MR ERNEST TANNER AT HASTINGS.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 9538, 25 November 1893, Page 4

MR ERNEST TANNER AT HASTINGS.

Mr Erneat Tanner addressed a crowded meeting last uight at the I'rlnceasThoatro, Hastings, on tho nnbject of his father's candidature for tho flawke's Bay seat. The Mayor, Mr G. Ellis, oecnpled the chair, Mr E. Tanner explained that he was there because Mr T. Tanner was at sea on bia way to (lie colony, and therefore could hoi bu present himself. Ho (Mr E. Tannet) had been asked by hundreds nf rectors to nominate his father, "! 'I I>- lure acceding to their wishes I-);. <l i: k-'ii all possible pains to find onb the feulina of the electorate In tho matter. The Tronic ot UuC was that hie father was uomiuuted, and he would win at the poll easily, by more votes than those given for Captain Russell and Mr Reardon together. Mr E. Tanner made a vigorous onslaught upon Mr Reardon, and ridiculed his alleged choice by the Government as their candidate. Mr Reardon was simply chosen as the candidate by 25 persons who claimed as "delegates" to represent the Liberal party. He (Mr E. Tanner) did uot believe in that sort of thing. He believed that it was not for the Government, nor for bo called " delegates," to say who should go to the House. That was for the electors to decide, and his father confidently appealed to the electors. To show that he was sincere in this matter, he (Mr E, Tanner) had offered to let the question as to who should be the Liberal candidate be put to a meeting of the electors, a show of hands to be taken as to whether Mr Reardon or Mr T, Tanner should stand, and he (Mr E. Tanner) undertook tbat if there were not a decisive vote in favor of Mr T. Tanner to withdraw the latter's candidature at once. Mr Reardon wbb apparently afraid to take the voice of the electors, for heref used that test. The speaker, who gave the Conservative party " a bad time," explained why bis father had changed from a Conservative to a Liberal. When be was elected to the house it was as a Conservative, but when he went there he found that the Conservative party neglected their work, while the then Opposition under Mr Ballance I were always in their seats going on with the work of the House. He then determined to be a Liberal, and told Sir Harry Atkinson that if he (Mr T. Tanner) went back to tho House again it would be as a follower of Mr Ballance. Mr E. Tanner then spoke of the personal liberality of Mr T. Tanner. If anyone went to the latter for anything he always got it, even if it was an acre of land. He had spent nearly half a million and sacrified the interests of bis family in order to advance the interests of the people, but if he were to have another half million be (Mr E. Tanner) would help him to spend it. The speaker then dwelt upon his father's views as exemplified in a small pamphlet recently distributed in the electorate, aud Baid thai) the one object of Mr T. Tanner's life was to open up lands for tl c people. With regard to the Native Land Act bis f ither had changed bis opinions, and now believed that the only people who could properly deal with native lands were the present Government. His father, the speaker said, believed that the natives i should be placed in all respects upon the same footing as Europeans. The epe&ker also said that although hh father had not seen the Liquor Siles Act of last session, he (Mr E. Tanner) could assure them that his father would be perfectly satisfied with it, and would not aeek to have it amended. His father's great aim was to assist local industries, and his offer of five or Bix acres of land for a woollen factory was still open. In conclusion he called upon the electors to vote for his father, who would fight

For tho canso that lacks assistance, For tho wrong that needn resistance, For tho f uturo in the distance, And the good that ho could do. The speaker resumed his seat amid great applause. Mr Loughnon moved, and Mr T, Hayes seconded, a vote of thanks to Mr E. Tanner and of confidence in Mr T. Tanner.

Mr T. Cross moved ns an amendment a vote of thanks to Mr E. Tanner only.

This was negatived, and the motion was carried without dissent.

A vote of thanks to the chairman, and "three cheers for Tanner," brought the meeting to a close.