THE TEMUKA SEAT

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 8735, 18 May 1914, Page 4

THE TEMUKA SEAT

MR BUXTON WITHDRAWS HIS ADVICE TO THE PEOPLE. Mr T. Buxton, M.P., has finally do* cidod not to contest the Temuka seat at the next election. A meeting of Mr Buxton’s Liberal committee and prominent supporters was hold in Temuka last week. In spite of the unfavourable weather there was a fair at. tendance. Mr D. Mclnnes,. who presided, explained the object of the meeting, and expressed the pleasure with which the committee met their member, Mr Buxton., Ho referred to the deputation that had recently waited upon Mr C. J. Talbot and asked him to stand in the Liberal interest for the Temuka seat. He did not pro pose to go into all that matter again ( it was regrettable that Messrs Craigi* and Doyle had not seen fit to leave tlu» matter entirely in the hands of the committees in the electorate. Ho dedined to make one of the party solely' on the ground that it was lit and proper that the local committee should first ho consulted as to tho choice of a. candidate. Ho had not taken that attitude because ho had any objection to Mr Talbot personally, or as a candidate. Mr John Fitzgerald was the only member of the deputation who was a Temuka elector. Ho understood that if Mr Buxton chose to stand again, Mr Talbot had expressed his intention of standing down absolutely. J® Buxton stated that he did not in* tend to stand again. He had given tho matter much thought, and his determination was not arrived at because hs hod any reason to believe he would be unsuccessful if he did stand. He had friends, ho believed, sufficient to ensure his return at the poll. Ho had received requests from all round the electorate to stand, amp if ho had only himsolf to consider he probably would stand. He felt ,ho was consulting his friends’ interests and the interests of tho Liberal party if ho stood down on this occasion. What might happen in the course of two or throe years he could not say, time would tell its own tale. Meanwhile, he would urge them to hold fast to the principles of Liberalism, and do their utmost to return th* Liberal party to power again. Ho could tell them how deeply he felt tho necessity of standing down this election, for the fascination of poliltics was indeed great. Mr Buxton said h« was not consulted in regard to tho deputation to Mr O. J. Talbot. MrTalbot’s name waa never mentioned to him, nor was he asked if he intended ■ to stand again. Still, they were not to blame Mr Talbot for that. Of Mr Talbot fie could only, speak as ho had found him, a really splendid young fellow, one who had,always worked zealously for tho Liberal cause, and for the speaker. Nobody had worked harder at the Fairlie end than had Mr Talbot. He had received a letter from Mr Talbot, explaining tho position and stating that ho would stand down and Support him if it was his (Mr Buston’s) intention to stand again. Mr Buxton then referred to the jiosition of a member of Parliament, which soma people considered a lucrative job. Unfortunately, he had proved to his cost that it was quite the reverse. Mr Buxton then dealt with political questions, and regretted that the experience and knowledge he had gained in his trip abroad he would not be able to USB publicly to the people’s advantage. Ho eulogised the work of Mr Lloyd George, and said that he recognised that there was something wrong with the cconqmia system when some men made millions while others starved. His sympathies had always been with the worker, and always would be, and even though ho. would not be in the political arena he would not cease to do what lay in ins power to diminish the distance between the Wealthy end poor. A large number present expressed their sympathy with Mr Buxton, and voiced their regret at not having him, to contest tho forthcoming election. It was- agreed that Mr Talbot should be asked to go to Temuka to express his views on politics. Pending 4he hearing of his views, tho meeting pro. visionally approved of Mr Talbot’s candidature. . It was also agreed to ask Sir Joseph Ward to speak in Temuka two or three weeks hence.