THE REES-CADMAN CONTEST.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 9257, 20 July 1893, Page 6

THE REES-CADMAN CONTEST.

MR. REES AT ST. JAMES'S HALL.

AN ENTHUSIASTIC MEETING. There was a very largo attondance at St. James's Hall last night, when Mr. W. L. Rocs addressod the electors of Auckland City. Each person on entering was supplied with an ironical leaflet and cartoon entitled " Philanthropic William," in which the doctors were represented as a flock of gee.so. At eight o'clock Mr. Roes stepped on to the platform, his advent being the signal for loud and prolonged cheering. Mr. Thomas Gee presided, and briefly introduced the speaker. Amongst those who occupied seats upon the platform wore:—Messrs. G. Kont (Mayor of Newmarket), C. S. Wright, Holloway, J. \V. Jones, .lames Adams, R. J. Duncan, J. McLachlan, and others. In the body of the hall were men of every shade of political opinion. With the exception of a few interruptions on the part of some youths at the back of the hall, the meeting was an unusually orderly ono, Mr. Rees being accorded a fair hearing throughout. He spoke for about an hour and a-half, during which time ho appeared to carry almost the entire audience with him, boing frequently and very heartily applauded. Mr. Rkks, who on rising to speak, was loudly cheered, said that it was impossible in one addross to traverse the whole ground which he had to tread—to bring forward the whole of the reasons and the arguments, so as to enable them to come to a right understanding upon the questions at issue. He intended that night to confine himself to the explanation of two matters : (1) The purchase of the Umutaoroa block by Messrs. Smith and Guelman, and the circumstances connected therewith ; and ('J) theroasons which induced him to come onco more before the Auckland electorate.

THE UMUTAOROA BLOCK. In 1870 tho Government of tho day purchased a largo tract of land in tho neighbourhood of Danevirke from the natives. According to the conditions the natives wero to be left with certain inalienable reserves, and ono of these reserves was the Umutaoroa block of 5000 acres. The block was now worth between £110,000 and £40,000, part of it being within a stone's throw from the Danevirke railway station, and tho railway ran through ono cornor of it. Messrs. Cadman and Smith wore at present selling at prices varying from £5 to £20 an acre. The block had been subleased to certain sawmillcis at. royalties which returned Messrs. Cadman and Smith about £1000 a-year. The Rungitare tribe claimed in 1889 to have a share in the land as beneficiaries as well as the ten natives who were practically only trustees. Their claim was not allowed by the Court.

THE LAND ALLOWED TO BE SOLD. An effort was then made to have the restrictions removed in order that the land might bo sold. This was done by Mr. Miteholson, but he had afterwards slat xl that hail lie known that certain Europeans were moving bohin 1 the natives he would have made further inquiries. In JbS)l the Kangitare natives again applied to have their rights to a share in the land. In that year the present Government took office, and Messrs. Cadman and Smith instructed solicitors to oppose the claim of the Rangitares, and again they were shut out. Did a man in the position of Native Minister act rightly in taking steps to prevent the natives from holding those very lands which had originally been sot apart as their inalienable reserves? (Cries of "No" and " Shame.')

HOW THE SHAKES WERE SECURED. Mr. Rees then referred to the manner in which the present owners bad acquired their shares in the block, and stated tint, the ten native trustees wore well aware that the tribe would again and again press their claims, and were therefore much inclined to sell. In addition to this the Native Department had about this time stated that native lauds should be taxed.

MB. RKES AND THE COVJ'.RNMKNT. It had been said that lie, Air. Kces, was making an onslaught on tho Government. (A Voice: So you are.) There was no one in the House that had dared to say that the Government had been mixed up in the matter. He had definitely separated Mr. (adman from tho Government. It had also been said that as a party man lie should not have attacked one of his own side. Was till principle, he would ask, to be thrown to the winds for the sake of party! (Load cheers.) He had done his duty, ho had served his party well by selecting out certain wrong-doers from amongst them. (Cheers.) ANOTIIKK VII.W. Had a member of the Opposition brought the charges would he have distinguish >d bubo wen an individual Minister and the Government? He would not. Ho would .have charged the whole Government with the transaction. For many years no Native Minister had any dealings in native hinds ; but now the charge was that this thing had been done by one of their own Liberal Ministry. He (Mr. Roes) had done good service to the State and to his party in making the exposure. (Loud Cheers.)

NIK I'HIClv PAID. The land was purchased for between £400') and £5000 for the fee simple, and the owners had received about £7000 for the timber rights alone. In fact, they pot the land and about £.'!()00 for nothing. The very land which a Government department had at one time sot aside as an inalienable Native reserve, had now become the private property of the head of that department. The public of New Zealand would never be satisfied until ono of two things happened : Either that the land should be revested in the natives, to whom it really belonged under treaty : or that it should bo taken over, being purchased by a Minister of the Government, by the people of New Zealand as secured on their account.

Till: ciiallksok. Mr. Ileos then referred to the scene in the House which led to his acceptance of the challenge to contest the Auckland seat, and said that he was taken by surprise. He afterwards discovered that the whole proceeding had been a pre-arranged affair.

NOT A PARTY CONTEST. Mr. Seddon had declared that the contest would not be looked upon as a party one; but that the two, both members of the saino party, should come before that great constituency, and tight the question out between them. In accepting the challenge he had perhaps acted hurriedly, but it was easy to be wise after the event. However, alter mature consideration, he had come to the conclusion that what ho had done was the bet for the people of New Zealand. Ho had not regretted his action. The force of public opinion had compelled Mr. Cadman to resign his seat in the House and the Ministry ; but it had been pointed out that he (Mr. Roes) was not in any way called upon to resign.

Tl. : INTERESTS OF AUCKLAND. ft was Slid that ho had neglected tho interests of Auckland, but he contended that ho had done great service to Auckland in drawing attention to the action of tho Native Minister. Tho interests of Auckland were in good keeping. Mr. Sliera was doing his duty manfully, and had of late taken up a very influential position in the House.

THE APPEAL TO THE PEOPLE. Ho (Mr. Rees) believed it was Mr. Cadman's duty to have gone to the Thames, the constituency to whom ho was responsible ; bub he had chosen to appeal to his (Mr. Roes'a) own people. He (Mr. Roes) believed that in certain cases an appeal to the peoplo, as was provided for by the Swiss Referendum, was an admirable thing, especially in cases where parties wore so evenly divided that a few hangers-on decided the matter. However, he- believed that the matter would again be brought before tho House, and if lie was sent back to Wellington it would be. (Loud and prolonged applause.) A FALSE ISSUE. In this contest an attempt was being made to draw a false issue across tho scent. Ho challenged any man in New Zealand to bring a specific charge against him such as ho had brought against Mr. Cadman. it was easy to make general charges. At any rate, in the present case tho question was not whether ho was equally culpablo with Mr. (Jadman, but whether they as a people were prepared to endorse the action of tho Native Minister. It was Mr. Cadman who had made the appeal, and lie thereby had practically said that he would make hi- innocence so plain that tho people of Auckland would put him (Mr. Rees) away as having clone wrong, and accept Mi. Cadman in his place as having done right. (Applause and laughter.) "THEY ALL do it."

Was the people of New Zealand prepared to say that the head of a public department wag right in using his position in the Go-

vornmont for the benefib of himself as against the interests of the people of New Zealand ? If ib was right in the case of a Native Minister, would it not be right in the case of any other Minister or head of a Government department. (A Voice: "They all do it.") Mr. Rees said they did not all do ib. (Applause and loud laughter.) If they did all do it, let the electors state unmistakably that it should nob be done in tho future. THIS PARLIAMENTARY ENQUIRY. If Mr. Cadman went back to Parliament there could bo no Parliamentary enquiry. For Mr. Cadman could say that his action had been endorsed by a great constituency. If, however, ho (Mr. Rees) was returned, and he had but little doubt that he would, ho would see that a full and searching enquiry was made, and tho whole matter set right and straight. NATIVE LAND LEGISLATION. During the last three years only one measure dealing with native lands had beon passed, and tho firsb case tried under it proved it to be a failure. Ho had always urged the importance of sotting native affairs right, and though few Governments had a stronger majority than the present, mainly through tho influence of tho Native Department nothing had been done. Yet Mr. Cadman had dared to come to the people of Auckland and contest the seat with him (Mr. Rees). A UNITED DECLARATION. In the present contest. Liberals and Oppositionists could come together and unite in declaring that no Native Minister should use his influence for his own private advantage. As the HERALD had very clearly put the matter, the solitary question to bo decided by the doctors was whether the head of a groat department should bo allowed to use his power and influence in retarding legislation in order to make his own fortune ? It remained for tho peoplo of Auckland to declare that for all time those in responsible public offices should not use their power for securing their own ends. Tho return of Mr. Cadman would bo a source of danger to the whole State, considering tho important issue involvod. More had been done by tho present public excitement to settle the native question upon a fair and just foundation than all the legislation of tho last 20 years. CONCLUDING REMARKS. With tho people of Auckland rested the verdict whether tho government of their colony should be carried on in a righteous, fair and honourablo manner, or whether corruption and injustice should have a place ? In conclusion, he asked the electors of Auckland to decide righteously and as in the sight of Cod, who had given them the power to judge. (Loud, continued, and enthusiastic cheering.) SOME QUESTIONS. A number of questions were then asked. In answering those, Mr. Rkks stated that, in order for him to secure a verdict, he had to prove every count. If he failed in a single count, the vordict had to go for the plaintiff. THE RESOLUTION*. Mr. Holloway moved", "That this mooting heard Mr. Roes's statement and considered the finding of tho Napier jury, is of opinion that in laying tho charges against Mr. Cadman, Mr. Reus only performed his duty as a representative of the peoplo in Parliament; and that tho omission of Mr. ('adman to apply for a committee of the House to inquire into tho whole matter gives grounds for very strong suspicions that he fears to faco a tribunal which is, under the circumstances, the only body able to clear his character."

Mr. T. W. Jones seconded

Upon tho resolution being pub to the meeting about two-thirds of those present held up their hands in favour of it, whilst about half -a - dozen hands were shown against it. A considerable number did not vote.

A vote of thanks to the chairman terminated the proceedings.

A meeting of Mr. ('adman's supporters was held last evening in the committee rooms, at the corner of Queen and Greystreets. There was a large attendance. Mr. J. J. Holland presided. Mr. J. King, as secretary, presented a list of names of about (it) who had undertaken to act as a committee, and additions were made at the meeting which brought the number up to 101. It was arranged that Mr. Cadtnan should bo proposed by Mr. J. J. Holland and Mr. Adam Porter. Various other dotails were discussed and arranged. Mr. Cadman, on rising, was received with cheers. He said that he had not much to say to them at that meeting. He regretted that, ho had had to come before them. He was bom and reared in Auckland, and all his friends were in Auckland. Ho felt that his character was maligned, and ho had taken his present action for tho purpose fit clearing it. He would go fully into detaiis when ho addressed a public meeting, when the whole matter would be laid before them. Mr. Cadman was thanked for his attendance, and he moved a vote of thanks to the chairman, which was carried.