WELLINGTON BY-ELECTION.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXX, Issue 3789, 11 July 1899, Page 3

WELLINGTON BY-ELECTION.

MR JOHN HUTCHESON’S ADDRESS,

A LIVELY MEETING

Mr John Hutcheson, ex-senior memoer for the city, whose resignation as a member of the House of Representatives has necessitated the holding of a by-election, addressed a, meeting at the Opera House last night. The building was crowded in. every part. Mr R. Mackenzie, president ot the Trades and uabour Council, occupied the chair, and there was a considerable number of electors, principally ladies, on tho stage. Mr Hutcheson, who was warmly receivcd, after expressing his gratification a I. the size of the audience and at tho obvious fact that very many citizens were desirous of hearing what he had to say before condemning him, proceeded to justify his recent political actions. lie said ho hoped Mr Seddon would pursue in furtherance of Mr Jellicoos electron tho time-honoured practice ho had 10.iowed in connection with his other proteges, and come on to the public platform to support tbit gentleman’s candidatuio. (A voice: He helped you to get ln -) “ That remark is quite untrue, retorted Mr Hutcheson, “for I told my people that if he brought his bulky presence to my meetings I would leave.’ The I rotaier had stated that but little inteiest would bo taken in tho election, and that live or six thousand persons would be struck olf the rolls for nob voting. Ho would ask them whether that was to bo the case? (Cries of “No.”) Mr Seclcion had also stated that the speaker had leagued himself with tho Opposite <i. After disorder occasioned by tho unseemly conduct of a woman in the dress circle had subsided, M.r Hutcheson went on to say that lie defied anyone to prove that ho had over said an apologetic word for tho Opposition. But ho had earned tho respect of the men on that side by tho reasonableness with which he approached important subjects. What no wanted to do, though, was to crush “the gilded calf with feet of clay"; to show the public the hollowness of our present administrative system. Ho wisned to reveal to thorn tho kind of graven images they were bowing down to and worshipT?io bogey-man of Mr Seddon. had always been tho “Opposition.” (A voice; “You are the biggest bogey-man in the country,” and laughter.) But the whole aim and object of parties was to keep office. Never yet’, however, had a single instance occurred in which the present Government had staked its existence on any high principle. No labour or progressive measure was over for one moment allowed to menace tho existence of tho Seddon Ministry, tnough matters arising from personal pique had often been made an engine for rounding up a selfish following. Ho would ask how much labour legislation, how much progressive social legislation there had been since John Ballance died and W. P. Reeves went to London? Very little. Parties in Parliament wore now' so hopelessly jumbled that really • the name “Liberal” or “Conservative”, had no significance. Thp terms hero were merely artificial. From his own personal experience he qould say without fear of hesitation that there were men among the Opposition in Now Zealand who were as earnest and broad-minded as any on the Government side—(applause and dissent) —and, moreover, he could pick as good specimens of sun-dried, fast-coloured, Tories from the great Liberal following as bver a man would see in his life. "The story of his fall from grace could, said Mr Hutcheson, soon be told. At first—in 1896—h0 thought Ministers were at least the brilliant men, the able men of the House. But they weye not, though ho would admit that the leader of politics was iiead and shoulders above his fellows. The leader of politics, however, did not want rivals, and therefore he chose men who were noted for inefficiency and general , uselessness. On getting into close contact with the Ministry his (Mr Hutcheson’s) experience had been one of woeful disillusionment, particularly in regard to too Minister of Public Works and tho Minister of Defence—who were weak, incapable, and narrow-minded. The speaker proceeded to quote instances in which those gen tlomen had undeniably displayed the attributes to which he had referred. He made special reference to the Sathonej murder at Blenheim, and to the co-opera-tive works. At the last general election he had been taunted with being a coward because he didn’t come out to fight for his side. Mr Hutcheson was entering on to a discussion of this question when a “Mr Moroney, of the Workers’ Union,” caused some diversion by putting a questionMuch uproar then took place of a generally good-humoured character, amid which tho candidate made himself heard at intervals regarding the “marine scandals.'* Tho real point at issue, he said v. as whether or not there had been Ministerial interference in connection with examinations for masters’ and mates’ certificates. He had never directly accused them of such action, btit the evidence given before the Court lent colour to the suspicion that, there had been such inter fcrence.

The vote he had given in Parliament was a protest against' the gagging of the representatives of tho people and an assertion of his own' manhood. The speaker's remarks were at this stage subjected to considerable interruption. A man was ejected from tho pit. Another individual who stood on a seat at the back of the stalls, and thus commanded an extensive view, brandished a ginger-beei bottle, from which ho took occasional gulps. This, of course, distracted the audience, and so exasperated Mr F. Pirnni, M.H.R., that he jumped off the stage, and, crushing through the, people, took up an aggressive attitude near the disturber of the peace. This manoeuvre heightened the general gaiety, which for tho remainder of the evening kept at a iii-'i level. Through an incessant din of voices, Mr Hutcheson was heard asking whether, after all that 'had occurred, they could wonder that he was now not so much dazzled with tho glitter of tho Liberal Ministry as he had been before? The present system of political patronage and influence was drugging the manhood and womanhood of the colony. It was making men and women believe the only way to make a living was through the gift of a paltry member of Parliament —a creature of the moment, a thing of their own creation. Amidst comparative quiet, Mr Hutcheson went on to explain that the reason for there being no Eight Hours Bill on the statute book was the persistent refusal of the Government to include State servants and employees within its scope. He was of opinion that labour measures could no longer be defended, if, first and foremost, Government servants wore not granted the same privileges as outsiders. Mr Hutcheson again reverted to the marine scandal, and recounted at length the proceedings of last week in, Parliament, assorting that the result had been to give the Administration a “knock between wind and water elsewhere than in Wellington.” For that reason he wanted it to be a merrv election, and a noisy one if they liked, for when, the numbers went up—(A voice: And you'll bo on top. Jack) —it would have an effect on other electorates. Mr HallJones had accused him of being the bitterest enemy to seamen in New Zealand, and . . , „ ,

.An auditor here interjected, “Sn you are.” and received the renly that “ If you said that to a sailor’s donkey it would kick your brains out.” This led to further interruption, during which an un-

looked-for incident took place. M> Pirani was observed in the crowded stalls struggling violently with some individual—presumably he of the gmgor-bc.T bottle —and amidst a perfect pandemonium of cheers, hoots and yells, the member for Palmerston slowly dragged ii;y captive by tho neck to the orchestra ;'eil; into which he unceremoniously flung lam. ihis was such a reversal of nre-con-ceived notions regarding the diminutive Parliamentarian, that it worked the audience into a state of the wildest excitement. Tho chairman called for order, and Mr Hutcheson strove to make himself audible, but all to no purpose. -lr Pirani had meanwhile gone retina to the back of the stage, and on coming forward to take his seat the noise Irom the front of the house became ticaK-mug. After about ten minutes of abso.uto riot the gathering subsided, ana Mr Hutcheson, raising his voice to me highest key, said ; —“I would have oeen disappointed to have had a quiet meeting to-night. This is the sincerest kind of flattery. Dp you say there i- no issue? The issue is the very existence of the Premier of this ;ountry. Wo can now see tho kind of forces wo have to fight. Tho effect of this election will make itself felt throughout the length and breadth of New Zealand. Tho forces are armed—thev arc here to bo seen—and I am glad 1 am going to have a go for my money, I don’t consider my own return to politics of tho slightest importance, and do not desire that anyone should be hooussed into voting for me. it has been said that I am going to aby myself with this party and that party, but tho only party I shall ally myself with is the party sworn to kill party. In the meantime I shall heartily cooperate with that little band of men who have more pluck to the square inch, both physical and moral, than any other party in the House. (Applause.) 1 mean the Left Wing. 1 have no fear of the result. Whatever party comes into power must be a party of progress. The people have gained a knowledge in the last decade that they can never unlearn—they liav6 learned to progress. No party will now bo allowed to mark-time, or to go backward; it must go forward. Bcfoio the people can look after their own destinies they must resume some ot their own power, and curtail tho power of politicians and Ministers. It will be a bad day for tho democracy of New Zealand when they yield all their power and are content to got a beggar’s dole instead of that which belongs to them—instead of their birth”*“Th6 one thing we are indebted to Mr Seddon for is that more than any man ho has brought nearer the day when party government shall no longer be tolerated. He has used all his influence to barricade himself and to make his position impregnable—he is on your back now, like tho old man ot the sea, and you cannot shako him off. - ■ • You may howl. The greater difficulty there will be for the great chief to repudiate his connection with you. He said there would bo no interest in the election, but this very meeting gives the lie to that. I want him to put his shoulder to the wheel. I want to'see him come out on the platform with all his fuglemen and pimps, so that either ot two things may happen: either I go down for ever a beaten man —( No, no,” and ironical cheers) —or when I go into the House—(disorder)— he will not be able to point a finger at me and say I am there through his help. Mr Seddon is perfectly ruthless in his methods. ... He feels bad about this, but he will feel worse when tho election is over. When the general elections come I feel sure no spineless,' sycophantic Government puppet will bo returned for the constituency.” Mr Hutcheson, then resumed h»s seat amidst applause and groans. Replying to questions, he said;-—That unless he had voted against the Government he would have had no issue to put before the electors; that ho was a staunch believer in the referendum; that he had been true to the party he promised allegiance to—the people and principles: that all his' utterances were on record, and that he clefied anyone to find any wavering in his votes. Mr MacLaren came forward and proposed the following resolution: —“Thai this meeting has confidence in Mr John Hutcheson as a. representative of tho people, and pledges itself to do its utmost to secure his return to Parliament as a token ot its belief that through Ins manly conduct and his refusals to sacrifice principle to party ho has materially promoted purity of administration, combined with true Liberal principles.’ The motion was road in the midst; of violent disorder, and it is doubtful if even a fractional part of the audience miuerstood its purport. 'lt was seconded by Mi-S Tattle and declared earned amiust cheers. Mr Knight, who wished to tiropose an amendment, was ruled out of order, and contented himself with making pantomimic gestures from the footlights.