The Coming Election.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 7424, 25 November 1893, Page 3

The Coming Election.

Mr Rhodes addressed thePurcora electors at the Winchester Hall on Friday last. About 200 were present, insluding many ladies, Mr Robert Smith being chairman. Mr Rhodes was accorded an attentive hearing, and after answering several questions a vote of thanks and unabated confidence was unanimously carried. Two handsome bequets were presented to Mr Rhodes by lady residents of Winchester and Waitohi respectively.

Notwithstanding the inclement weather, Mr Hetman had 1 a large attendance at his dieting at Fairlie last night, fully 150 persons being presant including several ladies. Mr I)n>le ocoupiad the ohair and happily introduced the Liberal candidate* Mr Flatman met with a eplenoid reception. He apologised" for his inability to visit Burke’s Bass, Albury, Tekapo and other places, remarking that if time permitted he would willingly visit them, even if only two electors were there to meet him. He was not altogether a stranger to them as 25 years ago he had camped just near Fairlie, being storm-bound, and he had to be content with a pannakin of oatmeal and water for three days. In bis speech he covered much the same ground as at Temuka, but he completely squashed Mr Rhodes criticism re his (Mr Flatman’s speech) and showed conclusively that the Government reduced the interest last year by £76,000. Mr Rhodes never dared say that he (Mr Flatman) was not right in his statement that the interest last year was £76,000 less than that of 1891. He advocated the claims of the farmers lo be well represented in the House seeing that they were the great producers and the greatest contributors to the revenue. If elected he would watch their interests, and use his influence in scouring a Fair Bent Bill for giving relief to Crown tenants in times of depression, but he hoped the times were far off when such relief would be needed. He suggested that the secondary schools should be more in touch with the primary schools. A boy’s talents alone should be sufficient to lead him from the poorest household to the University so that the children of the poorer classes should have an equal chance with the wealthy children of entering professions* He advocated good provision being made for the aged poor, and thought in some coses a “ Garden Home ’’ ajstem might bo beneficially established. After B few questions had been answered, the candidate eat down amidst applause from the appreciative audience. Mr Watts proposed and Mr Braddiok seconded a hearty vote of thanks for the addreis, and confidence in Mr Flatman as representative far the district.

The motion was earned unanimously, quite a hundred hands being held up in favour of it. A vote of thanks bo the chairman concluded the meeting. The following roll numbers in different districts have been supplied by telegraph. The second number in each ease is that of names of women Otaki—39B7, about 950. Bates—362o—l49o. (By Telegraph.) WELLINGTON. November 25. There are 1350 polling booths this year, against 945 the last election, 728 in the South Island, and 632 in the North. There are 230 booths for the Maori elections, against 211 last election.