THE WAITAKI ELECTION.

Otago Witness, Issue 1003, 18 February 1871, Page 11

THE WAITAKI ELECTION.

The following address, prepared by Mr E. A. Julius to be read, at the declaration of the poll for this election, is published in the Oamaru Times :—: — , "Gentlemen — Mr Maoasiey has requested me on his behalf to apologise to you' for/ bis unavoidable absence on the present ooc*«ion, and to (bank most heartily on his behalf the 137 electors who recorded their vbteß in hi» favour ; and also to return thanks, to all' of Lia opponents who in a fair and open manner oontested the eleotion. Gentlemen, this I now do on Mr Macasßey's behalf.

"Having thus shortly fulfilled the task deputed to me, I intend to make » few remarks in explanation of the candidature^of Mr Macassey, and of the reasons/which in* duced tbat gentleman to pat his supporter* to the trouble and annoyance of coming (many of them, from great distances) to, the poll, when to persons unacquainted with the true faota of the case it may appe»r that .he should have retired earlier from the contest.

"In the first place, gentlemen, allow me to say that I, and 1 alone, am the o»use of Mr Macassey's having come forward and contested the election, and that the many statements made to the contrary, for election purposes, were untrue. Feeling ■ that it would be a great benefit to the .dUtriot if it should be fortunate enough to secure the services of a representative of such well* known integrity and ability as Mr Maoaasey, 1. on my sole responsibility, telegraphed to that gentleman asking him to beoome a candidate, and assuring htm that 1 anticipated no opposition He consented, but clearly utated thtthedid not wish to come forward if his return was in any way doubtful. I then ascertained the feeling of the eleotors by seeing some, writing to others, and sending round a requisition in whioh I purposely and plainly inserted a clear and strongly-worded pledge that- if Mr Macassey would come for* ward, all thoße who signed the requisi. tion "would use their best endeavours to secure his return." From the result of the first canvaßS I had no hesitation in telegraphing to Mr Macassey that I had no fear as lo his election, and asking him at once to address the eleotors. Since the requisition was signed, every voter- not known to be opposed Las been canvassed, and so numerous were the distinct pledges and promises of support given that no reasonable man (unacquainted with the amount of duplicity and hypocrisy I existing amongst the electors of this district) could doubt the result I regret to say, gentlemen, that to the discredit ef this district the Btate of the poll proves th&r the word of a considerable portion of the electors is of bo value whatever, even when, as in many cases, reduced to writing. I n^w dis» tinotly, and after the excitement of the election has subsided, say that those who in the first instance by their distinct yrornises, whether verbal or written, induced Mr Maca&sey to incur the worry and trouble of a contested election, and then turned round, and in a cowatdly and clandestine manner, under cover of the ballot-box, by their votes caused his defeat, have been, one and all, guilty of conduct cowardly, disgraceful, and dishonest;. I have no hes;<»tion in saying that in almost every por3i'>n of the district numerous pledges and promts given to Mr Maoksaey were broken, although the miners who, without exception and the Otepopo voters, who, with so *rcoly any exception, kept their promises to both sides, stand in favourable contrast to other parts of the district.

"At the polling-booth in Oamaru alone, not less than 50 distinct promises were broken. Many voters promised secretly on both sides, and many, either to curry favour, or from sheer love of falsehood, still endea. your to keep up the deception. I am well aware that every honourable and straightforward man amongst those lately opposed to us views with contempt equal to my own the conduct of the persons to whom I havo before referred. Most of them are now well known, and I wish them to understand that though their votes have been used by ono side, both Bides equally despise them.

'f Some of those who signed therequisition have endeavoured to excuse or palh.ue their conduct by stating that when they sicmed they were not informed that Mr Ste ward was in the field, and broke their promises openly. Granting the facts (whtoh T deny), the excuse is lame and paltry. IE these persons did not know Mr Steward was standing, they could not know that he, or some person they might; prefer even to him, would not come forward ad a candidate ; and having ' once, by their unconditional pledges of support, induced Mr M*cassey to come forward, those pledges were in honour binding on every honest man, until he asked to be and was released from them by the person to whom they'were given. I »m,willing, however, to make some distinction in favour of the open as against the clandestine promise- breakers — in the same way as 1 should in favour of the open highwayman as against the coward who Btabs in the dark.

With regard to the conduct of all concerned in the distribution of certain doouments resembling voting papers, I shall say little. They succeeded, I know,, in misleading one or two illiterate voters and one foreigner into voting contrary to his own intentions. If the. criminal law apples, tha Attorney- General will no douW bring the culprits to justice ; if not, thf, l«w requires alteration, and I traat that our.jft«w meoibar will be the first man, without fear or favour, to aid in passing a law to prevent ,th« votes of. the eleqtorq frpm^boing. fraudajflnt|y tarn- ., pored with on future eooaaipaf. , ,/•,,'.„,