MR GRAHAM’S MEETING.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume I, Issue 28, 16 August 1887, Page 2

MR GRAHAM’S MEETING.

VOTE OF THANKS. A crowded audience greeted Mr Andrew Graham when he met the electors of ths East Coast district, in McFarlane’s Hall last night, btr Townley occupied Ue chair In the unavoidable absence of the Mayor through ill .health. Mr Townley briefly introduced the candidate, alluding to the many offices Mr Graham had filled in thia district since his advent here,

Mr Graham than addressed the meeting, and alluded td the circumstance which bad led him to occupy the position of a candidate to represent this district. He spoke briefly as to Mr Locke’s resignation, and as to hie own determination to fight out the contest to the bitter end. (Applause). He referred to the dreadful debt the Colony was suffering from, and to the extravagance of the present Ministry, He drew a somewhat doleful piteture of the Colony's financial position, and went on to describe the class of men who he thought should be sent to Wellington. He then discussed at some length the various parties at present striving for power. There was no aristocracy here grinding down the poor; we are all working classes here. It was not the fault of the wealthy classes there are any poor here. (No, no). He referred in very scathing terms to the persons who advocated the spoliation of the capitalist). The first work for Parliament was to get rid of the present Government, They had developed what he called the dangerous “ smashing proclivities ” of the Government. He denounced the bogus retrenchment policy of the Ministry and said they should be regulated to a term of retirement for seven years. He believed in Sir John Hall, who, he thought, would he able to tackel the questions before the House in earnest. The debt of the colony and the extravagant administration of the colony’s finance were also dealt upon at Some length. He advocated a reduction of the Civil Service. One half of the civil servants made work for the other half. He denounced Ministerial patronage and advocated the formation of a Civil Service Board composed of heads of departments, responsible not to Mi”i»toxo, but to the House. He advocated a saving of £BOOO on the Ministerial expenses, and the honorarium to be £l5O, Re the education question he contended that much reduction might be made,but he would oppose any tampering with primary school system. He would oppose the raising of the school age and the doing away with the fifth and sixth standards. (Applause.) He would however cut down the secondary education expenses. He opposed the second, ary education system as being too expensive. There were too many universities and colleges. He was in favour of cheap money, but borrowing had been overdone altogether, Borrowing, for the future, should cease altogether. (Applause). On the taxation question he did not consider that, if retrenchment were carried out, fresh taxation would be necessary. The speaker then referred in forcible terms to the Native Land question, and pointed out the difficulty of interpreting the existing native land laws. This district, he said, had actually suffered a loss of of £lOO,OOO through the mischievous legislation on native matters. He defended the purchasers of native lands from the charge of being land sharks, etc., and he contended that the purchases in this district had generally been fair and straightforward. (Hear, hear), Referring to the Native Land Department Mr Graham accused it of being the source of continual bribery and corruption, Mr Ballance was about the worst Native Minister the Colony had ever had. (Applause), The disturbances were all got up for Mr Ballance’s political ends. Not a single acre of land hud been settled by the present Ministry, He advocated reforms in the Survey Department, and characterized Land Nationalization and other of Stout's fads as top-suits of Henry George’s which would never fit New Zealand. At this stage Mr Sandlant interfered, say. ing Mr Graham knew nothing about it.

The Chairman having asked for order, the candidate proceeded with his remarks. He opposed the bad legislation of the Government respecting the opening of Crown Lands, but would eupport perpetual leasing of blocks granted as endowments to local bodies. He supported Freetrade against Protection. There was protection enough in the countryi Protection meant the further crowding of the large cities For a country district protection would be a disastrous mistake. The Government should try and develop the ready made factories and workshops of the country, namely the land, the land. He would not discourage local industries at all, but opposed a prohibitary tariff. He then referred to the working men. He asked them not to be led away by the cry that he belonged to any particular party. He was a working man himself, he would ask them not to be prejudiced by any particular cry. He would ask the working men not to be led up by the cry of bloated aristocrat. In conclusion he said he had confidence in the country. The country was all right enough if a strong individual effort was made. He said he would not stoop to any underhand trick to gain support. He would stand on his merits alone. (Applause.) Mr Graham then said it was the time for “ heckling ” as the Scotch say. I shall be glad to answer questions. A gentleman, whose name we were unable to ascertain, asked t ,why Mr Graham had advocated ths non-payment of wages on a Borough Council contract.

Mr Graham: I voted against the pay men t because it was illegal for the Council to do otherwise. I sympathised with ths men, but could not go beyond the law.

Mr “ Johnny Hall,” who was greeted with great laughter, asked whether the candidate would vote for a New Zealand penny postage. Mr Graham said he would leave the question to those better able to deal with it than ha was. In response to loud cries of Thompson, Thompson R.E., an elderly individual stepped upon the platform, and made a series of incoherent and imbecile interrogations at some length re the harbour plans.

The candidate replied to such as had any reasonable amount of sense in them, but whether emboldened by whiskey, or suffering from acute monomonia on his supposed wrongs, Thompson, R.E., held the stage for quite a quarter of an hour, eventually retiring amidst loud laughter.

Mr Locke moved a vote of thanks, which was put to the meeting and carried unanimously, as was also a vote of thanks to the chair.

Three cheers having been given for Mr Graham, the meeting terminated quietly.