "worthy of a three-card trick man." (Laughter and applause.)

CHAOTIC ADMINISTRATION.

The Administration, ho continued, was in a perfectly chaotio condition — and ho hi&tiinced State farms, police, lands, and so on, and ur{jed that the Education Department ought at once to be enquired ir.to by a, Royal Cominisaton, The Pub-

lic Service was in an altogether unsatisfactory position ; every proposal on the liquor question had been a purely trade proposal, and all tho influence of the Premier had been thrown on the side of the liquor interest.

LAND QUESTION AND THE TARIFF.

The land policy at present was only in the interests of a class, and they should do for the men and women in the cities and suburbs something like what they were doing for the people on the land. (Applause.) They also urged a revision of the tariff so that evay possible protection should be given to our local industries.

WHAT THE PARTY WANTS.

In conclusion, he said the Party believ. 'Ed it was justified in coming before the public and asking them at the next election to return free man to the House, .uiey did not -want c'wttels in the House, but men who would look after legislation and administration. Theyovanted to see in Parliament men ,who should be free men, not bond slaves ; men whom the love of office did not spoil ; men whom the spoils of office could not buy; men who possessed convictions; men who had courage ; men who would not lie. Mr. Taylor resumed his seat amid round after round of applause.

MR. BEDFORD.

Mr. Bedford, M.H.R:, agreed with Mr. Taylor that the supreme test of a Government was its administration. There was no trust higher than a public trust, and just in proportion to the height of a man's position should be the strictness of the test by which he was judged. That being so, he did not see how any objection could be taken to the stand taken by the New Liberal Party on the occasion that had since become famous. It might be said that the sending of the illegal telegrams, and the twisting of votes, etc.,, were trivial matters ; but right was right, and duty was duty. The paxty had done its duty. He justified Mr. Fisher's action in regard to the voucher, and said that if he had the sworn affidavits of three Chvfl Servants <ns Mr. Fisher had), declaring that a suspicious payment had been made to Captain Seddon, lie (Mr. Bedford) would have done the same. Referring to the memo, trouble, Mr. Bedford said that the memo, given to him was only a sample one dictated by a telegraph officer ; it had never been actually sent in so many words, and therefore the officer broke no oath. But an oath bound no man — no Civil Servant— to connive at wrong-doing, to keep his mouth shut when another Civil Servant was violating his oath to the people and betraying his trust. (Applause.) '

THE MINISTRY,

Mr. Bedford referred briefly to the fact that the Premier and Sir Joseph Ward between them monopolised all the important portfolios. That was because the other Ministers were a string of weaklings ; it would be impossible to get an Executive weaker than the present one, and it was an improper use of public money to pay Ministerial salaries to men who could not properly discharge the duties required.

THE PARTY'S VIEWS,

He supported an elected Upper House, and considered that the referendum was au educative force that should bo facilitated by legislation ; condemned the to : talisator ; and expressed his opinion that at next election the liquor traffic was going to be dealt a blow that would throw ib into the convulsions of its death agony. 'He advocated the elective Executive, which would substitute matters of policy for the present • test of administration only. Under that we^ would have a homogeneous party, instead of the present hotch-potch Government Party, which comprised * lease* holders and freeholders, every degree of Conservatism and Radicalism. What was wanted was a system of less power for the man at the head of the Government, and more power for the men who were the people's representatives. (Applause.) THE MEMBER FOR LYTTELTON. Mr. Ldurenson, M.H.R., began with an assurance that his party had nothing personal in its quarrel against the Premier. He recognised that every nonprogressive person, all weak-minded people, were against the party ; every Government claqueur was against them ; every political weakling was against 1 them ; Jerry Twomey was against them ! (Laughter.) On the other hand, < the party had arrayed with it nine out of every ten young men in the colony, nine out of every ten young women in the colony, and nine but of every ten men and women in the colony who loved purity of political administration. (Applause.) Sir. La-urenson spoke of the necessity for immediate action to purify the politics of th,e country ; it was no use waiting until the country got into the parlous state that American politics were now in. T*he New Liberal Party were in future to insist that all vouchers upon which public money was, spent bhould bo' open to public inspection by members of Parliament. (Loud applause.) He aealt with the incidence of taxation, showing that of the seven millions of revenue raised in New Zealand every year four millions came from the public services such as telegraph offices and other public institutions. Of the other three millions, in round numbers two and] one-third millions came from Customs, leaving only two-thirds of a, million contributed by the Land and Income Tax. That meant that the great bulk of the taxation rested on the shoulders of the people least able to bear it.

EDUCATIONAL.

He took strong exception to the manner in which the Education Department was now administered by the Minister-in-Charge (Mf. Seddon) and his actingMinisters. From beginning to end of tho Department i,fc was rife with complaint and discontent. What was wanted was n. loving, enthusiastic, whole-souled man at the head of our education system, who would make it a real live department. Purity of .administration and of purpose was necessary ; it was not wealth that would build a nation, but pure-minded, healthy men and women.

A RESOLUTION.

At this stage of tho proceedings Mr. C. K. Wilson moved tho following motion : — "That this rteeting is of opinion that the. best interests of the -".olony justify the formation of the- New Liberal I?arty, and wishes them success during this session and tho coining geneial election."

The Chairman called for someone in the audience to second the motion, whereupon it was seconded in two places. On a vote being taken the Chairman declared the motion to be carried with only one dissentient vote.

MR. FISHER.

Mr. Fisher was the last speaker, and received a wurm and flattering ovation, concluding with three hearty cheers. They had had that evening, he said, an opportunity of seeing the "Red Revolutionaries,", and, judging from tfie approbation of the meeting, they seemed to be pretty well satisfied. (More applause.)

THE VOUCHER ENQUIRY.

The enquiry, it had been said, was sub judice and ought not to be discussed, lie did not want to prejudice the case which was being dealt Avith by a Departmontul enquiry, but he wtis going

to deal with it as a Star Chamber enquiry on every platform he could get on to. (Applause.) During his absence in the South the Premier endeavoured to place liiui in a false position, and he thanked Mr. John Duthie for the action he took on his behalf. (Applause and "three cheers for John Dnthie.") It bad been suggested that the integrity of the Departmental officials was not such as it might have been. He did not fcuggest any such thiug, bub he wanted to point out this— Mr. Grey, the Acting Undersecretary for Defence, stated, in answer to enquiiies by the Premier, that no travelling allowances were paid to Captain Seddon in Australia or Christchurch. The Premier then afeked about the £70. WJiat did the Treasury officials say there? They did not say that no payment was made ; they said "No trace of any payment can be found." • Why, asked Mr. Fisher, did they distinguish between the two cases? When they found public officers making reports like that, then on the strength of the affidavits which he had handed to Mr. Speaker they had a right to demand a public enquiry. (Hear, hear.) They had a right to demand also that that enquiry should be open to the press. (Loud applause.)

HOW THE CHARGES WERE RECEIVED.

The debate on 28th July was alrricsfc as memorable as the Battle of Waterloo, declared Mr. Fisher, amid laughter, and he. went on to describe how the party's charges were received. The Hon. Mr. Hall-Jones, with, that elevated " statesmanlike mmd — (laughter). " ! "Does that strike you as being humorous?" queried Mr. Fisher, and the meeting laughed again. Mr. Hall- Jones, he continued, said the charges were childish and puerile. Sir Joseph Ward said they •were vile chnrges, and talked about "skunking curs" and "miserable sneaks" — who had, .commented Mr. Fisher, decided to como out into dayjight and say what lie had said in the House. (Applause.) All that Sir Joseph Ward had told them about the memo, system, which was originated by Sir John Hall, had been refuted by Sir John since. Then there was Mr. Lawry, who described him (Mr. Fisher) as the "cuckqo." He now characterised Ma 1 . Lawry as the "lyre bird," which was described in natural history works as a "mocking bird that is fast becoming extinct." Mr. Lawry was fast becoming extinct. He would go out at the next election. (Laughter.) N

THE MEMO. SYSTEM.

He wanted to say a few words about the memo, sj'stem. Mr. Seddon asserted in the House that the Birthday speech was not sent at the public expense, and yet seven days later the Lyttelton Times said it received the report free. Were they going to allow the Premier to flaunt untruths in the face of the House? The newspaper press had heaped obloquy upon him (Mr. Fisher), but that did not trouble him, and if the same thing occurred again he would do the same thing, except that he would not give the number of the Sneddon voucher. A SECRET ENQUIRY.

The Premier had denied that Captain Seddon had ever received any^&uch payment. If that was so why did ho set up a secret enquiry and a restricted order of reference. The Premier first refused point, blank to hold an enquiry, but after one night he said, "Public opinion compels me to hold an enquiry whether I like it or not, but I will make the enquiry secret with a restricted order of reference." If Captain Seddon receiced no such payment how did it happen that three public servants swore that the payment had been made? If they swore ho had received the money why did not Captain Seddon come for-, ward and swear that he did not? Would not that be satisfactory? Mr. Taylor: No. (Laughter.) Mr. Fisher wanted to know why do such denial had been made.

A CURIOUS PARALLEL.

With those affidavits in the hands of the Speaker, the Premier found they had got behind him, and he had to grant an enquiry. Previously he had "declined to be placed in the position of the accused."

"Fancy," said Mr.» Fisher, "if a policeman arrested me for burglary, and I said, 'I decline to be placed in the position of the accused.' " (Laughter.) That was a nice moral precept. Two of the charges they had made had got right home. If in the Supremo Court a man was found guilty on two out of tluee charges, ho got sentenced on the two charges. They had proved two out of three charges against the Piemier, and he ought to be warned off the Government benches for 1 life, and the sentences to be concurrent on the other two charges. (Laughter.) The affidavits, he went on io say, were signed by three honourable, long-service Civil Servants. They asked for the indemnity at his (Mr. Fisjier's) suggestion, because he knew the difficult position in which they would be placed, and he had now the authority to slate publicly that those men would give their evidence, indemnity or no indemnity, in any Court of law, before any tribunal that Parliament liked to set up (Applause.) And yet, added Mr. Fisher, Ministers tried to treat this thing as though it was a childish chargo. (Applause.) The suggestion had been made that he had adopted diehonest methods and that ho had forced the affidavits out of v these men by threats. These men had broken no oath. They were men who cared, more for the honour of their country than for their billets— (Loud applause) — and the following afternoon, if the forms of the House would allow him, he would lay upon the table and make publid the three affidavits that he had placed in the hands of the Speaker.

WAS HE ACCURATE?

Leaving this point, Mr. Fisher remarked that in the House the Premier had said to him, "You are not as accurate as your father." He (Mr. Fisher) thought ho wns as accurate as his father, and ho turned up Hansaid, vol. 119, pago 10, and found this remark addressed to Mr. Seddon — "Wo are accustomed to the hon. gentleman's ingenious manner of wriggling out of a difficulty." (Laughter and applnnse.) Mr. Seddon would have the satisfaction of knowing that he (Mr. Fisher) was quite a.v accurate us his father, because if ever Mr. Seddon did a wiiggle in his life he did it on last Wednesday and Thursday, and he was now endeavouring, becau&e they had him in a, comer, to make the biggest wriggle ho had ever had to make, and v "I don't believe he will succeed in getting out."

A CHALLENGE.

lie told Mr. Seddon this iilno, thai lie had 11 r. iSeddon's character written in nbout fifteen words by his (Mr. Fisher'.s) lute father, and if Mr. Scddon would give him permission ho would read it to the next public meeting ho addressed, and it would be interesting to Mr. Scddon as well as the general public.

RELIEVED HE WAS RIGHT,

Mr. Fisher went on to say that he was young in that sorb of thing to do what wn.s right, and ho believed the public was going to back him up. (Loud applatiso.) No State official, he continued, was justified in conniving at a breach of trust against the people, and if a Civil Servnnt stur anything of that sort going

on it was bis duty to point out what was going on.

As to the enquiry, he did not think the Auditor-General would be influenced by what he would say ; but it had been said that he. (Mr. Fisher) had put has foot into the trap and that he was po liticaily dead. He had a, good deal of life left in him, and he was not going to humble himself while he believed he was right. (A voice — "You are right," and applause.) So long as he believed he was right he d : .d not care a jot for every newspaper in Australasia. (Applause.)

BALD-HEADED,

"I'm .going b,ald-headed," continued Mr. Fisher— and then the public laughed uproariously, the somewhat high forehead of the speaker lending point to the remark.- "I am going," continued Mr -Fisher, when he had done laughing, "to have one merry session, and see if I can clean out a little of the coiruption that I know exists, and if I don't get another session I will guarantee the Premier will remember this one, anyhow." (Laughter and applause!)

MORE ABOUT THE VOUCHER

Turning again to the voucher, Mr. Fisher pointed out that the three Civil Servants in their affidavits swore that they handled the voucher. The Tieasury officials would only say, "We can find no trace of it." It was possible their index was nofc up-to-date. But no index could mislead the men who handled it, and in face of that conflicting evidence it seemed that there was something radically wrong about the Treasury Department. They would find, he went on to say, that this .attack would be met by a personal attack on him&elf. He was ready for it on every side, and to meet them on every platform.

MORE SHOTS LEFT.

Members of Parliament had regarded him as a felon, they all thought he was wrong, they wanted him to haul down his flag before his powder was run out. He had been firing " shots all the time, and he was going to fire another tomorrow. Why should he apologise when he believed he was right? He ■nould nut do it. He was going to see this enquny through, and, if necessary, k« would see another one through, and he believed the country would help him. (Applause.)

FINAL DISCHARGE.

In conclusion, Mr. Fisher referred to the contracts for the supply of food to the transports which carried our tioops to South Africa. Who supplied food to those vessels, he asked. Were there any tenders? Did any one get a chance except one firm? Did any one know what that firm wns paid? Did any one know who was interested in that firm? (A voice — Yes.) He thought they ought to know. He gave Ministers the challenge. They had not the moral courage to set up an enquiry into that question. "Now let them dare to do it. They won't." (Loud applause.) The meeting, which had lasted three hours, teiminated with a vote of thanks to the Chairman.