THE GENERAL ELECTIONS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1290, 19 November 1896, Page 31

THE GENERAL ELECTIONS.

LIBERAL ELECTORAL LEAGUE. LAST WEEK’S BALLOT FOR TWO LIBERAL CANDIDATES.

MESSRS GEORGE FISHER AND C WILSON SELECTED.

1 ifieeGfig of the Liberal Electoral tieagu.s was held in Thomas’ Hall last week for the purpose of selecting two Liberal candidates to contest the city. There was a very large attendance, and a large number of the Women’s Social and Political League occupied seats on the stage. The five candidates whose names were submitted to the meeting were : Messrs George Fisher, E. J. LeGrove, W. McLean, H. J. Williams and Charles Wilsotl.

Mr John Toiifig, Who bCctipied the chair, said tha Iheatihg had been called for the Jhlrpose of selecting two candidates to contest the city in the Liberal interest. He hoped each of the speakers would get a fair and impartial hearing. lor the Sake of economising time, it had been decided that questions would not be permitted to be asked. Plumping would not De allowed, as it was necessary to get an expression of opinion regarding two candidates, not one. Mr Geoige Fisher was the first speaker, his appeai’ance being the signal for applause. He said that long before there was any movement in connection with the Liberal Electoral League he had made up his mind as to the course ho intended to pursue. After it had become known that he had intended tro support the GovernmCht he waited for h time to get an invitation from the League, but it was only a few days ago that he had been asked to attend a meeting of the executive. There was an impression in the minds of a few persons that he was attempting to foist himself on the League, but if that was likely to interfere in any way with the League he was prepared to stand out and contest the election Ofl his own account. He next referred to the support accorded by him to the late Mr Ballance during the Stout-Vogel Government, but he got tired of supportihg a Ministry in which the Colonial Treasurer had precedence over the Premier. He condemned the purchase of the district railways, which v r ere a considerable loss to the Colony, and had strongly opposed the transaction. lie explained the circumstances which led to his severance from the Liberal Party after the election of 1890. He had been on probation since 1893, but the probation officer had reported favourably. (Laughter.) Since this he had closely studied the politics of the Colony, and he believed that if the Opposition came into power, Sir Robert Stout would be Premier. He would not sit at the same side of the House with Sir Robert Stout, not that he objected to Sir Robert from a personal point of vi3w. If they wanted a sharp critic of Sir Robert Stout in the House they should return him (Mr Fisher). (Applause.)

Mr E. J. LeGrove said that before he had attained his majority he was a worker in the Liberal cause. One of his first articles published in a newspaper was on behalf of the rights of labour. He read an extract from the platform of a newspaper which he published in Canterbury in 1881, which showed that his Liberalism was not of yesterday. Many of the planks of that platform were law at the present, but then they were considered very much in advance of the time. He had watched the progress of Liberalism for many years, and no true Liberal could refrain from giving an earnest and whole-souled support to the present Government. It would be impossible for any Liberal after reading the Governor’s speech at the opening of the last session to withhold support from the Government. It was contended that they went in for a good deal of experimental legislation in this Colony, but the other colonies were following their example. The Government were putting the people on the land, and they should be supported and encouraged in this course. The people should be encouraged to settle on the land, and every facility afforded them for so doing. (Applause.) He was in favour of the establishment cf State farms, as it would be one of the means of increasing the number of producers, and inducing the people to leave the towns. He did not wish to set class against class. The electors should study the political situation, and do their duty to those who were to come after them. They should assist the Government in their endeavour to develop the resources of the Colony. If they thought that certain changes wore necessary, they should insist upon having them. He ridiculed the cry that progressive laws meant the driving of capital out of the Colony. He regretted there was any necessity for an old age pension scheme, but would support it warmly. He was in favour of a second ballot, and was to submit to the verdict of the meeting. (Applause.) The next speaker was Mr H. J. Williams. Mr Williams said it was necessary to preface his remarks by a personal explanation. It was reported that he was to be the direct nominee of th 6 liquor party, which he emphatically denied. He had resigned his position in connection with the liquor trade in order to place his services at the disposal of the electors of this city. Without the slightest hesitation he said he was opposed to Prohibition. He ridiculed the contention that the liquor trade could not be regulated. If elected as their representative to Parliament, he would be prepared to give an honourable support to the Government, honourable in contradistinction to the action of some members who had heckled the Government at every opportunity. Ho was of opinion that tfre legislation of the present admin*

istration Was liberal and progressive. He said the best indication of the pros* p'efitjr o'f the cotiniry was the many indiistriesi which had found groitfid here. He ccontended that the progressive legislation of the past six years , had done rrfore for the masses than was done iri the 40' Or oV' years previously. Considering the classes of the coiintry had the benefit of legislation for many years prior to 1890, it was only fair .that the niasses should have the benefit of legislation of recent years. He maintained that the Government were entitled to a large measure of credit for the manner in which it had assisted the mining industry in the Auckland district. The Government had contributed very largely to the prosperity of the Colony, consequent on the development of the dairy industry. He considered the requisition of the Cheviot estate was a very wise act on the part of the Government, Who deserved Well of the country. The prosperity •which nchv obtained in Otago was largely due to the administration of Mr Seddon. He disagreed . with those who said that the legislation of the j Government was driving away capital, and instanced the repott that millions of French money was about to be sent here for mining enterprise. He warned the electors against making the same mistake that was made at the last election, when 25,489 Liberal electors succeeded only in electing one candidate out of eight, whilst 10,113 Conservatives put in two members. (Applause.) Mr C. Wilson, who was warmly applauded, said he had not sufficient time to deal with the whole of the platform laid down by the F-lectoral League, but would be prepared to accept nearly the whole of the planks contained therein. • He Would not be prepared to support State Fire Insurance until there was some more informatioil regarding it. The great issue before the electors was whether they were to send back to power the party of progress,or replace them by the party of stagnation. He believed in party government, and was a party marl. It was contended that Mr Seddon was autocratic; but then strong characters were always so, and no administration had ever carried out progressive legislation •without having some strong personality to dominate it. The achievements of the present Government were many, and all for the benefit of the masses of the people. The Government had deserved well of the settlers by cheapening money, and by their advances to settlers had relieved many of them from those horrible mortgages. lie instanced a case of a firm of lawyers offering to lend money at 4 and 41 per cent., which was different from the rate some years ago. Instead of capital being driven out, money was pouring into the Colony. If capital was to be sent away from here to the other colonies it •would meet with more difficulties elsewhere. He was totally opposed to the converting of perpetual leases into freehold, and believed that there should be moderately long leases. The Crown should not part with its lands. The Atkinson Government shoved the small settlers on the bare mountain sides, and gave the best lands to the wealth squatters. The labour workers of this Colony owed a deep debt of gratitude to the Hon W. P. Reeves and the present Government for what they had done for them. The Government had honestly tried to make the Factory Act and the Truck Act perfect. It was not fair to say that the Government should find constant work for the worker, but the Government could see that the worker had healthy surroundings. It was an iniquitous action on the part of the Legislative Council to throw out the Friendly Societies Bill. He hopod that if the Legislative Council should repeat the iniquity of last session the time would come when the Council should be taught a lesson. He believed in the co-operative system, but had not time to deal with it. He was not a Prohibitionist, but hated the evils arising from over-in-dulgence in drink, and would have the licensing laws stringently enforced. He was an out - and - out supporter of the present system of education. lie hoped the workers of Wellington would be united, and that they would vote for honest and sincere men. (Applause.) If they were true to themselves they would be able to return three representatives at the general elections. (Applause.)

Mr W. McLean said he was indebted to the Liberal League for being invited to address them that evening. He came forward in 1887 to contest the city in the Liberal interest, because lie considered it was time the people of the Colony should take the administration out of the hands of a few families. He then advocated a liberal land policy. Some years later he, in conjunction with some of the workers of Wellington, drew up a programme in which measures were advocated that were considered to be in advance of their time, but which had since become law r . Whilst he sat in the House he had been true to his principles and pledges, and loyal to the Liberal Party. Out of 285 divisions in the House, he attended 281 of them, which showed that he attended to his duties. He warned the party at the last election against selcctiug Sir Kobert Stout. He believed that if they had more than three candidates they would be defeated, but he hoped they would not. He was prepared to sign a bond that if he were not selected he would retire. As he had been faithful in the past he would be faithful in the future. He was prepared to accept all the planks of the platform of the Liberal Electoral League, but he considered that there had been too many Bills introduced each year. He believed in the principle cf old age pensions. He contended that every man and woman should have a perfect right to a pension after a certain age. Ho had voted straight for the Women’s Franchise Act. He was in favour of providing workmen’s trains, and supported the homes for

workers plank in the Liberal Electoral League platform. He hoped the Liberals of Wellington would gtafid by him, who had advocated Liberal aind progressive measures long before the present Government came into office. (Applause.) If they did not select him as otz'C of the candidates he was prepared to abide by the result. (Applause.) A ballot was then taken, with the following result f Mr George Fisher ... ... Mr Charles Wilson ... ••• 143 Mr E. J. LeGrove ... ■ 127 Mr H. J. William’s 11l Mr W. McLeen ... SS There were 17 informal Votes.•