PRESENTATION TO MR A. E. G. RHODES.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XCVII, Issue 11252, 26 April 1897, Page 3

PRESENTATION TO MR A. E. G. RHODES.

The Volunteer Hall at Tenmka was well filled on Friday night, when the political friends of Mr A. E. G. Rhodes, the former member and the lately defeated candidate for the district, invited him to meet them to receive a token id their esteem. Mr Ct. J. Dennistoun, of Peel Forest, occupied the chair, and there were on the platform also Dr Hayes, the Hon W. Rolleslon, Messrs M. J. S. Mackenzie, J. Alien, Wilson, Lewis, and Moore, M.H.R.’s, and the chairmen of several local bodies. Resides these gentlemen, Mrs Rhodes and a large number of ladies were upon the stage. The Chairman opened the meeting very briefly, and balled upon Mr Eolleston as the first speaker.

Mr Eolleston nnido a humorous reference to the political rest he had had, likening himself to an old horse that had boon turned out to grass, and was now brought into work again. Probably ho would be expected to do the old horse’s work, the odd jobs, but he was glad to see that there wore plenty of young and vigorous men to do the more serious work. Ho was much pleased to be present to do honour to Mr- Rhodes, a representative of the pioneers of the district, and who had been one of the most faithful of public servants when in Parliament. The one drawback to his pleasure was that they were not met to congratulate Mr Rhodes on re-election. It was his firm conviction, however, that iu three. years’ time the electors would return him, aud that they would do it even now if the election were held over again—such a change had come over public opinion. He criticised the “new Liberalism” in some of its productions, such as the banking legislation, the Bushy Park sale, and the Premier’s joining wealthy syndicates in positions inconsistent with his Ministerial position. The public were, beginning to realise that “Liberalism” was only a cant phrase, and that under the new Liberalism freedom of thought, speech and action might be stifled. He instanced the suspension of the Standing Orders to prevent members from obtaining information, the attempted bribing of the Press by advertisements, the appointment to the public service of men of the “right colour,” and the threat of a Minister against a bank if its officers exorcised their rights as voters. Another cant phrase was “democracy.” It w r as said to mean government of the people by the people for the people. Here it meant government of the people by Mr Scddon, and for Mr Seddon. There was no such difference as was pretended between the so-called Liberal and so-called Conservative. He, for example, claimed that he was as anxious to further the welfare of the people as any of those great Liberals. It was said that the difference lay in their treatment of the poor. Ho did not see now that the poor w T ero filled with good things and the rich sent empty away. There were no such differences. No man could now count upon a continuation of public confidence who did not recognise that social questions formed a large part of politics. Mr Eolleston condemned some remarks made by the Premier at Petono—that the higher education was devised in the interests of a class, and that the Opposition were making unfair attacks upon his colleague in connection with the Bushy Park sale. All that the Opposition wanted was an explanation, which was denied them. He objected, too, to the Premier calling the Opposition “ filibustering marauders.” The Ministers were appealing to the predatory instincts and to the ignorance and folly of people who did not understand to what great evils such a state of things must lead. The claims of the present party in power to have originated all Liberal measures were unfounded. Labour legislation began with Mr Pulton, liberal laud laws with Mr Donald Reid and himself, public education with Mr Tancred, and the national system with Mr Bowen. The true duty of the State was to remove disabilities from the way of men rising from one position ' to another, and not to help the unthrifty and vicious at the cost of virtue and industry; not to intervene between unthrift, folly and idleness and their natural consequences. He desired to see the population growing up bound together by ties of concord, not divided by class animosities; not dependent on the State on the one hand, nor expected to repay with servile dependence when concessions were made to them. Dr Hayes then presented the testimonial —a very handsome autograph album with cushion and stand —to Mr Rhodes. The album is a large volume handsomely bound in brown morocco, and with bold gilt border ornament on the upper cover, which in the centre has a large solid silver shield, engraved with Mr Rhodes’s monogram surrounded by a fernleaf border. The title page, the addresses on the second page, and the titles of the sections of the electorate on ■'’subsequent pages have been finely illuminated by Mr G. Wade, the whole constituting one of the finest pieces of work he has ever done. It was made by Messrs Weeks and Co., of Christchurch. The following is the text of the address on the second page:— “The following, representing the 1682 electors who recorded their votes in your favour at the Geraldine election, held on Dec. 4, 1896, desire your acceptance of this memorial of their appreciation of the manner in which you contested that aud the previous elections. They recognise the able manner in which you carried out your political duties when you represented them in Parliament, and also the valuable services you have rendered to the party with which you are associated —the party which they believe to be working in the interests of honest and good government. Should you ever decide to contest the electorate again they assiire you of their very loyal support. With hearty good wishes that Mrs Rhodes, your family and yourself may continue to enjoy health and prosperity, they beg to subscribe themselves your faithful supporters.” Dr Hayes recalled the time when, ten years ago, Mr Rhodes first appeared as a candidate, when, though a raw political recruit, he showed that he possessed

ability, good temper, perseverance, honesty, aud integrity of purpose. These were qualities eminently fitting- him to bo a representative, and Mr Rhodes had worthily represented them for six years. He had been most attentive to the wants of his constituents, regardless of “ colour.” He had not been unduly elated by success nor unduly depressed by defeat, and in his defeat could console himself that the minority was generally iu the right, and the majority easily led astray by a plausible cry. Dr Hayes then presented the album, and explained that it was obtained with the proceeds of one-shilling subscriptions, which showed bow universal had been the response, lie concluded by saying that ho hoped the country would soon come to its senses, and that Mr Rhodes would once more represent the district iu Parliament.

Mr Rhodes was greeted with prolonged applause when he rose to reply. He said that such a meeting would have been sufficient without any present to assure him of the feelings of the people towards himself and Mrs Rhodes. "When ho first came to the district as a. candidate ho knew scarcely anyone. Now ho knew nearly everyone, aud if lie had made a few enemies, he had made a great many more friends, and throughout his contests the greatest good feeling had been shown him by opponents as well as supporters. He need not go into politics, as they knew his views, but ho might refer to one or two things that had cropped up since the election. Ho •believed that the purchase of the Albury and Arowlieuua estates by the Government had a great deal to do with his losing the election, yet he had supported the settlement policy for three years, and had promised to continue to do so. Whatever Government war; in office must continuo the cnfcting-up of land for settlement; but no Government could make greater blunders in cutting up than tho present one had made at Arowhenua. The estate was bought before the election, bub when the election was over nothing more was done until so late that a season was practically lost, and some tenants must pay eighteen mouths’ rent before they could get thcfullbenefltof theland. Blundershad been made at Riccarton also, where sections were made too big to make a home on and not big enough to make a living on, and when a man was making a home ho wanted a freehold. (This remark was greatly applauded, as were all other references during the evening to the freehold tenure.) Mr Rhodes condemned the Hon J. M’Kenzie’s Geraldine speech in its reference to the hank officers taking part in elections, and his suggestion that the runholdors owed support to the Government for the concessions made to them in rents in consequence, of disaster. Mr Rhodes concluded by again heartily thanking the meeting for their great kindness and handsome present, of which he aud Mrs Rhodes would always be proud, the prouder that it represented so wide an area of good feeling.

Mr Scobie Mackenzie was the next speaker. Like Air Eolleston, he, too, had been turned out to grass, and brought back again to work. Defeat was nothing; there were ups aud downs in political life, and they were needed to strengthen one’s character, as a man who was always successful became a poor flabby creature. He thought Mr Rhodes’s defeat could be in part explained by an observation of Prince Bismarck that iu politics the possession of principles was fatal to success; that a politician with principles could be likened to a man walking through a dense forest with a pole in his mouth. Mr Rhodes had a long pole in his mouth, bub he would not advise him to drop it, as that would mean going over to tho great Liberal party. None of those who had administered the affairs of the colony for some years past had been carrying any pole, long or short, iu their mouths. Ho wanted to know where government without principle would land them. Mr Mackenzie proceeded to enlarge upon instances of deception, in pretences that things which were done for private interests wove done for the public interest. This was a form of deception which had deceived immense numbers of people. Ho instanced the banking inquiry, when information was kept back that the public interest required should be made public; the recent appointment of four defeated candidates to the Legislative Council; the Premier’s taking a position on the Assets Realisation Board; the refusal of returns, which the people had a right to have and required to have, on tho pretence of economy. Mr Mackenzie spoke for some time on tho Bushy Park sale. He said that, so far as he knew, the sale was a - fair aud proper one, and, in his opinion, quite enough money had been. given for the estate; but the point was that the Premier should not have placed himself in a position where he could be accused of using his power in tho interests of the family of a colleague. Information had been denied, but the Premier had “defended” tho sale at Petone, and a few more such defences would give tho transaction a very ugly look. He condemned the appointment of Chairman of Committees six months before he was wanted, and the payment of his salary for doing nothing. In contrast with this, he (the speaker) had had the greatest difficultyin getting Jo for a Government labourer injured in Dunedin, and leaving a wife aud thirteen children unprovided for. It could not be believed by anyone that the appointment and payment, of the Chairman of Committees, when there was nothing for him to do, was in the public interest; it could only have been in the interest of the Ministry to keep a supporter sweet. All these things were damaging to political morality, which was now at a very low level, and he doubted whether it could be’ raised again in a lifetime. The common answer was, “ You would do the same if you had the chance.” That answer was never heard in the old days; and it was an indication as to bow low the political standard had sunk. The Government were not to blame for this, but the people who sent representatives who would countenance it, and by their servile following had made Mr Seddon an autocrat, because it was so easy a part to play. The people made the Parliament, and therefore they should see to it that they sent men of honesty and sound principle. Mr Allen said they wanted more representatives of Mr Rhodes’s stamp for his honesty of purpose; of Mr Eolleston’s for his experience, and of Mr Mackenzie’s for his power of speech in defence of principles and the public interests. He foresaw that there was a washing-up ahead like that which Major Atkinson had to do, and as usual it would fall to the party now in Opposition to undertake it, and bear the brunt of the unpopularity of the process. The public service would also have to be purified from political influences, and this would be more unpopular still. He condemned Ministerial interference in elections, and the frequent abuse of the powers of patronage, intimidation, and bribery, the last exemplified by large votes for public works just before the election, very little of which had been spent. The people were kept in ignorance of what was done, and were misled by false cries of Liberalism, as though there were no liberal-minded men on the Opposition side. There were men quite as liberal-minded, but they also desired to maintain a high standard of political morality. , Mr Wason claimed that the Opposition was not a factious party. It was Opposition votes which sent the Premier Home. He suggested that the work of Parliament would be done much more smoothly if tho element of faction fights were removed by agreement that tho Government should not he turned

out except on a direct vote of ’.van t of confidence. Politics were said to be a game, so was war, and it was apt to be forgotten that the ball was composed of human lives and .liberties. suggested three- objects which the present' Parliament .should aim! at ;securing;—A. first-class steam service to'Australia as faras Albany; . a x’cform of the railway system ’ to make the railways really ‘national,roads, and an old age; pension' system, hand in hand with charitable aid. Mr Wason said he did . not. approve of criticising the Premier in his absence.

Mr Moore did not agree with this.: The Premier criticised the Opposition a few days before lie left, and Mr M’Kenzie could make a vigorous reply if he liked. Ho also disapproved on principle: of Ministerial interference in elections, but in practice it had not injured him. The Premier and Mr M’Kenzie made fine speeches in liis electorate against him,; and considerably helped, his return. He strongly advocated the return to freehold tenure, and said the pendulum of public opinion was swinging hack, and three years hence Mr Rhodes would bo reelected for the Geraldine constituency, if he chose to offer himself. Mr Lewis claimed tiiat most of the “popular” measures of the Government were the work of the Opposition, who put into shape masses of miscellaneous material supplied in the original Bills; and discarded quantities of noxious ingredients among them. In such work as this Mr Rhodes was peculiarly missed, as his professional, training, enabled him to see defects that might escape other people. Ho was particularly pleased to be present, as Mr Rhodes and he had been schoolfellows, and both Mr and Mrs Rhodes had worked very hard for him when he was a candidate in the by - election eighteen months ago.

Mr Rhodes moved a vote Of thanks to the Chairman, and the meeting broke up about 11 p.m.