"THE NEW LIBERALS.”

New Zealand Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 5667, 15 August 1905, Page 5

"THE NEW LIBERALS.”

MEETING IN THE TOWN HAUL, ENTHUSIASTIC RECEPTION. -Ml! FISHER OFFERS TO HEAD AFFIDAVITS. Over Hirco thousand people gathered in tho Town Hail last night to listen to political addresses delivered by Messrs Taylor, Bedford, Laureuson, ami Fisher, Al.H.R.’s. People wore waiting for an entrance to tho big hull as early as six o’clock, ami long before half-past seven the place was packed. One-third of tho andionoo was composed of ladies. Tho speakers wore received with enthusiasm, which found vent in periodical cheering, and there was practically no interruption during the speeches. The chair was occupied hy Air Nicholas Turner, who, in formally opening tho proceedings, said no man had come so prominently to tho front within recent times as Air Fisher had done. From tho Three Kings to Stewart Island there wore two terms now made uso of both in tho press and in .tho household—tho name of “Fisher” and “That voucher,’' to which another name might ho added, that of “Sneddon.” Whatever their opinions , might bo, ho took it. from the temper of tho meeting and tho applause, that they wero without exception in hearty accord with tho spirit of this meeting. (Applause and slight interruption.) .MR TAYLOR, Air Taylor was greeted with tho cry, “Throe obeers for Taylor,” which wero duly given, with equally vociferous counter cheers for tho Premier. “Now,” said Air Taylor, acknowledging the reception, “that’s a really good opening, and after that wo ought to get on pretty well. I haven’t the slightest objection to any man cheering for Air Sodden. I wish sometimes 1 could cheer for him myself, hut ho won’t Jet mo.” (Laughter.) Ho was pleased to sco suoh a largo number of young men in that audience. There was a huger percentage of young men voters present than ho could remember seeing cither in Christchurch or Dunedin, and ho holieved this showed a feeling that was going to play a more important part in tho ensuing election than it had ever done in any previous election. Ho did noli believe they should confine their political education to three or four weeks before an election. but that similar meetings to tho present meeting should bo held throughout the colony cadi year precoding an election. He believed that tho meetings tho Now Liberal party were now holding wore going'to have at least an educational elfoct that the average meetings prior to an election very seldom had. In Dunedin one editor hod declared, that they had no rigid there, and. that they ought to have been in tho House looking after their Parliamentary duties. But ho claimed that they had a perfect right to take advantage of slack time in Parliament, such as the debate on tho Financial Statement, to start a. campaign they had made up their minds to hold prior to tho general election. Tho doctrine laid down by certain newspapers in tho South Island was a dotIrino that every democrat ought to resist most strenuously. No man, whether an editor or anyone else, had any right to toll him whether he should go upon a public platform or not. The newspaper press printed in the British" Empire was probably the fairest in tho world, hut it could he controlled by financial cliques, and its opinions monopolised. In dealing with the politics of the country, he would have to refer to tho Premier, who was right at the front door. They had been- answered by an appeal to emotion—by a teardrop, in. answer to their charges of maladministration —hut between then and the next election he thought that the tear-drop argument would bo greatly . discounted. If the Premier started running round Dio country, tl«tf were going to keep close alongside of him, and he would have to meet fact with fact, and argument with argument, and they did not intend that ho should dodge by a series of clever tricks the impeachment they wero able to make against Ills administration. The New Liberals said that tho people, and not the politicians, should ho the first consideration. Tho ideal should be tho family ideal, keeping away, from class legislation, and that in legislative and administrative work they should try to believe Umt the people of the colony were one family. Tho family ideal in politics was the only sound ideal—tho only ideal that was democratic. He drew a distinction between legislation and administration. The people really were tha legislators. Parliament never initiated. They could only check the quality of tho administration by having a number of public men. in the House with tho courage and ability to challenge tho quality of their Almisters’ administration. Tho New Liberal party had re ccived a great deal of adverse criticism for its action on the last Imprest SUpply Bill, but since then what had been disclosed? , It was now admitted that certain newspapers had received a long report of the Premier’s Pahiatua speech at the public expense. There was ti Press Association in this colony, and every telegram it sent over the wires was paid for. Ho contended, that they would not have a subsidised Government newspaper press in Now Zealand, and that they would not allow partisan reports over their telegraph system without they wore paid for by the newspaper receiving them or tho person sending them. The revenue of the colony was defrauded by the Premier wheri ho used public property without paying for it. In standing up in tho House and trying to stop corruption they ought to receive the thanks of every man and woman in the colony, whose interests they were looking after whilst tho people wero attending to their private business. The misuse of tho wires in regard to the Premier’s Pahiatua speech .was admitted. The “memo.” system had been dreadfully abused. They had proved that charge, and as a result instructions had been sent to tho Telegraph Department during the last fortnight which would largely curtail the faults that wero brought under the notice of the House on July 28th. They claimed that the Premier had no right to charge thirty shillings a day travelling expenses when he was on a holiday trip in the Hinemoa, seeing that ho was iii receipt of his official salary of £I7OO a year. When the Premier came along ho would justify his action by dropping a tear. (Laughter.) Air Houston, a faithful phonograph of the Premier, had said that whilst at Afongonui tho Premier transacted a largo amount of public business ; but calling at Alongonm was like calling at Island- Bay, bo they

r-onM fioi' tin- nl-surflify of it. Tli'.y 1i:k! I'rcut ilillicaltv in cunt wi'li HL' v/iUi 11m. I'iviMi.T, Im-.mm.- I,i, v.'oH co'.M not i)M ti'i.ylfil. Till: ;r,!i Mr S"iM<>.*i took I;p in r-r,:.n,-.-t >..<■ <vi-!: Him nni : mi;.l p„r,M, for nrJiuiMM. uonM do honour to » Uiri'c-Miirl-I rirli man. Tho Ci.v-rn-inortl hod ilono more to .lamri sorialistie MXIMTioiMot, tloHl MOV ( 1 OVI Til IT I- 0 ( tl .O MV, T .lorn . Tiio p01.1.v rem-- v;-- in ■i m!i:io( in vinlo, '1 in- honor qio-.'ion Mill Iv.l ||,o id O iMM'llvd . Kvrrvihino po.'.sil.lc had limmii dono for ‘l,l l o Inulo, ’ and thv I'roma r had put hi a i it'lo' mom i r ls ’ tin- o.'oh d.i tio' i puny ~0 ~l‘ o-oiaom. Yho ffi.-reromdil had, dopm 101 l from Mr Ini 1 !;ij: a land polns , poliov iva- in tho intori-.i- of a ,-la and on in t !,- lldniv.i - ot tin--1.1.0 p!,.. i; il.l. l-.loiivhl credit v.a [.l a 1 ■d Id 1,011(1.111 In older to pivo Minn ■HMriMia a in lif.-, ilnoi ()..• colony ■ad.onld ho .Stahl d to -ire Ihe ~ in Him .‘inms and tire snlnnhs . on ini . : ii.M and pi-ronin. 11l horn. v. Tire ■;,.v nai -ns load lor iho noun lo on and prod oi ion of I la 1 colony's food II duviiioa and to -mm thai cl,il■l ■ n o indn-.ln’i! dio.h nod retell lure It i.-lore .ho.ild Hi,l 1 1 m dealt v. i' h in inn.- a l.nl, should In- dasol mid 1 1 nil Im. I in* I, co; lino, in,ni.o. Tie* mon ho a, a, ‘oMait.l ualli pl.-i.W.-.l for moim r(d in ion,.! reform that n o.ild dcsi roy pnrlv politic.*-: as llav cxiriwl 10-dnv. Three nan v.miv fs-.v'ii, omolrere.. h'll they I'mli ifa y were justified in loahio;,; n (>1 I si. for Iho n-lnrii to the Jlon-o of fn-M area aanl not slaves. .Mi* IIKOKOIU). air Ih'dford started by Udlinp a story of a.n old Smoi eli ivoni in, and some of the Cloud did not take him Korioll.“ly at ill's I. “We wnnl, to hear about the nm*. her,” eii 11, a I somebody. Alter one or hvo mild id erriipi ions, .Mr Medford Toni on hi Wow Air Taylor's nUnek nil i In- admind.t ratio,, of "lire tioverniront. t '.imiiiy to "tile voucher, ” hcsnid ho ‘lumt'iif, every nnn would ii)■f i r v tiio eondnel of-.Mr Fisher. fC'ries of “Mo’ and “Vcs.”) Mr .Fisher iiad ovi'dmnco ilpu 'vent to prove that at lend a suspicions payment wins mado, a in! if lio (Mr fledt'ord) had had the filial avifs of three Civil servants llint that payment, had been made ho would have laken the snno course as Mr Fisher had taken. Tiio member for Dunedin went on to rcTtorate tho eharoe against tiio Premier about the I linemen trip and memo.” telegrams, and charged him with doing things that were not ae-cord-iug to law or common political morality. In order to improve the maladministration ho claimed existed, lie suggested iui elective lax ecu live. There would Siever be good, sound administration until tiio election of Ministers wa.s law. The Degislat ivo Council represented the aspirations and the lust for power of tint Premier. The Council find been degraded, and t iie power to make appointments to it should bo given to the House or tbo country. Ho advocated, on behalf of his party, tho referendum with initiative. When largo petitions wore signed by tho people, as in the case of tho appeal for Pibio-rcading in (schools., it should bo sufficient to set the referendum machinery in motion. At the next election “ tho trade ” would bo thrown 'into tho convulsions of its death agony. After that public opinion would swing round ' and upend tho totalisator. The -New Liberal party had dono a groat deal daring the past few weeks—they bad already got reforms in tho Telegraph Department, and instead nf being blamed they should be looked upon as public benefactors. The great need of tho day was less power to tho Premier and more power to tho ropnoeenlativcs of tho people. MB LAIIRF.NSOX.

Mr Laurenson said they had no quarrel with tho Premief —they recognised Uio groat things ho had done—but they recognised that it was a mistake in a democratic country to keep any man in power too long, lx>cause then a democrat would become an autocrat. Tho America ns had laid this down by refusing to allow* any of their Presidents to hold olßco for more than two terms. After nine or ten years had elapsed, it wtLs time, in tho interests of pure administration and progress, that there should bo a change, and a drastic change. Tho people were at present watching tho birth of a now political force that would bo of great influence in tho colony, Tho party to which he belonged had reformed the Old Age Pensions Act; had stopped abuses in tho Telegraph Department ; had awakened public attention; had held tho biggest political meetings in the polony : had held the rowdiest political mooting? in the colony : had charged .r>no shilling a head for people to come in and hoar dry political speeches, and they had not been able to got a hall big enough to put the- people into; they had four libel notions under way, and they hrtd only been in existence four weeks. In addition, they were going to bo after all those who had not come up to tho expectations of the people. The party was going to advocate that all vouchers of disbursements of public money should bo open to the inspection of members of Parliament. Ho recognised the benefit the working men had received by many laws, but fcho pru** of living had gone up until the working man had a more desperate struggle to keep going than was the case .some years ago. It was high time the Government interfered, so that the man at tho bottom of the ladder might have an easier battle. The bulk of taxation was laid upon tho shoulders of tho people who were least able to carry the weight. Tho Education Department should bavo at its head an enthusiastic. whole-souled man. From beginning to end the department was demanding expressions of discontent, and be and those with him would be traitors if they did not protest with £very fibre in tincir bodies at the sort of Hang that was going on. He appealed to the men and women, particularly the young men and women, to take a heartfelt interest in the coming elections and tho future of th 6 colony. A RESOLIJTION. On the motion of Mr C. Tv. "Wilson, the meeting, by acclamation, carried the following resolution:—‘‘That this mooting is of opinion that tho best interests of tho colony justify the formation of the New Liberal party, and wishes them success during this session and the coming general election.” MR FISHER. Mr Fisher, who was received, with cheering, and co'unt-er cheers for the Premier, said they had seen and heard and dreamt of nothing but “voucher” for the last fortnight. The “New ZeaTimes” had suggested that as an Inquiry was proceeding, this matter was sub judice, and therefore should not bo made tho subject of reference, but had he taken the advice of the “Times,” ho would have been down on his bended knees last Wednesday, bu: ho was not thoro yet. Ho did not wish to prejudice the caso which wits being dealt with by inquiry, nor to express any dissatisfaction with Mr Warburton, tho Auditor-General, but ho asked that this matter should bo dealt

with pnhliclv. and net by a Ttaroireinhcr.” Dn:im' his ••b-nc,. from Wei.ingion in .a- Snath. _ the i'remrer j pn'mimn'iiml'n'' V.’i'e‘ I*'is:"m‘-i-■ v.'e - ! npaei,! i.y Mr D-i-im. fa - I"-' 0 , h ei. ,i*. „i V. ■ IhnglMi. i.e ml ■„ lhank Ml ihrehre tor Ins aciion. iThnn cheer.-; tv re irere given ior .'ir lint 11.1-. I It ill.-: I.v ell 1.-g-e'i! in till huVme^lnTi'rhe 1 inn! a’ reured' tiie in--1 a 1 V '[‘ pare ;nia* aI. olirecre. U- !, -i! no '!-• in; to -ngge-.t. any red ’ihe Pi miner bad asked tire ai■ r in- I ■inler-Seeruarv lor iMnite if any payment bad been made to ( apiain S idea ter travelling allowances ilnrin;' ■ a . vi -it to Australia or Chr.re eharea. The answer was No. Thou he arered ■l,mi!, a pa Vllieni ei some llTI), and the in-.ver can'e that no trace of anv snub p : vjni’lP ton 1.1 be found, Why im.ki a hire i net ion ? in one cun' lb; an-acr; v.are ‘no paymenl." and in tin- other | no t i:i':i. of any such payment.! When thev found reihlre ollicrere inak.ngl reports Ilia, tins on the sirengnh oi ■ a.,'i.da vit - phrerel in i lie Speak; Fs hand- ; l.hai. such a payment, was made, I hey ! lian a, right, to demand public inipiiry. \ and that ,t siionld la-open to the in-ws- 1 paper m-e-s. Sir .(o-.eph Ward had. called i.he-r, men -skunking curs’’ and | ■■ n 1 i.‘ (mahle sneaks.” but they bad new , dccid.nl t-o conic, right, out into tiio dayJi; vJ.t., f \ pjjla.nse.) The (ioverumcnl was, lie ' I,eii..veil, distributing ,hO,l)(W cnpies of the Sneddon voucher liin;nghout tiio colony. ft was, howevci', tiie Sedihm voucher limy warned, and d they linn d it. would the Government print Ob’.Ui llj copies of that venoher ( They would see. If Captain Seddoti Juid never reccved such payment, why did tiio Premier iu.-l.st on a secret inipufv. iviui a restticted order o; references jf tiie Piemier intended to be [air. he would say, ‘AValk right in, gontiemeii; I have nothing to fear.’’ | II tile piyment was not made, would three Civil servants swear by aliklayit that limy had handled the voucher lor it and they were prepared to lose thc.r billets rather than that this should go on 'i The Premier found they were, making a Hanking attack, and getting round him. and saw tho only way to got out was by setting up) this secret inquiry. Tho Premier had said that ho declined lo bo placed in tho position of the accused. “Fancy a poi.eeman coming ii|> to arrest me for burglary,” said Mr Fisher, ’‘and I said 1 deolined to ho placed in the position of the accused.” Tho indignity of it. (Laughter.) AVo mado three charges. Two went right homo. Tho third was not proven. I say tho Premier ought to bo sentenced on tho two charges. Ho ought to bo warned off the Government benches for tho rest of his political life, sentences to bo concurrent on each charge.” Tho indemnity asked for in regard to tho Utreo Civil servants who made tho alii davits was suggested by himself (Mr Fisher). It was not tiio suggestion of the men themselves. Ho knew tho difficulty of tho position in whic.li tho men would have been placed. Ho had now tho authority of theso Civil sorvants to state that they would, indemnity or no indemnity, give their evidence in any Court of law or before any tribunal tho Parliament liked to set up. Tho man had broken no oath; they cared more for the honour of their country than they did for their own billets, and the next afternoon, if tho forms of tho House would allow him, ho would lay on the table of the House and make public tbo contents of those affidavits, so that everyone might bo aware of what the three affidavits placed in tho hards of tho Speaker contained. (Applause.) He did not fear what the result was to bo with tho people of Wellington. He would say to them, <£ l have done what I behoved to bo right. If you differ from me, lot mo retire, and find someone whom you think more desirable.” But ho was inclined to think that tho public was going to back him up in tho position he had' taken. (Applause.) Ho knew he had enemies. There were people who despised him because he was tho son of his father—(“ No, no ”) — ah tho samo time, ho desired to say that he came before them entirely on liis own merits. He would go back to them and point to his Parliamentary career. Ho was not _ going to be humbled. “ I am going in . baldheaded,” he added, amidst laughter and applause, “one merry session, and sec if I can clear out a little ot tho corruption which exists, and if I don’t get another session, I guarantee the Premier will remember this one, anyhow. Take the attitude of members of Parliament to mysolf. They look upon me as a criminal, as a felon. They look at me s’doways; they got into corners, and whisper about me. They all think I am wrong. They wanted mo to haul down mv flag before my powder was run out. Tho Premier exhausted his ammunition in one fell snoop. I have been firing my bullets all the time, and I am going to fire another to-morrow. Why should I apologise and go down on my knees when I still say I am right? 1 am going to soc this inquiry, and, if necessary, another inquirv, through. If His voucher turns out to be right, how much greater wrong may there not ’’be going on, ot which wo know nothing?” Ho had asked tho Government to set up an inquiry into tho food contracts in connection with the contingents sent to South Africa, as had boon dono by the Imperial Government. Who supplied our troops with stores? Were there traders? Did anyone get a tender but one firm not far down the street, and what payment did it get ? Ho thought they should know. So far as tho Government was concerned, it had not tho moral courage to set up a committee of inquiry into this matter, and ho challenged them to do it. (Applause.) Tho gross takings for admission to the mooting amounted to £BO.