NOMINATION AND ELECTION.

Marlborough Press, Volume IX, Issue 596, 17 June 1868, Page 2

NOMINATION AND ELECTION.

In pursuance of a notice by the Returning Officer, the nomination of candidates for the election of a member of the House of Representatives' for the Electoral District of Picton, took place at the Court House, Picton, cm Thursday last, at noon. S. L. Muller, Esq., Returning Officer, having read the writ, and solicited a fair hearing for all the speakers, called on the electors to propose their candidates. Mr Conolly proposed Captain Kenny. He said that most of the electors then present were older inhabitants of the province than himself, and were, therefore, so well acquainted with Captain Kenny’s claims upon their support, that it was unnecessary for him to enlarge upon them. Of the different gentlemen whose names had been mentioned as likely to te proposed as candidates he considered, and he believed that most of those present would agree with him, that Capt. Kenny was the best qualified to be their represntative. They had already heard Capt. Kenny’s opinions on the principal questions of the day, and those opinions were probably in accordance with their own. Capt. Kenny was possessed of considerable property in the district, and his interests were, therefore, the same as their own ; he had talent which would be useful to them in the House of Representatives ; and might be relied on faithfully to exert himself in support of the interests of the electors. Mr John Walker seconded the nomination of Capt. Kenny. Mr John Godfrey was proposed by Mr Heins, and seconded by Air W. Overend. No other candidates being proposed, the Returning Officer called upon Capt. Kenny to address the electors. Capt. Kenny said his proposer had spoken of him in terms so flattering as to render it superfluous for him to say anything on his own behalf; and his political opinions were so well known, that it would be needless for him to detain the electors by enlarging on them on that occasion. He had offered himself for the vacant seat in the House of Representatives for this district, in which he was so deeply interested, feeling that, although in the present crisis they wanted the best men, no better offering, it became a duty to place his services at their disposal. He hoped that earnestness of purpose in a measure compensating for lack of ability, he should be enabled to be of some service to the country —a country which he had made his home, and with whose future their fortunes, and those of their children were so intimately connected. He would only repeat his conviction of the necessity for immediate and thorough reform—in Taxation, a considerable reduction in amount of revenue raised, and a fairer mode of raising it ; in Government, an efficient and inexpensive machinery, combining the strength of unity with the principle of Local Self-Government. Mr Godfrey said there was only one part of Capt. Kenny’s speech he objected to, which was that no better man had come forward than himself. He did not think that Capt. Kenny was a better man than he was. He alluded to an article in the last issue of the Press, the way in which Mr Adams had held back his resignation, and the manner in which Capt. Kenny had come forward. The other intended candidate (Dr Sickler) had not been nominated, and he supposed some influence had been brought to bear to induce him to withdraw. He (Mr G.) came forward against class-legislation. There was not an act passed by the Assembly that he could put his hand on and say it was a liberal measure ; and never would be as long as the House of Representatives was comprised of monied men. He came there as the representative of the laboring men. and he knew by whom he should be supported and by whom opposed ; but would watch and guard the interests of the working men in this district. He was for remodeling the present system of government, and an advocate for local management. Was in favor of a change being made in the amount of taxation and the mode of raising it—this country at the present time being heavier taxed than any other ; and believed in less indirect and more direct taxation, as the working man with a family paid now nearly as much as the wealthy man. He would support a Property and Income Tax ; and considered that retrenchment was absolutely necessary. He referred to a lecture on Taxation given by a Mr Lusk, at Auckland, and published in the Nelson Examiner of June 2 ; and advised all who had not done so to read it, as he believed it to be the best exposition of the subject he had ever read, and from which he made one or two quotations. He considered one-half the officials now employed by the General Government would be sufficient to do the work required ; and believed in few but efficient-officers and well paid. He was favorable to Vote by Ballot, as the working man would be more at liberty. As to the railway scheme, he thought that, if they succeeded in the proposed alteration in the system of government, a probability still existed of their being able to carry it out, and hoped it would not be lost sight of. He thought Capt. Kenny belonged to the wrong class to act independently, and that he would be influenced by his friends in the House. He said that Captain Kenny was rather shy in pledging himself on any question ; but he (Mr G.) was prepared to give his decision at once on any subject. He spoke of the manner in which monied men managed elections, and as such Capt. Kenny had been able to canvass well, and with the influence of others obtain a large amount of support; but he did not think they would find Capt. Kenny the best to represent the district. He would answer any questions. Capt. Kenny claimed the permission of the Returning Officer to allow him to refute a charge brought against him by Mr Godfrey. Mr Godfrey, he said, had charged him with being closeted with Dr Sickler. As that gentleman was present he would call upon him to state whether any pressure had.been brought to bear to influence him to withdraw. Dr Sickler denied that such was the case. He had withdrawn as he considered he had but a slight chance. It was of his own free will to retire, and no person had influenced him. The Returning Officer called for a Show of hands, when the numbers were— Captain Kenny . . 17 Mr Godfrey . . . 2 Mr Godfrey did not think it worth while to demand a poll. If the three had stood possibly he would have done so. The Returning Officer then declared Courtenay William Aylmer Thomas Kenny, Esq., of Queen Charlotte Sound, duly elected as member ot the House of Representatives for the District of Picton. Capt. Kenny thanked the electors for the honer done him, and hoped that, as their representative, he should prove Mr Godfrey a false prophet. A vote of thanks to the Returning Officer concluded the proceedings.