CAPTAIN MORRIS' MEETING.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume VI, Issue 866, 18 August 1879, Page 2

CAPTAIN MORRIS' MEETING.

[To the. Editor of the, Herald.] Sir, — At the meeting on Saturday night, Captain Morris, m the course of his speech, told the meeting that m the next session of Parliament there would be anew loan of £5,000,000 to spend, and that if the settlers here wish to have I any of this large sum expended m the district, we must return him to Parliament ; that ho was sure of his party being m power, and then we should have justice done to this place so long denied it. But, says Captain Morris, I would hei'e draw the attention of the- meeting to this local candidate idea that you have got. If you return your local man you will see very little of the loan, as if you send a new man to the House of Representatives, it takes a session or two before a member gets the run of the ropes, and therefore, we shall defeat our purpose. Well, sir, wo have had Captain Morris now four sessions m the House, and he does not appear to have found out the run of the ropes up to this time. These are the few works he takes credit for attending to : — The Public Buildings ; I think the late Captain Read was the man who got the vote for them, the short time he held his seat. Then the new ►Bridge was contributed m order to enhance the value of the'Patutahi land, and well has that bridge paid the cost of construction ; but no thanks to Captain Morris for this. Then there are the rails for our Railway. If anyone deserves credit for these, I think Mr. J. W. Johnson is entitled to the credit for going to Wellington, and with a few others of our settlers were successful m getting the raila for our still distant Railway. But, sir, Captain Morris was very careful to do all he could to damage m the mind of the meeting our two respected local men. Mr. Johnson, he thought, was well suited to attend to local matters— and hero the speaker thought that Mr. Johnson ought to remain and attend to those home matters for which he is so well suited. I have no doubt, sir, Mr. Johnson will thank Captain Morris for this advice, and do tho best he can to relieve Captain Morris from attending only to his party m the House, and leaving the want of his constituents unattended. Then shall we have some small chance of getting our rights. Then Captain Morris bringn out Captain Porter, who he calls the doubtful local man, and the only Jfanlt he could find was that' Captain Porter had not been clear on the point as to j which side of tho House he will be found should lie get into Parliament. To that, sir, I would like to nsk Captain Morris whether ho is now with the same party ho entered the House to join. I think, sir, at tho election, Captain Morris was standing m the Opposition interest and Captain Read on the Government side. Whether I am covract m this or not I am not sure ; but I am quite sure that Captain Morris m his address to the electors m the Gisborne Masonic Hall, stated that if returned to the House, he would go m quite independent, so that he could attend to the want of his constituents, and although he was afraid the loans wore all expended, and that the future, was all dark to look forward to, yet Still, if there was .any chance to assist his own district, the electors could depend on him being there, and he would see they got their rights ; because he was determined to be independent, the better he could attend to our wants. Now, sir, after four years' experience of this independent action of Captain , Morris, what did he tell -us last Saturday llight ? Why, sir, that owing to his being Whip to his party, ho had too much to attend to m connection with them, that he has not the time to give to any local matters his own electors may require. So much so, sir, does he feel this to bo the case — that is holding the position of Whip to his party, that m tho next Parliament if his party are unable to relieve Captain Morris from holding this instrument which his heart abhors now that the office has served its purpose. I think, sir, I am right m what Captain Morris stated at the meeting. Captain Morris will resign. Will resign ! Why, sir, if Captain Morris resigns how are we to get our share oftho £5,000,000 loan 1 Why, after Captain Morris has wasted a few more sessions, and the loan is expended, and when we require some reason why we are Btill m the same fix. Captain Morrisf would turn |round and tell us that he was still Whip to keep his party together. And yet we must elect some

local man. I ask what has Captain Morris done for us m the past ? As m tho past, so m the future, I would ask the electors to search Hansard through from the time Captain Morris appears m the House, taking any part, or m any way endeavouring to get any votes of money expended m his large districts. Although many millions have been voted away he never once stood up m the House. Wheu the question was put to him re our Railway what did he say 1 Why, sir, he had* not introduced the Railway for fear of damaging something m. the future. And about our reserves. I see the Napier Borough have got their 2000 acres within the last few months ; and the Thames also. Electors, be not led away as one of the audience was who said Captain Morris had twisted him round his little finger. But think well of the past services we have had. Let tis no longer hear of our not being represented. But now that we have a chance to return our own member, let us be equal to the occasion and work together for one common good, and success must attend our efforts. — I am, &c, Cook County.