THE GENERAL ELECTION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIV, Issue 8036, 25 August 1887, Page 6

THE GENERAL ELECTION.

MR. OSBORNE AT EPSOM HALL. ■ At the Epsom Hall last night Mr. S. S. Osborne addressed a fairly well attended meeting of Manukau electors, Mr. Robert Hall being in the chair. Mr. Osborne, who was very well received, repeated his already published views on the various political questions of the day. The necessity for economy and retrenchment was touched upon, and he advocated the return to Parliament of new men to sweep away the political cobwebs. In referring to Mr. Vaile's railway scheme he said he would devote his energies to doing away with differential rating, and would have only one rate for merchandise, one for minerals, one for timber, and one for live stock. If the people wished for an income tax they were welcome to it, bat they would soon get tired of it. He strongly favoured an unimproved land tax, and thought every child in the colony had a right to its share of air, water, and land ; but he did not believe in land nationalisation or the splitting up of land into small portions. They should so tax the land as to prevent speculation in it. He was a protectionist, although he was also a freetrader. He did not love protection, but as they must necessarily have a Customs tariff for a long time to oome they should onl" tax articles that could be produced in the country. After a number of questions had been asked, and satisfactorily answered, a vote of thanks and confidence in Mr. Osborne was proposed and seconded. An amendment of a vote of thanks only was proposed, but was not seconded, and the original motion was carried with loud applause, there being only one dissentient. A vote of thanks to the chairman terminated the meeting.

MR, TOLE AT KINGSLAND. The Hon. Mr. Tole addressed a meeting of the electors of Newton at the Christians' Meeting Home, New North Road, yesterday evening. There was a large attendance, and Mr. Sinclair presided. Mr. Tole referred to his expe ienoe of twelve years' publio life, and hoped that, having retained the confidence of Eden to the last, they would place confidence in him for Newton. It mattered little to him who held the reins of Government so long as they were men of integrity, who would carry out Liberal measures. The speaker defended the Government's policy at some length, and referred to the education vote. The subject of the sinking fund,the remodelling of the tariff, land and income tax, the management of the railways, and the retrenchment question, were spoken of. Mr. Tole discussed at some length the subject of protection, and combated the arguments of freetraders.. In conclusion, he said that a candidate of whom he had spoken in the highest possible terms of respect, had chosen the other evening by a most disingenuous insinuation—whioh was the worst form of insinuation—(hear, hear) —to lead the electors to suppose that he had to do with the striking of names from the electoral roll. (Voices, "no, no.'' and other voices, "He did, he did.") His (Mr. Tole's) impression on reading the newspaper report was, that this was the gist of Mr. Withy's remarks. He would ask whether the report was a correct one? ("It is.") And he maintained that any man of reason and common sense, on reading that report, would assume the meaning which he had taken from the words. (Cheers.) Whether his (Mr. Tole's) name had been mentioned or not, heassured them that the question was beneath any man's notice. Some people might think that he had something to do with the matter(" no, no ")—but he would appeal to his supporters a* to his utter ignorance respecting the roll. He had been assured by his supporters that night that they had not offered a single objection to any name upon the roll. (Cheers.) There might have been some over-zealous or over-smart people— (laughter and cheers) —-at work. Something had been said about Mr. Warnock, but the omission of that gentleman's name had been caused through a clerical error in the transferring of names from one roll to the other. He (Mr. Tole) held his reputation too sacred to be implicated in a matter of this character. When he read the conclusion to the speech he referred to, and the remark of his opponent that he would conduct himself like a gentleman, ho thought the remark came with very bad grace from a man who had spoken in the manner complained of respeotingjhim. He (the speaker) would, however, merely remark, "Evil to him who evil thinks." Mr. Tole then briefly reviewed the various points of Mr. Withy's address, and resumed his seat amidst loud cheering. Some discussion took place as to whether Mr. F. Jeune, who was not an elector of the district, should be allowed to ask ques tions, and on the question being put to the meeting, it was resolved that he be heard. In reply to Mr. Jeune's questions, Mr. Tole said he was enquiring into the facts respecting the administration of loans by the Government Life Insurance Department and the treatment of patients at the Avondale Asylum. Mr. Jeune referred to a paragraph which appeared in the Hervld of that day's issue, stating that the Government had sent home for 100 wire-woven mattresses, instead of giving employment to local manufacturers of these goods, and asked whether that was correct? Mr. Tole: You mustn't believe all that the Herald says. The hon. gentleman promised to inquire into the matter. On the motion of Mr. Paton, seconded by Mr. Sharp, a vote of thanks to, and confidence in, Mr. Tole, was passed with four dissentients, amidst applause. An amendment, "That a vote of thanks be given to Mr. Tole for his able address," was moved by Mr. Dines, and seconded by Mr. Jenkins, and was lost. A vote of thanks was accorded to the chairman, and three cheers were called for Mr. Tole, and given with enthusiasm. Mr. Dines called for three oheers for Mr. Withy, but a chorus of groans, mingled with cheering, was the response.

MR. J. A. CON NELL AT WAIKOMITI. Mr. Connell addressed ft large meeting of the Waikomiti electors in the sohoolhoaae, Waikomiti, last evening. Mr. Hart, chairman of the School Committee, was chosen chairman. Mr. Connell commenced his address by referring to the cause of the present depression, and remarked upou the singular similarity of the views he had lately propounded in regard to the disastrous effects upon the reputation and credit of the colony of the Government policy and attempts at legislation with those set forth in the article published in yesterday's Herald, taken from the Sydney Morning Herald. After disposing of the Government policy, Mr. Connell entered fully into the subject of the proposed imposition of heavy additional protective duties. At the conclusion of the address, Mr. Connell answered a large number of questions. After whioh Mr. Boseworth moved, and Mr. Kennedy seconded, a vote of thanks and confidence in Mr. Connell as their future representative. An amendment for a vote of thanks only was moved by Mr. Parr, seconded by Mr. Murdoch, of Avondale, in a long speech. On the voting being taken, it was found by the Chairman that 16 were for the vote of thanks, and 26 for the vote of thanks and confidence, a result received by the meeting with enthusiasm. A vote of thanks to the chairman concluded the proceedings. During the meeting there was at times a good deal of interruption.

RODNEY. Mr. Jackson Palmer addressed a fair attendance of eleotors at Matakane in the public hall on the 20th instant. Mr. J. G. Carrie was voted to the chair. The main parts of Mr. Palmer's address have already been reported from other centres. He occupied over two hours' in delivery, during which the speaker's aptitude for figures created somewhat of a surprise, the opinion being that it was the best speech yet delivered by any of the candidates. Questions were invited,but none were asked. Mr Joseph Smith moved, "That a vote of thanks and confidence be accorded to Mr. Palmer for his able address. Mr. G. Cruicks..*nk objected to the proposition, and also to Mr. Palmer's strictures on Mr, Moat's public actions as not justified. He therefore moved a vote of thanks, which was passed with ode dissentientthe mover of the first proposition. Mr. Palmer, in acknowledging the vote of thanks, said he was justified in criticising Mr. Moat's public actions, for reasons which he lengthily went into, and reiterated his previous statement that the exigencies of the electorate required a different representation. The usual compliment to the chairman terminated the meeting.[Own Correspondent ] Mr. A. (Jolbeck met the electors of Kaiwaka in the sohoolhouse on Tuesday, August 16 ; Mr. T. W. Dawson in the chair. Mr, Colbeck vigorously applied himself to the discussion of those questions engrossing the public mind, and at the close of a clear and well delivered address got a hearty vole of

thanks. After acknowledging his obligations Mr. Colbeok proposed a vote of'thanks to the chair, whioh was passed.[Own Correspondent.! Mr. A. Colbeok addressed the electors of Pahi, at the hall, on August 24. There were over fifty people present. Mr. Jackmau took the chair. Mr. Colbeck, spoke for about twenty minutes, and stated that he was an independent candidate, in favour of retrenchment, an income and land tax in lieu of a property tax, and a decrease in the number of representatives. In spite of a little sparring with an inimical elector on the education statistics, Mr. Colbeck received a vote of confidence, whioh was carried with cheers by forty seven votes to five. —[A Correspondent,] Mr. Joßiah Hudson addressed the electors in the Aratapu Hall on Saturday, August 20th. There were seventy electors present, and the candidate was well received, much more so than his predecessors here. He stated the issues before the country to be the financial proposals of the Government, inorease of property tax, and increase in customs revenue. The condition of the country he considered very critical. He referred to Major Atkinson's first deficit in 1883, and the increasing deficits ever since. The population of our colony is not increasI ing in the same ratio as those of Victoria I and New South Wales, yet our burdens seem to increase at a greater rate. He read tables showing New Zealand to be the heaviest weighted of the Australasian colo* [ nies, with the exception of Queensland. It was hopeless to expect to draw more from the people; therefore they must lessen their burdens. The amount sent out of the country yearly in the way of interest should be made to bear an income tax, in the same way as those receiving money from home have to pay tax on it. They must retrench. Sir Julius Vogel said £300,000 more taxes were wanted to make ends meet, and he thought they could easily retrench to that amount. He then went through the votes asked for by Sir Julius, and pointed out in what way he thought they could be reduced. Qe was opposed to a reduction in the education system, especially in the primary schools. The speaker went into figures to show the importance of the North Auckland peninsula. In point of acreage it amounted to one twenty-fifth part of the colony, and on the population basis it amounted to onefifteenth of the colony. He then showed clearly that we had not received justice from Parliament. The goldfields members, by combination, were able to get votes from Government more than was given to the whole northern peninsula, yet neither their population nor their acreage were equal to ours. Extracts were then read from Hansard illustrative of the manner in which Southern members spoke of the northern district, and under which I bels the northern peninsula members kept silence. The candidate expressed himself in favour of local option, against the truck system, in favour of the Law Practitioners' Bill, Eight Hours' Bill, and State bank of issue. Several questions were answered satisfactorily on women's suffrage, land settlement, waste land boards, charitable aid, Bellamy's, and others. A hearty vote of thanks was proposed by Mr. Bassett, seconded by Mr. R. Smith, and supported by Mr. Harvey in a neat speech in which he complimented the speaker on his bold utterances on questions which were considerably debateable, and whioh other candidates had left to be drawn out of them, such as temperance. The vote was carried with enthusiasm. — [Own Correspondent, 22nd August )

MR. GEORGE FISHER'S ADDRESS. [By TKLEGKAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.] Wellington, Wednesday. At the Opera Hou -- te-night Mr. George Fiaber addressed a public meeting ; Mr. H. J. Williams, publican, presiding. He referred to education, and said all the credit of the system was due to Charleß Christopher Bowen, and he (Mr. Fisher) would not be one to cripple it. He referred to Dr. Laishley's report on education, and said it was one of the finest compilations he had ever read in his life. 13 e agreed that the revenue received from endowments for Bchool purposes should be made colonial revenue, and those able to pay for secondary education should be made to do so. He was positive that the money for which the Government bad committed the House re village settlements was spent for political purposes, and one of those who had a hand in spending the money was now a candidate for a Northern constituency. Why did not Mr. Ballance inform the House at once of the amount to which he had committed Parliament, instead of allowing the Opposition to drag it forth ? He next referred to the Land Acquisition Bill, and said if it passed tue Legislature it would be one of the most daugerours measures that ever passed Parliament. The land system of New Zealand was complex, and that was the real reason of the system being unpopular, and the reason of small capitalists being presented from taking up holdings in the colony. He would vote for a land tax in preference to a progressive property tax, aud thought we should have no true taxation until we had a land or income tax. A progressive property tax would prevent capital being introduced into the colony. He said to the present Government belonged the unenviable distinction of making Jan effort to reduce the wages of workmen to 6s a day, and he quoted the circular issued by the Government. He referred at length to the Government proposal to impose a duty on tea, etc., in ISBS, and held that the Government, by not resigning when defeated, had confiscated all their political honour. He quoted the recent tariff proposals of the Government, showing that had the duties been imposed working men would have been the sufferers. From this he asked who bad most their interests at heart ? Certainly not the present Government. As showing the overgovernment of the colony, he explained that looking from 1870 the population had increased twofold, while the expenses of the Government had increased fourfold, whereas in his opinion the cost could have been reduced by half. The members of the Government were constantly travelling throughout the colony parading what was the cost of government, but he (Mr. Fisher) could inform them that in the last four years the cost of administration had increased £400,000, and yet the Premier had said that the Estimates could not stand pruning. He blamed the Government for the second session of Parliament, which had cost the colony £30,000. As showing where money was expended, he referred at length to the purchase of district railways, and also the Mines Department, explaining that the cost of the latter had increased from £10,000 in the last few years to £32,693. On the floating of the last loan we had lost £90,090. Referring to the expense in the Native Office, the figures showed that three yaars ago the expenditure was £18,611, while now it was £28,634, showing an increase of £10,000, aud one would think we had quite a native difficulty in hand, whereas the whole department ought to have been abolished. Waste Lands Boards ought to be abolished, and the Crown Laud Commissioners made to do their work. The salary of New Zealand's only General aWo ought to be reduced. He thought we were in this colony creating a class of billet hunters such as they had in America, and the pressure of the ex-political parasites was beooming so great that the Government could not resist it. He.favoured protection, and he was not pandering to any local association in doing so, but had made up his mind after reading Horace Greeley's work on that question. he salaries of civil servants would have to he reduced, and it wan hard on them to have to suffer for a corrupt form of Government. He would not favour borrowing unless necessary, but would not see any works going to rack and ruin for want of the money required for their completion. At the conclusion of his address he received a vote of thanks.

[by telegraph.— correspondents]. COROMANDEL. Paeroa, Wednesday. Mr. James Mackay has received votes of confidence and thanks at each of the following places Waihi on Saturday ; Whangamat a on Monday ; Waitekauri and Owharoa on Tuesday afternoon and evening. He speaks at Te Aroha to-night.

TADEANGA. Tk Aroha, Wednesday. Mr. Gill addressed the electors of Waiorongomai in the Public Hall there last night. Over a hundred persons were present, and Mr. H. MoLiver was called to the chair. The subjects touched upon were much the same as at Te Aroha the previous evening. 'I he address was very faveurably received, and at the close a hearty vote of than';® was unanimously accorded to Mr. Gill. 'I?;* Christohuroh, Wednesday. Sir George Grey addrn»ed a public meeting at Wools ton to night, giving a repetition

of hia Chriatchnrch speech. He received ft vote of thanks. Mr. John Joyce, the Government candidate for Lytfjelton district, addressed the electors of Lyttelton to-night, and received a rote of thanks and confidence, with only two dissentients. Mr. Wright, the Opposition candidate, addressed the Avon electors at Sprbydon, receiving a vote of thanks and confidence by a large majority. Oar Te Awamata correspondent writes : —The up-country attempt to bring out an opposition candidate is not looked npon as really affecting the present contest for Waipa. What the navvies want is to provoke a contest for the sake of expenditure and frolic. It is not expeoted that either Mr. Tole or Mr. Teasdale will make the venture on each shadowy support as that offered. We have reoeived a telegram from Katikati stating that Mr. G. Vesey Stewart is still in London, consequently he will not be a candidate for any„ New Zealand constituency. This is the last day on which persons can qualify themselves to vote at the forthcoming elections, as the writs will be issued tomorrow (Friday). The supplementary rolls are filling op to respectable dimensions.