EAST COAST ELECTION.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XVI, Issue 5631, 28 November 1889, Page 2

EAST COAST ELECTION.

ADDRESS BY MR ARTHUR.

Notwithstanding the unfavorable state of tlie weather last evning, there was a large attendance at Micfarlane's Hall, the room being crowded to hear Mr Arthurs address to the eleeors. The Mayor was in the chair, and tbe stage was occupied by supporters o f the candidate. The Chairmin briefly introduced the candidate.

Mr Arthur, on coming forward, was received vith loud applause. Ho said he felt somewhat surprised at being in bis present position. A few months ago he had little idea that he would be a candidate to represent the constituency. He felo proud thafc he had been picked out by a iarge body of people from ao many good men to represent them in Parliament. If they did him the honor to elect bim, they could depend upon it that he would do his best for the district, and also use his utmost endeavors for the better legislation of the country as a whole. He felt that lie liad the sympathies of the meeting with wliat he was going to say about their late member, Mr Oraham. They were all aware that that gentleman has been obliged to resign. He (Mr Arthur) was in Wellington during a portionof last session, and he had found Mr Graham to be a ■ hard-working member, who was always in ' his seat both night and day. He had treated him with great courtesy, and they had ft good many consultations about the Native land question, whicli was a prominent subject last session. He believed that Mr Graham and himself, assisted by Messrs Harris and Carroll, had a great deal of influence in effect iug the— sond_ legislation of last session. The only objection was that the Act they got passed did not take the form they wished. It took the form of getting Commissioners to hear disputed Native cases, but for some reason or other the Commissioners had not yet been appointed. POLITICAL PAKTIES. He was beforo them that evening to express his opinion ou political epiestions, and he asked for indulgence, because it was the first time he had made a political speech. It was rather difficult to expound opinions in a country like this, because the state of parties was not the same as in the Old Country, where ;v man could call himself a Liberal, Conservative or Radical. In New Zoaiand the only parties were the " ins " and the " outs"— afc present represented by Sir Harry Atkinson's party and Mr Ballance's party. Their professed policies differed very little. It was therefore simply a matter as fco which of the two was considered the best leader and the best man. In his opinion there was very little difficulty in answering the question. The policy of retrenchment which he had carried out showed that Sir Harry Atkinson was the best man and the besb leader to follow. The Stout- Vogel Administration had borrowed some L 2,850,000, and had followed the lead of the other Governments in having a yearly deficiency. This could not go on for ever, and as the colony had bad times its credit suffered severely. All the English papers were running the colony down. Some strong measures had to be taken to put matters on a right footing. All leading men in the country saw that things were gouig to the bad. Every year the colony had to borrow more money. Sir Harry Atkinson was the man who came forward with a retrenchment policy and the extra taxation necessary to put the finances of the colony on a sound footing. He had dono what, he promised. Last year there was a surplus, and this year there was every prospect of being a greater one. The result of the borrowing was that they owed LGO per head of population, which required a taxation of L 3 12s Gd to meet their annual liabilities. Sir Harry Atkinson had proved he could meet the position and go in for retrenchment -a very difficult thing for the Government in every way, for they raised up enemies in all directions. Tliey had seen something of the Premier when he came here over the Te Kooti business. This district owed him a debt of gratitude for his action in that matter. He^had relieved settlers from a great deal of anxiety, and perhaps from a great deal worse. The result of the retrenchment policy of the Government was that confidence that had been restored both inside and outside the colony, and he hoped and believed that with the great increase which had taken place in production — in frozen meat, flax, and other articles — that the colony would soon enjoy great prosperity, in place of the depression that has been darkening over many years. He felt certain that after past experience the people would take full advantage of tlie prosperity when it did come. He believed in the Act passed last session which reduced the members of the House of Representatives from 94 to 74. That was a retrenchment which there was great difficulty in effecting. The motto the more heads the greater the wisdom did not hold good in Parliamentary affairs. If they bad" fewer members, he felt convinced, they would have better legislation. There was far too much talking in the House. Spouters would talk away for hours about things they knew nothing about ; it was in them and it must come oufc. If anyone looked at Hansard he would sec tiiat a few men spoke a great number of times, whilst some of the best men in Parliament spoke very seldom. The reduction in members would effect a saving in the honorarium and in travelling expenses. Tlie reduction would cause an alteration in the several electorates, but in tliis district it would most likely make little difference. Probably Whakatane would betaken in. There was a larger population required in the town than in the rural constituencies. This was only right. The towns had got a stronger and a better press, and were more capable of effective organisation. It was therefore only fair that the country should obtain an advantage in fixing the ratio of population. Sir Harry Atkinson, as he said before, had succeeded in his policy of retrenchment, and it did not seem to him it mattered whether he was a Liberal or Conservative, or whatever they liked to call him ; he was a good man of business, and was making the thing pay, which other people could not do.

TAXATION

To meet the interest on the loans ancl carry on the business of the country taxation must be heavy. It was so heavy that it was just about as much as they could bear, but as soon as it was possible to reduce taxation, there was no doubt it would be reduced. He believed it would come quickly, for things were not only improving in the colony, but the whole world over. He believed in the Property Tax in preference to a Land or Income Tax. They knew what the Property Tax would yield, but if they altered the system it would be a different matter. In face of the present position it would be very dangerous to make any experiments, especially where there was no knowing what the now taxes would bring in. Besides, the mere alteration would involve the Government in considerable cost, and they already had tlie data for the collection of the Property Tax. He held it would be a great mistake to tax the land. It was the land which produced everything, and if it were taxed heavily the struggling farmer would suffer. With the Australasian recently he had received an almanac containing several pictures. O n the top was one of Queon Victoria, with tlie motto, " I rule over all," the next was that of a lawyer with " 1 plead for all," then the clergyman, with "I pray for all," and the next was that of a farmer, with the motto " I pay for all." He was sorry to see by a report of Mr Balance's spe-wU at Napier

that he had stated that he was in favor of a policy of bursting up large estates. It was a moat unwise statement for a man ii. his position. He was leader of the Opposition, and might expect to be Premier at a future day. What would they say in England when they read that the leader of the Opposition was talking about bursting up big estates. Then he said he would put a double tax on people living out of New Zealand who derived incomes from this colony. Wliy the whole civilised world would laugh at such a dog in tlie manger proceeding. It would bu a suicidal policy. It was in his (Mr Arthur's) opinion a matter for regret that a man drawing an income of, say, LIO, 00.) a year from fie colony lived in England or anywhere outside New Zealand ; but there were really very few of that class. They must remember that these people were the very best advertisement they could have in the Mother Country, and the very first men to assist the colony in a time of difficulty. He hoped thafc if Mr Ballance over got into power he would not attempt to do anything so foolish. EDUCATION. One of the greatest difficulties of mankind, since the world begau, was to govern ones self to the best advantage. Pope wrote thab fche proper study of mankind was man. Some of the best intellects in the world had studied the art of government. No one system was suited for all countries. It was only in Anglo-Saxon communities that the people had shown themselves fitted to govern themselves. He thought it was tho best system ever invented, for it meant a free and an educated people. An ignorant people could not be governed under it. He, therefore, held that the education of the people of Ne_w Zealand was of v cry ereot importance. Tt was just possible that in a new country, with all its difficulties bofore it, that popular government was too expensive, and it was possible that the rule of an autocrat would be cheaper and better, if the autocracy was tempered by the fear of assassination. As they were not likely to have such a thing, he was not going to discuss it. He believed that every man and woman in this life should have a fair start. In many matters thafc would be Utopian ; but everyone should be giveu a fair education, so fchat eacli one might start on a level with the rest of his fellow men. The education system of this colony was a grand system, ancl in spite of many faults it was generally well carried out. In 1878 there were 45,000 children attending tbo Slate schools, in 1888 the number had risen to 1)0.000, whilst at present there are 112,000. That on the face of it showed there must bave been a very large increase in population. Thire were 1128 Government schools in New Zealand, and the average allowance in proportion to roll number had been steadily rising, being 77 out of every IC J in 1888. There was spent on school buildings some L 30.000 per year, in increasing the accommodation and establishing schools in new places. That was a very satisfactory state of affairs. If the colony was to go ahead they must go ahead with education. Universal suffrage meant universal education in the highest ancl best sense. An educated people would not be caught with mere election cries, bufc would act with discretion in the choice of their representative. He believed this was a well educated community, and that the electors would exercise discretion in choosing their mem--1 ber. The attendance at the public schools 1 numbered 112,000, and was increasing in proportion to the population. The proportion of passers in the standards had - been steadily increasing year by year up • to the present ; and if it were true that the " child was father to the man," the next generation will be a highly intellec--1 tual one. Possibly at the present time tbey were the best educated people in the ■ world. All the people reared in the country were educated, ancl the fact of people coming to here from the Old World 1 showed that tliey were energetic and intelligent. The cost of education was L 3 15s, per scholar, and the total charge on the revenue wasL3(>s,ooo. He believed there ' were several ways in which money might be spent to greater advantage. There are at 1 present two systems side by side teaching the same thing. The 4th, Sth, and 6th standards were taught in the High Schools. - The cost per scholar at these institutions was LIS, whilst at the ordinary schools the 1 cost was only L 3 15s. The High Schools were not self - supporting, but surely people who sent their children to them ought to pay whatever they cost the State. At present they only paid about half. As the two systems taught the same thing, he held that the High Schools were not discharging their proper functions. The only High School he knew in the country in which the teaching was entirely distinct was the one established at Gisborne. Tlie standards were not taught in it, and it was self-supporting. There were 2440 children already attending the High Schools in the colony, arid these children were being taught the standards. A saving of L 20.000 could be effected in these schools, and the money was very badly wanted for the spread of primary education — in supplying schools in outside districts, and relieving the present overcrowding in some parts. There was evidently want of supervision somewhere. In tlie Auckland province there were no less than eleven schools built, and wliich were now shut up because there were no scholars to attend them. This waste of money was the result of want of proper supervision of expenditure. The administration of the Education Department cost LIO,OOO a year, inspection and examination another LIO, OOO. Tliis seemed to be a large amount of money for the object. Possibly a saving might there be made. Mr Hill, the Hawke's Bay Inspector, in the course of a conversation, expressed the opinion that if tlie Inspectors were formed into a Committee and allowed to make a report, he thought a very great saving could be made without impairing the efficiency of the system. He (Mr Arthur) thought it was a very good idea, because it was the Inspectors who had really to carry out the Act. They travel from place to place, and are in a position to see where savings could be effected. It was only lately that scholarships were open to children attending the country schools ; at least, as regards Hawke's Bay. He would give an education of the highest degree tc»" every boy who showed exceptional talent. By so doing, they might be saving some " mute, englorious Milton" from oblivion.

FREETRADE AND PROTECTION,

New Zealand has often been compared to England, and he believed and hoped that the comparison would become much stronger as they got older. He believed that tliis would yet be a great manufacturing country, and that by a system of freetrade become as wealthy ancl as great a power as England. He believed in a freetrade policy, and he thought protection in any way was a mistake. If you let an industry fight its owu battle, if it be suitable to the country, it will grow up strong, but protected industries never thrive. Protected industries are a burden on the many for the benefit of the few. The present Government had been accused by the Opposition of being in favor of protection, because they had to impose heavy Customs duties. Money had to be raised to pay the interest on borrowed capital, and ' to carry on the business of the country, He affirmed the Government were not in favor of protection ; it was simply a cry of the Opposition. The next question he would refer to was

NATIVE MATTF.RS,

which he was sorry to say be had somo experience of, not always of a satisfactory nature ; in fact, his advice to anyone who had an enemy, if lie wanted to do him the most injury, without placing himself in danger, woidd be to let him go and

tako up a block of native land, and then one could feel he would have the worst possible time of it. The man who went into the wilderness to reclaim land from its waste state was entitled t^ some consideration ; in fact, one might expect that the Government would clo everything for the pioneer settler. On the contrary it put every obstacle in his way. It -seemed to him that a man, after having honestly purchased or leased lands, should not be harassed with doubt and always subject to repudiation. They submitted to it because they could not help it, for they were in the hands of the law and lawyers, like a lion in a net struggling, but could not get out. The curious thing about this was that this state of affairs was injurious to Maoris ancl Europeans alike. If there were no restrictions the Natives would obtain a much better price for their lands. It was more difficult now to get a title to land than for the scriptural camel to go through the eye of tho scriptural needle. After working bard and going to greatexpense to get a Land Transfer title that title might be upset by a decision of the Supreme Court. The whole thing wanted complete reformation— something quite new, ancl he hoped they would get it. This matter of a good Native land law was without doubt most important to this district, surrounded as they were by Native land lying useless, doing no good to the Natives and no good to Europeans, and stopping progress in every way. They got law after law and Amendment Act after Amendment Act, which only served to make confusion worse confounded. When in Wellington he attended the House when the discussions on the Native Land Bills took place. Mr Sydney Taiwhanga had got up ancl made a speech. He had the Bill in his hand, and stated in English that he for one could not understand it. He would like to ask Mr Ballance, the leader of the Opposition, if he could understand it ; and he would put tho question to Sir Harry Atkinson if he wore not afraid of the " hob boot nails." He(Taiwhanga)did not think that any man in the House understood the Bill, and it was just tho same with regard to the numerous Acts that had been passed. Sydney then piled a great mass of legislative enactments before him, enough almost to overwhelm him, said they were all alike, and quitea striking scene occurred as he flung each Act down, saying, "Look at that ; Look at that !" There was a considerable amount of truth in what Mr Taiwhanga had said. He was certain that Sydney did not understand the Acts, and there were very few people in th© House who did. It was a fact within his own knowledge that Judges of the Native Land Court had refused to take up complicated cases, because they did not know how to handle theni. They adjudicated on different systems ancl arrived at different results. All these difficulties stopped the progress of this district more than any other part of New Zealand, because this was a Native district. He had a panacea for the evil, and it was free trade in Native lands. He believed if they got such it would result in settlement over the whole country. Of course, there would be a restriction in regard to Maoris disposing of their lands, but that restriction shoulel be a very small one indeed. He would have every deed translated by a wellqualified Native interpieter, and then placed before a Trust Commissioner, ancl if a man then obtained a title, whether Land Tansfer or not, no Court should have the power to upse*. it. Instead of a heavy stamp duty of ten per cent, as at present, he would impose the same charges, ancl no more, than would have to be paid it the transaction were between Europeans. He thought if they were to wipe away the old Acts altogether, they could, with the experience they had, get an Act framed embodying absolute freetrade and altering the whole sytem of dealing with native lands in this and every other district. The Maoris would get a very much better price for their lands, and a man no matter what his means might be, whether large or small, would be able to obtain the amount of land he wanted. He was convinced that the Maoris would be ready to sell if people were in a position to buy, but at present there was almost an absolute standstill in native land transactions. The existing system was both unfair to Maoris and Europeans. What would a wliite man think if he were placed in the same position as a native, with no power to deal with his own property without going for a lot of expense in surveys, besides being placed under other disabilities. There was no doubt thafc a complete measure of reform would be difficult to pass, because the supposed friends of the natives would oppose it at every stage. There would be no use in a private member bringing in a Bill of this sort. A Government would have to take it up, ancl it would require a strong Government; with a large majority to carry it into law. The system of party Government must be a system of compromise. If a Government which brought in a Native Land Bill was not secure in its position, it would have to yield point after point, so that the Bill when finished would be nothing like what ifc was at the start. He sincerely hoped that the next general election they would see Sir Harry Atkinson retained in power with a large majority at his back, and if such turned out to be the case he 1 felt sure thafc an Act would be passed such as he had indicated. Thero was no doubt that an Opposition was very useful in ] keeping a Government up to the mark by I intelligent criticism of its proposals and administration. There was a good and bad Opposition, and he felt bound to say thafc the present Opposition was a most captious one. He must, however, say that without Mr Ballance's help the Act of last session could not have been passed. The only member wbo offered violent opposition was Sir George Grey, who had done his utmost to stonewall the Bill. What good to the Natives was tbe locking up of the lands 1 It would be far better for them if the whole of their lands were leased or sold within the next twelve months, after setting aside sufficient reserves. These lands would then immediately be subjected to taxation, which would afford a relief to present burdens. Sucli a law he fe.t would be followed immediately by great prosperity in this district.

THE CLASS CRY,

At election times there was the cry raised about the working-men. In his opinion there were only two classes in New Zealand. One was composed of loafers and the other of working men. The cry was got up by professional politicians to get the votes of honest workers. He did not believe they would catch these honest workers, because the latter had profited by experience. They had often heard the thing before. He also thought they were too well-educated and too shrewd to be caught in this way. These professional politicians did not hesitate to attempt to set up class distinctions where there were none. They spoke of thesquattocracy as being opposed to the interests ofthe working man, but that again was an election cry. These politicians always promised everything but performed nothing. These professional gentlemen always pressed their own schemes regardless of the harm that might be done if Parliament adopted their proposals. That was the only thing they wanted. Which man was more fitted to be trusted — the intelligent squatter or the professional politician who promised everything and got nothing. He (Mr Arthur) had been in America and other countries, and he considered New Zealand was one of the best countries in the world for the working man. There were good wages, opportunities for getting land, and they had one of the best of climates, in which a man could work with the greatest possible comfort to himself. He would ask them to compare the position here to that in America. When in Wellington ho met a man named Best, whom many present doubtless knew. He

had been four years in America, — -in Mexico— and informed him (Mr Arthur) that he had been obliged to work twelve hour*, a day, and he said it was only the strongest men who could stand ifc for six or seven years, when they had to take to some lighfc employment. His informant was a powerful man, but he professed that he was not able to standit.

THE LAND- LAWS.

One of the best things in New Zealand was the power of each person to acquire land in lots according to his means. He roj garded the land laws as being of the very hest. If they were able to acquire land iv suitable sized areas it would enormously provnote the prosperity of the colony. Tho present Government deserves evory credit for their land policy ancl adnnnstration. The land could be acquired on terms to suit j all classes of people. There was the deferred payment and perpetual lease systems, by which a man was nofc obliged to sink his capital, but could utilise it to make improvements. Last year 55,188 acres were taken up on the deferred payment system by 355 people, 204,642 acres on perpetual lease by 705 people, 70, 989 acres were bought by 653 people. Altogether 430,000 acres had been taken up, ancl they would see by the figures he had given that the land had been distributed amongst a large number of people. Over 9000 persons had left the colony during the lasttwo years in excess of the number who bad arrived. Amongst the emigrants were some 5000 men. So instead of going upon the soil they had left; the country. The majority of those who had taken up land were Young New Zealanders, and they could not obtain a better class to open up the country, as they had practical experience. The loss of 9500 by emigration over immigration in two years he thought was owing to the reduction in public works expenditure. He believed that they were coming back at present, ancl that they would bring other people with them. The colony had reached a stage when it was absolutely unnecessary to assist in any scheme of immigration. There were plenty of people in the country to take up tlie back blocks as quickly as roads could be made to them. The people wbo had lived in the colony for years, and had borne the heat and burden of the day, should get the full benefit of the liberal land laws. The difficulty was to get roads to the back country. The Government had not got the money. Every other district in the colony was making a claim for roads, just the same as was the ease here. If they returned him ho would clo his besfc to get roads. There was no doubt that they deserved to have roads made, as there were large blocks of country aloug the coast, ancl in other parts of the electorate, which were at present inaccessible. He supposed they would have to get the land opened up by degrees.

DEFENCE EXPENDITURE,

About five years ago, there was a Avar scare, and Russia Avas supposed to have designs ou the colonies. There were fears of attacks from privateers, Avhich would levy blackmail on the toAvns. Pie did not believe there Avas much risk of the kind. The English navy he thought Avould be able to protect the colony from such hostile visitors. The big towns at once clamored for defensive works, and the Government of the day Avent in for a big expenditure. They had spent L 429,000 on works afc the principal ports, and it took L 78,000 a year to maintain the present military establishment. They had fortifications and big guns for the money, and perhaps the big towns Avere amply protected. But such places as Napier and Gisborne had been left entirely unprotected, and there was nothing to prevent an enemy's cruiser sweeping down upou them. He heard a gentleman laugh, blithe assured him that either place would be deemed worthy of attention by a war vessel. Tho enemy Avould be glad of the opportunity of making all the mone}' he could out of Gisborne and Napier. He did not think the question of Federation one of practical politics at the present time. The first practical step in that direction Avould probably be taken Avhen the colonies Avere forced to combine for defence. The different tariffs rendered Federation a difficult question to decide. If Federation brought about a free inter change of products between the colonies, ifc would be a very good thing for New Zealand, because Aye could raise a great many things here which they could not produce at a profit in Australia.

THE RAILWAYS.

The railways were nofc a subject which attracted much attention in this part of the colony. They heard of tliem, but did not see them. Tlie expenditure on the opened lines was about thirteen and a half millions, which had been boriowed at an average of five per cent. The railways gave a return above working expenses of 2\ per cent., so the loss was just about macle up by the Property Tax. The present Government had, with considerable difficulty, succeeded in getting Commissioners appointed to manage the lines. Last year the Commissioners had succeeded in effecting a saving of L 58,000.

VILLAGE SETTLEMENTS.

He believed it was a great mistake for the State to assist in experiments of this kind. Much better it would be for the Government to throw open lands so as to ponnifc of village settlements where the necessity arose, for tliey would then prosper, but if the State fostered them with gifts of money and other exceptional aids they would inevitably end in disaster.

THE HARBOR,

He had been opposed to the borrowing of the L 200.000 for a harbor at Gisborne. He had voted for the expenditure of the L 4.0,000 some time ago, as he believed and hoped the harbor would be a success when the breakwater was carried out to a sufficient length. He was opposed at the outset to the loan, because he believed the settlers were too few to bear the burden, ancl because everything they produced could already be shipped away from Gisiiorne, and whatever they wantec! could be landed at the port with the exception of six or seven days in the year, when tho steamers had to proceed on to Auckland or Napier. For this six or seven clays they were now paying about L7OOO a year. If they returned him to Parliament he would do his best to get an endowment, but he would not promise to get it ; in fact, he did not believe it was obtain-

able,

conclusion.

He would support the present Government because of their management of tlie finances of the country ; they had effected large reduction, and a surplus was shown last year. He also believed in their land policy and their improved native policy, though the latter was still far from satisfactory. He also thoroughly approved of Sir Harry Atkinson's action in connection with the Te Kooti affair. From what he had seen in Wellington he regarded the Premier as the one good strong man in the House. He would be a firm, but not a blind supporter of the present Government. He had given them his opinions on all matters he had touched upon, and was willing to answer any questions that might be put to him. He hoped they would all vote for him, and if tlu-y did he would do his best for the district and the colony, so that they should not be ashamed of their member, but rather proud [of him. Mr Arthur concluded by heartily thanking the large audience for the patient and attentive way in which they had listened to his first political address. The candidate was frequently warmly applauded during the delivery of his speech. Mr Keating handed in a written question as to whether the candidate did not attend before the Native Affairs Committee last session to oppose a petition sent to Parliament by some natives who claimed interests in tlie Tokomaru block adverse to his own.

Mr Arthur said he did. Tho Natives petioned for a re-hearing, and he, as the owner of the block, went to Wellington to try and prevent that step being taken. Written question No. 2 was handed in by Mr J. Henderson — Whether the candidate did nofc write to the Chief Judge of the Native Land Court to have the Tokomaru case re-heard as speedily as possible on the ground of pecuniary consideration. Mr Arthur said he thought he did not write to any such effect. He had been 16 years endestvoring to obtain a title, and had not got one yet, and he considered himself quite right in wishing to have the case re-heard as speedily as possible.

In answer to Mr Parker, Mr Arthur said ho was not in favor of extending the franchise to women. He was not in favor of religious teaching in public schools. He liked a drop of good whisky occasionally, and he would be in favor of any system which ensured the purity of alcoholic drinks. He would not bo in favor of abolishing the Native Office at present. He was satisfied it would not be wise for the country to go back to Provincialism. As to federation, the subject was a big one, and required consideration. He thought tho timo had almost arrived in New Zealand when there should be perfect equality of taxation in regard to both races.

Mr Dickson then handed in a question as to whether the candidate desired to enter Parliament unless he thought he could assist in having his titles fixed up.

Mr Arthur replied that the mere fact of his entering Parliament would nofc do him any good ; in fact, it was more likely to do him barm as far as his titles were concerned.

Mr File said it gave him great pleasu* in proposing the following resolution :-

" That Mr A. C. Arthur is a fit and proper person to represent this electorate in the House of Representatives." The speaker said he did not think he would be at all presumptions in congratulating Mr Arthur on the speech he had made; that evening. He would not say, as was said an evening or two ago, that ifc was the greatest political oration he had ever listened to— it would be fulsome on his part to say such a thing. It was quite [ enough to say that Mr Arthur had made a very good speech, especially as a maiden one. ifc is needless to say that they need not discount a lot of what Mr Arthur had said (hear, hear) as there was nothing to discount. The candidate could have extended his speech over a much wider range of polities, bufc acted wisely in condensing it into as small a compass as possible. A remark had been made that MiArthur had lain dormant for seventeen years. He had, however, his business to attend to, and had done it fairly, honestly, and legitimately. He, had unlike others, no time to "poke his nose " into other people's busines (Cheers). Mr Arthur did not pretend to have found a panacea for all the evils that exist in the country ; he did not pretend that we were the piviofc on which the universe revolves. We had not yet arrived at that state, but prefer to go along gently step by step. Mr Arthur had rightly observed that Sir Harry Atkinson may be a Conservative or a Liberal, but at all events he was an upright and honest man ; he did not care what they called him, but he is practical, and that i.s what was required. A great deal of theory had been listened to for a number of years past. He (the speaker) called it fads and generalities. He quite agreed with the candidate when he said there were only two classes in New Zealand— workers and loafers. He would rather support a squatter than a lawyer. He was perfectly confident that the Native land laws of the colony would not have been in their present confused state if it had not been for the lawyers. Mr Arthur, it had been said, had not the qualifications of a speaker, but he was one of a class who in the House are listened to before political agitators. Mr Arthur did not pretend to lead the House, and would be quite content; to follow a good leader.

Mr Townley had great pleasure in seconding the resolution. (Cheers.) The previous speaker had referred to a remark which fell from Mr DeLautour about discounting a great deal of what Mr Rees said— he knew he said a great deal that was impossible to be carried out. (Applause.) He (the speaker) asked, did the ratepayers expect to get an endowment sufficient to pay the harbor rate ? (Cries of "No.") Mr Arthur, there was no doubt, would do his best for the district in this matter, as it was to his own interest to do so. In conclusion, he hoped that that those present would give Mr Arthur every assistance on the polling day, and support him by their votes.

The resolution, on being put to the meeting, was carried amidst loud ancl continued applause, only a few hands being held up against it.

The meeting terminated with the usual vote of thanks to the chair.