Mr A. L. D. Fraser at Hastings.

Hastings Standard, Issue 182, 27 November 1896, Page 2

Mr A. L. D. Fraser at Hastings.

A LARGE AND ENTHUSIASTIC MEETING. Mr A. L. D. Fraser, the Government candidate for the Hawke s Bay seat, addressed a large and enthusiastic assemblage (including several hundred females) at the Princess Theatre last night. Mr C. A. Loughnan, who occupied the chair, briefly introduced the candidate, and trusted that a patient and impartial hearing would be accorded him. He noted with pleasure that Captain Eussell had received an orderly hearing at Hastings, as it showed that the people were anxious to hear both sides of the question, and he was sure that the other side of the question would be done full justice to by Mr Fraser. Mr Fraser, who was received with applause, expressed his regret that Mr Tanner was not standing instead of the speaker. He also regretted that Mr Louglman had not stood. It was for no personal motives that he had come forward, but at the request of a very large number of electors. If the people had not changed their political opinions since last election the result of the 4th of December is a foregone conclusion. Mr Tanner had polled 461 votes, Mr Eeardon 837, a total of 798, as against Captain Russell's 448. Let the encore be as pronounced on the 4th as it was three years ago. PERSONAL. During this campaign he had learned a great deal about himself, and if anyone wants a cheap biography of themselves let them stand for Parliament. He had learned more about his own personal history and that of his ancestors in the last few weeks than he could ever possibly have dreamed of. (Laughter). He had been called an Atheist and a gambler. His wife's name had also been brought in. Some doubt had actually been expressed about his parentage, and that his father was tort fond of his neighbor's cattle. (Laughter.) His opponent was a personal friend of his, and he was indebted to him for many favors. He had the greatest respect for him as a man, but politically he had the greatest disrespect for him. He emphatically denied that he had resorted to personalities, as he had been charged with. He believed in fighting the battle with the sword of a soldier and not with the blade of an assassin. (Applause.) A certain portion of the Press had treated him most unfairly and had shown a contemptible desire to injure him in the coming election. It was his duty to tell them that this portion of the Press deseended to absolute lying and misrepresentation. (Applause.) He branded the writer of the article in the Daily Telegraph with regard to his Clive meeting as a lineal descendant of Ananias. (Laughter.)

A STATESMANLIKE SPEECH. He had to reply to a statesmanlike speecli, if the speech could be so termed which from beginning to end was occupied in saying Mr Seddon made wilful misstatements, whilst giving no policy of his own. If this were a statesman's speech they must not expect one from him that night, as he considered in such a position a policy should be presented by a statasman to the electiors. ENROLLING ELECTORS. "With reference to the charge brought by Captain Russell re the appointment of men to canvass the district for the purpose of enrolling electors. These men were appointed by the Registrar of the district at his discretion, and he would give a substantial sum to the Hospital if it could be proved that one of these men did not discharge his duties impartially. Not so with his opponent's supporters, who took the names of electors on a form and when they discovered they were not of the right color the forms were never forwarded to the Registrar. For his part he would rather be returned to Parliament by a majority of the whole than a majority of the few and the men who were canvassing the district now were disinterested men. He did not know his supporters, as, like the wise child recognising his father, it was a wise candidate that knew his own supporters. PROGRESSION OR RETROGRESSION. The question before them to decide was whether the Government, which represented them for six years, or the Opposition which misrepresented them for thirty years, —(A voice : " It is wrong.") —should be put into power. He recognised the same voice that interrupted at the Premier's meeting. (A voice : " Williams," and laughter. This was not a personal contrast between Captain Russell and himself, it was a war between progression and retrogression. They must either advance or recede, and from the cradle to the grave man must advance, standstill, or go back. Which policy would they have, the Government's progression or would they go back to the sandstone and the wooden plough period with the Conservatives ? His opponent had given them a lecture on evolution and bumble bees and clover. He supposed the introduction of clover was on account of the National Ass (laughter). He quoted Herbert Spencer to show that at all times there were laggards opposed to the advance movements. (A voice—- " Give us something of your own.") He would give them plenty before he was done. CHINESE QUESTION'. He was accused of misrepresenting Captain Russell in his attitude with reference to the Chinese question, and he was asked by the Hawke's Bay Herald to apologise to his opponent for what he said. He went to the Herald office and taking up a Hansard there he found in it every word he said at the meetings he addressed —(Applause). He read the extract in which Captain Russell said that the Chinese were suited to certain menial employments which Europeans undertook unwillingly ; that it was wrong to say the Chinese race were effete because they could live on a handful of rice. According to the theory of the survival of the fittest the man who could live on a handful of rice would flourish when the man who required beef would have ceased to exist. (A voice : " Read the whole of it.") He would read it all, and when he had finished he called upon the Herald to apologise to him. He then finished reading the quotation, and at the conclusion he asked his hearers if he had in any way garbled Captain Russell's words. The Herald gave a garbled report of his (the speaker's) words in that morning's issue, and he called upon them to apologise to him. CAPITAL V. LABOR. It was said he was bringing the old elap-trap cry of Capital v. Labor into this election. He was not doing any such thing, as capital aud labor should go hand in hand if the colony or any other country were to be prosperous—(Loud applause) —but in this election it was a fight between capital and labor. (Cries " yes " and " No.") He did not accuse Captain Russell of not paying his way, but throughout the colony the Opposition were supported by the wealth of the colony and their expenses paid by the National Association, who a few months ago subscribed £lO7 towards Mr Lewis' 3 Cbrietchurch election expenses. He (the

Speaker) was paying his own way from bis own private resources,but the National Association were collecting money for years to fight this election. It was the old scriptural story over again of Balaam and the Ass—when Balaam couldn't speak the ass spoke for him. Nevertheless. they had stronger weapons than money in unanimity and loyalty, and if they were unanimous capital would he only as the writing on a slate, and as easily wiped out (applause). OPPOSITION" TACTICS. The Opposition wanted the electors to go to the polling-booths and v<?tc biindly (a voice : " No. ') He said, " i'es:'"' Captain Russell had no policy, yet he asked to be returned to power. It was like playing poker and going 011 the " blind " —(laughter)—but he advised them to see the cards first. The leading Conservative lights praised the policy of the Government, but were dissatisfied with its administration. Mr Fitzßoy did this at Gisborne, and the tenor of the Opposition tactics showed that they were merely office-hungry, and wanted to take over the policy of the present Government and work it. It was like a man wanting to take over the rights of a patentee because he thought he knew more of the machine than the inventor. (Laughter.) This showed the Opposition only wanted power. Their policy was only a shadowy one. They favored the present Government's policy, but thought they could administer it better. LOW PRICES. Captain Eussell attributed the lowness in prices to the Government. "When a revolution occurred in any country trade oscilated for some time, but in due course everything steadied. The policy of 1890 was revolutionary and it had not yet had time to work. CONSERVATIVE FLAmOODLR. As an instance of the press flapdoodle the Liberals had to fight against, he gave the case of a respectable journal writing on the occasion of Mr Lewis's return for Christchurch and saying that as a result of his return the price of land had gone up, there were sound investments for capital in landed properties, and prosperity had dawned once more in the colony. Again Mr Hoadley, of Napier, wired a report to the effect that on account of the recent Christchurch election, confidence was restored and prices in wool, etc., had risen.—(Laughter.) POPULATION. The Government were held responsible for the decrease in the population. If this were one of the duties of a Minister he had no ambition to become one. (Voice : "We want politics.") He was not surprised at the gentleman asking for politics, but he was giving them what the Conservatives called politics. THE PARADOXICAL CONGLOMERATION. The Premier had alluded to the Stout-Russell combination as an unholy alliance. He would call it an extraordinary paradoxical conglomeration. Sir Robert Stout believed in the State ownership of laud, Captain Russell in freehold. L)r. Newman was a prohibitionistand Captain Russell an ;mtl-prohibi-tionist. They could not stand together any time. Sir Robert Stout was the most bitter and vindictive opponent of the Government, yet it was Mr Seddon who acheived his return for Inangahua when Dunedin threw him out. In 1880 he spoke highly of the Liberal administration, and attacked the Atkinson Government. The Napier Telegraph called on him to apologise to Sir R. Stout for his attack upon that gentleman. If such a brazen-throated organ as the Telegraph demanded an apology they should get it in their own words. He then quoted an article from the Telegraph in which Sir R. Stout was bitterly criticised for his perfidy in deserting the Seddon Government. This was his apology. (Applause.) He warned the public against the criticisms of the Conservative Press; he quoted the criticism <jf the Christchurch Weekly Press which oil November 2nd said the hpoe of the country was in Mr Rolleston's return, whilst the same paper, probably the same writer, accused him of forcing the colony into debt to the extent of five millions in order to keep his party in power. Mr Hutchison, who had earned for himself the unenviable name of Judas, was returned to the House by Mr Ballance's influence. Yet he was no sooner in the House than he joined the Opposition, of whom he spoke in the most violent terms some time previously. How could the people of the colony place their interests in the hands of such men ?

DESERTING THE SHIP. Some of the leading Conservatives were deserting the party. Mr 11. D. Bell of "Wellington—(A voice : " It's not true"). Perhaps the gentleman knew more of Wellington than he did. (Voice: "I know Mr Bell.") He would say at anyrate that Mr Bell was a lawyer. (Applause.) Messrs Duthie, Mitchelson, and Wilson also had enough of the party who had spent twenty-five millions on railways for political purposes. "When the Opposition discussed the wan* confidence motion in the present Government this useless discussion cost the . country thousands upon thousands of pounds which they could have sp;tivd the colony if they had had the interest* cf the people at heart. In a few yt-nvs there would not be a Conservative of the present type existing, and if one were found he would be placed in a inusemu as a curiosity. LANDS FOR SETTLEMENT. He was there, not to give an account of his stewardship, but to explain his reasons for following the present Government. The Lands for Settlements Act, which would be repealed if the Opposition got. power, entitled the Government to the confidence of the people. Every Britisher loved a home and a bit of land, and tho Government worked to gratify this natural desire, and to carry out the injunctions of the scriptures which laid it down that the " land was for the children of men," and the fruits of the earth were for all. If he was returned he would see that this Act was kept on the statute book. Mr McLean said the Government should not interfere with the habits of the people, who should be left to shift for themselves, and the fat man generally told him to look forward to the next world for his reward ; but' the Conservatives generally made subs of the good things in this world, probably because they were doubtful of their treatment in the next. (Laughter.) It was argued that the Lands for Settlement Act destroyed confidence, and rendered holders of land chary of making improvements owing to insecurity of tenure; and Captain Russell, with a sob in his voice, drew a moving picture of trees planted with their own hands uprooted, homes broken up, etc. This was nonsense. The Act provided for 1000 acres of first class land, 2000 acres of second class land, and 5000 acres of third class land surrounding a homestead being left intact from the operations of the Act. (Applause.) There was only one instance in the colony where the land was taken compulsorilyT* The Government would endeavor to cut up the land near the centres of population so that the sheep-farming interests would not be interfered with ; but what required encouragement was dairy farmst Eq

won* Int t ill id . ; -* tti. m • -ihout here, us bit w im much ». < he did about them, hut he would s.ty tVv were worr d t! o p. «>ph ■ ■: t'.i n: we i \ i' '• - . " \\h 't about t . shrepU wi- the _-f n"l-in sii who spoke k; - ii -! t for h :^ e>c->»-(r . r i ■>*. «■>.'. >f. ' t ;■ •! prolo::^-«' h H l , ' , i •■■t-'- iri'jector w .1 r ■ r. h • ■=■* teen mots n i ■ .n i.t sheep < Appi.>u.-i . THE CHEVIOT ESTATE. There w.m a crrat outery againrt the G«Mwrnu,»ent ttte < heviot Estate, bol tdhen the («» «i u nt took it over there were only 7»p« r »on it. Now there was a popu' i; > if "GO souls, with churches anil librarie*.. and the Government had r-c ;\ed penny of rent, with to the l*o< d. . Applause.> If they could see tiie chtl.lren passing out of the schools ♦*t - 1 . .t'i I'vr tho colony the v would a-!, them -><* lve "what in the liatne of Goodn -- w. re they uoi.ic to do with them." arid the only fou-h-al uay out of the difficulty was for tiie Government to take up the"lurid and - tile the people on it. A small distrfthk.;* Jlnwerareturned a raeitiW. - to ropr •-••• nt it itt Parliament the same as a large provi nee like Hnwke's Bay. Why is this ? Because the land in " llawera was parcelled out and the population increased, and if the people were settled in as small a tract in Hawke's Bay the general result would be beneficial. In Hawera the output of Imtter and cheese for last vear amounted to i<"W5.0731b and Hawke's l!»v to 10.9-I3ib. (Applause. 1 FAIR KENT BILL. The object of the Fair Rent Hill was misrepresented by Captain Russell. It was meant to assist persons who had taken op land from holders at exorbitant rentals: In such cases the Government stepped in and reduced tlie rental, and such a tribunal was reasonable and fair. The estates showed a profit of 4'7'» per cent, and if they did not think this a good recommendation tie could not agree with them. AUVAJJCKS TO SKTTI.KP.S. It was reassuring to find financial Journals and business men had no fault to tind with this Act. ISetore its introduction the unfortunate small hinticr wa> obliged to bomw money at 8, 0, and 12 per cent- and when once fairly in the clutches of the money-lender he could not escape. Tlie Government found they could give him cheap mi'iney without increasing the taxation of the co'-hiv. ami they did so. Six per cent was charged for the loan. 5 per cent went for int. r and 1 percent to a sinking fund wlr.eh in :W> years completely wiped off the d- ; >f- i Applause.'. In borrowing money the b"rr>iwer found the legal and commission expenses very heavy and tlutt to borrow iriic» ..ft. n cost £lO. To remedy this ti ► <• • nv ment appointed certain legal it'. - i nt . InutMCt this business at a certain --.-.Se of charges, and the work 'hat pr. i '-h cost £lO was now done for !(*>. >• ->e: ,f \ per cent of those who borrowed m. ••!. \ did so to pay off old mortgage* on which thev were paying 10 p i nt. "lln- Act put thousantls of poun I nto the p- «-k, of the stmgglir •>< ti r who w.«- manacled to the chario'w hel of the usurer. tAppiause.i I'KOHIBITION. Prohihitein occupied a prominent place in the poht.c-. of New- Zealand, and he agreed wtth those who strove to abolish drunkenness. He wa.s in favor of temperance, but could not support Prohibition, which would put back the clock of temperance for yarn, but if the Prohibition party were consistent they should support the present Government, which would grant Prohibition if three-fifths majority of tlie people voted in its favor. He said if the Prohibition party joined hands with the respectable publican and insisted on the strict enforcement of the present law the main object of the Prohibitionists would be fulfilled. He knew publican friends of his who had a horror of drunkenness, and it was only the lower class of publicans who brought the trade into disrepute by striving to collar every sixpence. When he came out as a candidate first the Prohibition Colonial Council of Wellington asked him to sign a document pledging himself to the support of their platform. This he refused to do, as he would be asked to sign other d -iments by other bodies, and he would g to Parliament as a mere aatomotan which was not the proper position for the representative of the people.

TOO'G NKW ZEALAND. It was asserted that the rising generation of New Zealand were drunkards. He would take up a brief in their behalf, and give that statement the lie direct. It was tme there was considerable drunkenness in days gone by. but that time had gone by like a nightmare, and young New Zealand were sober and industrious. THE BANKIM- 1/t EsTION. The Government were dammed from one end of the colony to the other for assisting the Bank of New Zealand in its difficulty, hot if the Government were .so equally were the Opposition whowithCaptain Russell supported the scheme. However, the Government were not wrong, and their ptompt action in saving the bank and the country deserves the applause of the people. A telegram appeared i'l the columns of the Hawke's Bay Herald which was carefully overlooked in the leader, stating how Mr Theo. Cooper, speaking at Auckland, had said there were no grounds for suggesting tnat the Government had improper motives for assisting the bank, and though it was said Mr Theo. Cooper would not speak against his employers, such a base suggestion rould be treated with contempt. The Government had pledged themselves to stick to the Bank. From the last returns the business of the Bank had increased 50 per cent, and the money was at safe as the Bank of England, and in any case the Government had first claim on its assets. There were 160.000 people in New Zealand whose interests were involved in the bank, and these were saved. Besides these there were three Education Boards. 43 Hospital and Charitable Aid Boards. 24 Harbor Boards. ■»ven Benevolent Institutions, 128 Town Boards. 213 Road Boards. 216 Friendly Societies, three Saving# Banks. 72 CountyCouncils. 633 School Committees, and I*2? sundry local bodies which would have * b -en ruined if the l ank had closed. He alluded to the banking legislation of the Atkinson Government in the same terms a~> reported in his Kaikora speech. (A v rice : To this Mr Fraser replied by savins when he wanted a respectable legal opinion he would see a solicitor and pay him for it. (Loud laughter.) Tats Government had granted the on'y real manhood suffrage -when on October 17, 1896, the property qualification #as eliminated from the Act. They saw what the property qualification meant when Hastings was flooded with Napier residents to rote at the Municipal Election <Bl Wednesday, and if there was a bye•lection in Hawke's Bay the place would be swamped with named voters holding property in the district. SECOND BALLOT. The Second Ballot Bill which the GertnuEWßt intended bringing forward

|po\hlt l it if three cms hd • »•'>"- • t"-t> i n ch - orate the onc who ha I the |.i t \ • - vunt out and a new contest r-i,' It.'we.n the other two. In this i \\.>> -i e ' i n elected would be the choice i of tin- majority of the electors. I railways. ['• • ' nugc he r'Misideivd from (Y.nilu •- -M to Ministers I. id ben: ft .•••at < ; Tht.' !i:r:i :> „!v.-d t.. tr.'W t the . ftrU they Were men • '•>{■: •In llii-'=ell in the lie:-' ' d |>i". it-:* '1 tl ' t.j. ■i mm :it for their man; lit. T1 . <.:» r . ■ tht <loverniiient had was* to reduce ;!.• -'..l - as much as possible so that .nin d -■ r-'icould me; 1 those more f. nt. % - te.j.: d terms. 'litis in •: 1 _*i.'l'll ! • [p ::d encourage settlers m trie f'.i'-k n.-iitry. The Government had not made any ditf ren'-e to any class. Rat. i for carry!n.c; sheep had been equally rcdneed wit,ii fruit and other prudu-e. There w;:s no spoils to the % !«•:•;.s there. The t. .nment had regard to the ;nv.'Ue*t tror;id to the greatest number in roimee- ' tioa witii the r..iiwa\s as v. to other ni-.tr.-r>.. He denied that ;»r.y Iliin.r_ r unfair w.'.s in th-j working "f the n--w cla-- ilea*ion lists. Tho railway hands ar.- thoroughly satisfied mid would have he::, r treatment than under the Commissioners. JfATIVK LANDS. He did not agree with the native land policy i f tin- f iovcrnment "in toto." He rejco'jr.ised that the intf n: : ,>ns of the Act of In'. 1 I v.-t-i-.- hut were opposed to the principal's of right. It was against tho interest* of the native for Government. to take over the absolute pr; -.-mp'ive right they bad given in as r:v• Government had not given a fair price for the land. This was the fault of the ollitvrs who vabiatod without having seen the land, and in consequence the natives had only recta",ed ">s an acre. when 'lit \ should li -\t l->; -i 1>- mid. The Government should in*'t tht pre-emptive right of refusal. The -p. >kt l was opposed to ;iie mode of purcli -ol s.alne lands. In t'ni< matter his i>pp >n< n»-> would grasp his hand because n. w i-i agin the Govcrnmen.t" (Applause.* i oNi t.r>i..x. The speaker gave a well-worded description of tin- pir-perity of the colony durin z the p;ist six ye;>i>. Me thanked ti■ •; • " ii- :>•••• f tin- m and impartiai ii- t 1 -y had accorded him. He had cast ins hre:id i.;i the waters and '. Ji-:»-d that it would cnito hack not later than the 4th of I'eeemhcr. Mr l-'raser resumed his seat a midst loud and prolcnged cheer*. qtESTIoys. .Mr H. IT. Wilhams admid-t cheers and catcalls, asked whether Mr Kramer «■«> not aw.ire that the total ir.d--!.t« of tl>e colony under thf 1 S.-ddi.n t "mv.Tiiment had lucre.t<e«l :n-f< r--.l ! ( ;.."(«).(HW'. a* hv Mr I-'raser a' Knikora

Mr Fi-nser said his were the corvt-ct ones. Mr Willi ti'i~ t-k. 1 was it not a far: tii.it the total trade of the colony hud d. or.-a.-. d "? Mr Frascr said lie had answered thnt •Hie.-uon in his .«pet'ch. Mr WUliutiH asked wan not Mr Frrtser that the Govenmien voted for os a day for certain men ami tiirt w out an amendment fur a «la.v ? Mr Fraser -'i l when the Government offiwl 'lis awk and a house fur men often oil an<l until for other employment he thoii.LVt it was wry l'p:«y. Mr Williams ask- d if the candidate supported the Government's notion in rc-ir-ird to the Pomahaka purchase .Mr Frascr thought a mistake had occurred, but it was u mistake that might happen to any well regulated Government, Mr Williams might say it was tn qno<|iiu but he reminded him of Captain liussell and the Folhill tinlly scandal. Mr Williams asked if Mr Frascr had 3!i.v evidence to show that the banks <>f New Zealand could not have taken over the IJank of New Zealand at the time of its crisis Mr Frascr said it was a large order to ask him the private business of every hank. Whin the banking legislation was before the House the leader of the Opposition was in communication with the Union Rank, and that bank had offered to take over the gilt edged business of the Bank of New Zealand as soon as it had closed its doors. Mr Charles Hughes moved a hearty vote of thanks and confidence in" the Government. This was seconded by Mr Hastie. On being put the Chairmen declared that the motion was carried on the voices. Mr Fraser. in returning thanks, said the right place for them to show their confidence in him was at the ballot box. A vote of thanks to the chairman brought the meeting to a close.