SPEECH BY. MR G. M. THOMSON.

Otago Witness, Issue 2850, 28 October 1908, Page 36

SPEECH BY. MR G. M. THOMSON.

W The weather on the 23rd inst was quite Insufficient to account for the somewhat t limited attendance at Howe Street Hall to W hear Mr G. M. Thomson's address to the I* electors of Dunedin North. Wfc ■ The Mayor (Mr J. M'Donald) occupied X the chair, and in introducing the candidate K'Mtid the majority of those present would ■>know Mr Thomson, who had taken an ■; active part in many public affairs con■;nected with Dunedin. He had been assoX' ciated with education for many years, Kand had had a lot to do with the fish Bjiiatcheries. and had also held important ■ positions in other directions. * He was, the ■^Speaker believed, president of the .V.M.C. ■^Association, and was deserving of the, ■Respect of all the citizens. ■T Mr Thomson, in opening his address, Buid he took it as a compliment to Bjbimself that so many people had come on such an unpleasant evenBfUg. He had been associated with Hjk. great many things in this comHgnunity which Had required a large amount practical work and carrying out. Those Mjfehings m which he had engaged had been Bnmiformiy successful. He might take for inaugurating the Technical Bfficbool — (applause), — and had carried it on secretary and superintendent for eleven Bfigtrs. The charge -of a Conservative had levelled against him, but he did not BKfrcb much value to terms. He was as a man as any in Dunedin toBaEi?^ There was no organisation behind '.though he stood* in the Opposition B^H*<e*t. He was not an employer, and BBpgore had no Employers' Association

behind him. He stood absolutely on his own. If he won, and he would do his level be3t to win, then he would win off his own bat. And if he lost he could take a licking with any man. He wished to give his reasons for supporting the Opposition, or, rather, for opposing, the Government. In concluding his address, Mr Thomson 6a£a if returned ho would be true to his convictions, as he had ever been, and would always be common sense, of which he claimed to 'have a fair share. A number of questions having been answered, Dr Fuftor- moved a hearty vote of thanks to Mr Thomson for his interesting and lucid address, to which those present had listened with great pleasure, and "this, being seconded by Mr W. M'Donald, was carried unanimously.