THE REES-CADMAN CONTEST.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 9269, 3 August 1893, Page 6

THE REES-CADMAN CONTEST.

MR. C ADM AN AT THE PONSONBY UALL. Notwithstanding the very unfavourable state of the weather, there was a very large attendance at the Ponsonby Hall last night, when Mr. A. J. Cad man gave his second address to the electors of Auckland. Considerably beforoeighb o'clock all the seating accommodation in the body of the ball was fully occupied, and by the time 1 the proceedings commenced the gallery and the back of the hall were also well filled. A number of influential citizens occupied seats on the platform. Mr. C. S. Wright occupied the chair, Mr. Cadman being received with applause. Mr. Cadman received a very fair and patient hearing, apart from one or two interruptions. A very persistent disturber of the peace had to bo ejected by the police early in the meotiug, and another after Mr. Cadman had concluded his address, when the disorder was very marked, nearly tho whole of the audience standing on the seats to watch what appeared to be a resort from argument to physical force. With these exceptions the meeting was an orderly one. Mi. Cadman, who was received with applause, said that his object in appearing before the electors was in order that he might vindicate his character from the gross attacks which hail been made upon him, and to give Mr. Kees an opportunity of proving his charges. The question as to the Knights of Labour being under the thumb of Mr. Smith had really nothing to do with the case—(hear, hear)— neither had many othor such matters brought forward by Mr. Kees. Had Mr. Rees shown how lie (the speaker) had manipulated the port folios? (Cries of "Yes," and "No.'')

Had Mr. Kees shown that he had used his position to acquire native lands for himself? (Cries of "Yes," and "No.") A LIVELY SCENE. At this stage of the proceedings .some disturbance took place. A man, who, it is stated, is a member of Mr. Rees' electoral committee, began to make numerous irritating and offensive interruptions, and, after being cautioned, was ejected by the police at the request of he chairman. However, befoie the tumult which his removal had occasioned had entirely subsided, he rushed in again by another door. Amid considerable excitement he threw off his coat, patted Mr. Cadman menacingly on the back, and commenced sparring up either to the speaker or to the audience. He was once more removed before anything serious occurred, tho chairman explaining amid cheers that the unruly member was not a resident of Ponsonby. MR. kees's ATi'lTl'liK. Mr. Cadman then proceeded to state that Mr. Roes had lately shitted his ground to a great extent. It now seemed that ho did not contend that he, Mr. Cadman, had acquired native lands for himself, but that he had simply lent his name and money to another, in order to enable that other to purchase tho land in question. He referred to certain statements made by Mr. Kees, as to the number of Native Kills introduced by

him, and said that that gentleman had at first contended that he (Mr. Cadman) had only introduced one during his term of office, and afterwards, when forced to admit that the number was 14, explained himself by saying that they were trumpery Acts. Mr. Kees deserved to be called the Auckland Ueorgo Washington. (Laughter.) THK CMI'TAOKOA BLOCK. Mr. Cadman then proceeded to refer to the manner in which Mr. Reos had compared his (Mr. Caiman's) statements at the trial with his statements at the City Hall. Ho (Mr. Cadman) still contended that he had never whilst Native Minister purchased native land- for himself or for anyone else. (Cheers). He went on to refer to the acquisition of the Umataoroa block. When he became Native Minister he told Mr. Smith that ho would purchase no more native lands. However, Mr. Smith could not go on, and could not fulfil a promise to his constituents, without his help, so it was agreed that Mr. Smith should have tho use of their joint banking account to proceed with the acquisition of the block. (Cries of "Oh," and laughter). He himself had no hand in acquiring the land, and had neither seen the cheques nor interviewed the natives. (Cheers.) It was true that the land still stood in the name of Cadman and Smith, but if Mr. ."Smith died the next day, lie (Mr. Cadman) would have no claim upon the lands bought up by Mr. Smith, since he had become Native Minister. (Cheers.) Although the whole block was in their joint names, ho only owned three-twentieths, and Mr. Smith was the owner of theseventeen-twentieths. (Cheers.) As to the question of secrecy, he did not see why what was simply a business arrangement should have been proclaimed from the housetops. (Loud cheers.) Ml'.. RKES AND MR. BALLANCK.

As to tho letter from Mr. Ballance exhibited by Mr. Rees, to show that, the late Premier was in general sympathy with his proposals in the direction of native land legislation —as far as he, Mr. C'adman, know Mr. Ballance was by no moans generally in accord with Mr. Rees in native matters. Mr, Ballance was not in accordance with Mr. Rees in the proposal to allow the natives to give titles, and in other of hat gentleman's suggestion. The letter did not bear the weight played upon it by Mr. Ret*. Mr. Ballance had often told him, Mr. Cad man, to beware of Mr. Rees and to keep him. at arm's length as much as possible. SOME PERSONAL MATTERS. Mr. C'adman then proceeded to refer to bis business dealing* with Mr. Rees, some of his statements being received with applause and some hissing being at times clearly distinguishable, lie also dealt with the connection of Mr. Koch and Wi Fere with the East Coast Land Company. Mr. Rees, lie said, wanted to borrow money on behalf of Wi I'ere upon land in which the latter was only interested in conjunction with many others. The application was refused, and he (Mr. C'adman) had got into bad odour with Mr. Rees in consequence. Mr. Cadman then read from Hansard with reference to Mr. Rees's action in wanting the restrictions to be removed from certain native lands. (A voice : Is that Mr. Smith's speech?) That is from Mr. Smith's speech. (Laughter.) Mr. Rees had, he went on, persistently urged the appointment of native boards, which would give him a chance of securing a salary of £1230 a-year and the status of a Supreme Court judge, with two colleagues receiving a salary of £1000 a-year each. (Cheers.) There was never a more persistent billethunter than Mr. Rees.

THE MOTIVES OF MR. KKES. Mr. Cadman then went on to refer to matters in which he had opposed the schemes of Mr. Rees. lie said that many of them were little matters, for which he (Mr. Cadman) had to pay the penalty later on. These were matters that had been behind the scenes. Mr. Rees said that Mr. Ballance had offered him a portfolio, but it was a funny thing that nothing had been hear of this until Mr. Ballance was in his grave. Mr. Ballance had stated that Mr. Rees would wreck any Ministry.

WHY HE CAME TO AUCKLAND. Then it had been said, why did ho (Mr. Cad man) come to Auckland? He belonged to the province of Auckland, and he had as much right to contest a seat here as anyone else ; quite as much right as Mr. flees, for he was after all a resident of Napier. It had also been asked what had he done for Auckland ? Well he did not boast of doing anything for Auckland especially, but he could lay claim to a fair share of credit for the measures carried by the present Government. What on the other hand had Mr. Kees done ? (A voice: lie has done nothing.) MR. REES AND THE NATIVES. Mr. Cadinan then reverted to the East Coast Land Company once more, and also to the cooperative butchery schema. The next subjects dealt with was the attack made upon Mr. Smith by Mr. Kees, and Mr. Kees' transaction in connection with native lands. Mr. Cadinan quoted from Mr. Smith's .speech in the House, and from Mr. Kees' explanation. He produced a telegram from Mr. Seddon which wont to show that Mr. Rces' statement that certain lands acquired by him had been revested in Wi Pore with the consent of his mother was incorrect. He then quoted from the schedule of Air. Kees in connection with his bankruptcy, showing that certain native lands wero mentioned thorein. Had these been simply held in trust, they would never have appeared in the schedule. However, could a man who held nearly 1500 shares in the East Coast Land Company, of which he was the managing director* say tJM ho lyicl no

dealings in native lands? (Cheers.) Ho had nothing to say against Mr. Rees's dealings in these lands, nor did he say that he had done anything'dishonosb in this matter. (Cheers.) Still it was quite clear that Mr. Rees had dealings in native lands. Tho Mullins correspondence was then dealt with, Mr. Cadman saying that tho point in the whole thing was whether Mr. Keos could give land at JCI an acre to Midline less than to other people, after it had been handed over to tho Crown. This Mr. Keos certainly offered to do. CONCLUSION. They had heard his (Mr. Ciulman's) caso, and had heard tho caso of Mr. ReeiL also. It was for them to decide on the election day which of tho two they would believe. (Loud cheers.) QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS. In answer to questions, .Mr. Cadman reiterated that he had no dealings in native lands whilst Native Minister. After Mr. Smith had paid off tho mortgages and other charges, theseventeeu-twontieths would be his own property. He was in favour of the Direct Veto. The question whether he was in favour of Government grants to Catholic schools, created considerable uproar. He said he was nob in favour of anything that would tend to interfere with our present system of education in any shape or form. If it was necessary for him to sign a transfer for tho sale of 10 acres of the Cmutaoroa block, he would havo no hesitation in doing so. , The question as to his again joining with Mr. Smith lay entirely with Mr. Smith. The arrangement originally was that at the end of three months, it being at the time considered that the Government ' would be out of office before that, he could join again with Mr. Smith; but the Government did not go out as anticipated, and that arrangement was no longer binding. The joint banking account of Messrs. Cadman and Smith was opened just after the present Government took otlico. Ho stated at the trial that Mr. Smith was unable to go on with the purchases without his assistance. Ho could nob remember exactly whether the Chief Justice had stated that, he was at least indirectly interested in all tho land purchased while he was Native Minister, as he was at times away from the Court. (Loud cries of "Oh.") However, he did not wish to shirk any responsibility, and he would say that if the arrangement that ho could como in at the end of tlired months meant that he was interested, it was to that extent and nothing more.

The Chairman here thanked the meeting for the fair ami impartial hearing given to Mr. Cadman ; but almost immediately afterwards an uproar commenced that ended in an eviction. THE RESOLUTION'S. Mr. Ti.-DKitorK moved, "That this meeting accords -Mr. Cadman its hearty thanks for the maoly, straightforward, and truthful way in which ho has given his address and answered the questions." (Cheers.) Mr. Tudehope proceeded hi speak to the resolution, but had not gone far before the audience became impatient. Mr. Cheal seconded ; his speech also beini: cut short by the uproar. Tho motion was thou put, and declared to be carried. About half as many hands as were held up for the motion were shown against it.

Before the meeting dispersed a gentleman stopped on to the platform, and stated that he had invested ill) in the Co-operative Butchery scheme. He had also been a director. (Laughter, and cries of "Order.") He then said : "I say right here that Mr. Kees never handled one penny of the money, because he did not get the chance —(laughter)—and ho was in no way responsible for the failure of the company.' (Cheers.)

As the meeting terminated enthusiastic cheers were given for Mr. Cadman, and some cheering for Mr. Kees was also indulged in.

To-night Mr. Rees will make his final address to the electors at the City Hall. The dress circle will be specially reserved for ladies and their escorts ; admission by ticket up to half-past seven, which can be obtained from the hon. sec. or any member of the committee. Ticket-holders are notified that tho seats cannot be reserved after above hour, and the pit and stalls will be thrown open to the public after that tim". The topics to be dealt with are notified in our advertising columns.

Mr. Rees' committee will meet to-day at three o'clock, at the central committee rooms, Queen street, to make final arrange meats.