THE NELSON SEAT.

Colonist, Volume XLIII, Issue 9651, 2 December 1899, Page 2

THE NELSON SEAT.

him, because it was alleged he had procured an appointment in the Railway Department for a boy— a laborer's billet. The '• Mail " had said that the 1 boy had passed the First Standard, and had left school without passing the second Standard. The next night they hastened to correct the mistake, as they then believed the boy had passed the Second Standard: He bad said that the boy had produced a certificate stating that he lad passed the Fourth Standard: The -'Mall " sirice that bod said, "If he (Mr Graham) can produce a certificate showing that the boy had passed the Fourth Standard, as he states, we undertake honorably to withdraw the whole of the charges we have made in this connection, and, furthermore, we promise to give the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board the sum of £10 sterling." Mr Graham said, while be regretted that his Opposition friends had left politics and descended t6 matters that were beneath contempt^ b<* wished to state that, in this particular matter, which he had personally very little to do with,' he wished to state again that the boy sent a certificate to Wellington signed by a schoolteacher as having passed the Fourth Standard. He had seen the certificate of the schoolteacher, and also the certificates of the doctors.. This was in Wellington; He had wired that day to Mr Cadman, stating that he was writing to the Manager of Bailways, and asking the Minister to authorise the manager to supply him with the Education and other certificates in reference to the engine-cleaner. He had not the certificate yet. The editor of the " Mail " said it was not a certificate, but a testimonial. The certificate was there, and a testimonial also, He remembered pretty nearly the words in the certificate. It was as follows:— '• I certify that David Gordon Burns passed the Fourth Standard, at Hampden Street School, when he was nearly eleven years of age." This was not a testimonial ; it was a certificate, and that was 6igned by the teacher of the Hampden Street School. (Voice: Who was that?) It was signed " Georgina F. Sunley," and in addition to that certificate, almost, if not in these words, she proceeded to speak in commendatory terms of the boy's character. He tßought the certificate wai dated the 18th My. If he could prdduce a certificate in the handwriting of the teacher he claimed that the £10 offered by the editor of the 'Mail' should be paid to the Hospital. (Applause). If he could not produce a certificate and prove bis statement he would pay the £10 to the Hospital. If he did produce a certificate he expected them to keep their word and hand tht £10 over. If the ' Mail' would double it,' making it £20, he would add £10 himself, which would make £30, this would carry a Government subsidy of £36, making a total of £66 altogether for the Hospital. He would undertake to produce the certificate, and read it, and if he did not he would do what he had said, and ha made the challenge. He expected the money to be paid. (Hear, hear, and 'applause). It was contemptible that elections should be fought on such lines. He had given his. best services for the district, and he knew he had the confidence of his constituents. (Applause}. Mr Graham resumed his seat amidst vociferous applause. Mr Hall asked Mr Graham if it was usual to send a man round before a general election and get names on the roll, and if he was paid for it. He hinted that they only called at Government supporters houses and missed the Opposition; Mr Graham replied that a constable was expected to call at all the houses, and did not receive any extra pay. An elector stated that the constable called at every house, whether they were Government or not, Mr Hall said Mr Graham was hard on money lenders, and he asked if he was not in that line, and what interest he got?

Mr Graham said was a personal question which no reasonable elector would ask. He would answer, however, he had some money and lent it at the current rate. The rate now was very much reduced, and he thought it was to his credit that he had helped to lower the rate of interest.

Mr Graham replied to questions by Mr F. Ross in reference to the Old Age Pensions, and by Mr Langford in respect to the Midland Railway and the Nelson line, all of which were satisfactorily answered. Mr Joseph Price moved a hearty vote of thanks to Mr Graham for his able and instruotive address, which was seconded by Mr J. Arnold, and carried with acclamation. Mr Graham returned hia sinoere thanks, and a vote of thanks to the chair terminated the meeting.

MR. GRAHAM AT WAIMEA WEST.

THE " EVENING MAIL'S " CHALLENGE

ACCEPTED.

Mr Graham addressed a large meeting of electors at Waimea West on Thursday evening, when there were over one hundred present. Mr Gardner Hunter presided. The meeting was very lively and enthusiastic, and was the largest -political meeting ever held in the district. Mr Graham was in excellent form and spoke for two hours, after whioh a full half hour was spent in asking and answering questions, all of wbioh were satisfactory replied to.

Mr Graham, in opening, apologised for keeping so large a crowd waiting, and spoke of the physical exertion entailed in travelling long distances, and speaking at the country meetings, and he said that if it were not for the contradictory reports whioh had been circulated concerning the Government, it would not be necessary for tbe editors of papers and himself to write and speak in reference to these statements. He expressed his gratification at seeing so many persons present, and he referred to the splendid meetings he had addressed throughout the electorate, and it was no less gratifying for him to address over eighty electors at Waitnea West. He was proud to represent constituents where so large a crowd in so small a district should assemble, as there were there that night. In speaking of the mis-statements made by the Opposition regarding tbe Customs duties, a voice asked what about the duty on patent medicine*. Mr Graham replied that it was one of the follies and not one of the necessaries of life. (Applause). If people were ill they should go and see a doctor, and get cured for a trifle, (Cheers). Patent medicines should be taxed out of existence. (Loud applause). He referred to the absurd statement in the ' Mail' regarding the Customs duties, and referred to the table, whioh stated that the duty on a shillingsworth of candles was Bd. There was never a greater absurdity spoken oi written in the world. (Loud applause). He spoke of the evasions of political questions by the " Evening Mail," and said that they would not meet fair argument, and when challenged by the Liberal journal they did not reply, but continued their personalities, trusting that the other paper would not be seen, and the Colonist bad replied that they were compelled tomtet these statements with dignified contempt. (Applause.) It was miserable to think that an election should be fought on suoh grounds. Regarding the challenge of £10 issued by the " Mail " in reference to a certain railway appointment he was going to accept that challenge- (Cheers) — and make the mail pay that £10 to the Hospital— (Cheers) He referred to the statement made by the Opposition candidate that tht civil servants were tyrannised, and that some of them were even afraid to register their names on the roll. A civil servant who had been in Wellington and was in Nelson, had told him that he was going to write a letter to the ' Mail ' and this had been done, denying the statement that the Civil Service was tyrannised, but they declined to publish the letter unless th« name was appended. On Wednesday the writer of the letter returned to Wellington and probably tbe ' Mail ' knew this, and they would not publish this letter without the name, and they thought it would give them a few day's grace. The writer of that letter had been telegraphed to, and asked if he would allow his letter to be published in the Liberal paper in Nelson, which never refused to publish fair letters, (A voice : Give us the name ?j He could not give them that now, as he was not at liberty to do so. It was the universal custom in journalism for writers to forward their names with the not necessarily for publication, but as a guarantee of good faith. (Applause). Later on he said it was against a-ll rules of journalism to suppress a letter, ■uch as the ' Mail ' had done, refuting statements published. In speaking of the appointments on tbe Royal Commission to enquire into the Marine scandal ; Mr Palmer asked wby he bad not appointed a Supreme Court judge instead of a district judge. Mr Graham replied that if he had had the appointment of the Commission he might possibly have appointed Mr Palmer hi it. (Applause.) If the gentleman would guarantee to go through the report and evidence he would present him with a copy if be would undertake to give his written opinion on it, and judging by his intelligent countenance he felt sure he would be of the same opinion as tbe Royal Commission. (Loud applause.) | Certain accusations ha<J been made against