MR GRAHAM AT THE DRILL HALL.

Colonist, Volume LI, Issue 12401, 17 November 1908, Page 2

MR GRAHAM AT THE DRILL HALL.

Mr Graham addressed a very larely attended meeting of electors at the Drill Hall last evening, nearly one thousand persons being present. The candidate on ascending the platform was received with loud and prolonged applause. .Mr At A. Grace presided and others seated on the platform were the Haii F. Trask, M.L.C., Messrs J. Piper (Mayor), A. T. Maginnity, T. A. Field, G; M» Rout, and F- Atkinson-. / In introducing. Mr. Graham . the Chairman Said he felt greatly, honoured at being invited to address such a large meeting of electors, and ne was proud to see. such a larga attendance to hear the final .speech ,bf Mr Graham. He referred to the policy initiated by the late Hon J: Ballaiice, which was successfully carried on by the late Hon R, J. Seddon,. and spoke of the assistance given by Mr Graham in carrying ifc out, mentioning among other things the Lands for Settlement Act; the Banking legislation of 1895, the labour laws, old age pensions, and other measures. The Chairman also referred to the services Mi- Graham had rendered the country- as Chairman of the 3ank ,pf JJew> Zealand Enquiry, anil- to the district in successfully opposing the Midland Railway Company's. proposal to omit Nelson from the original scheme of construction; with the result that today the policy of an arterial railway to the West Coast from NeJson was being carried -out* - In speaking of Mr Grahams candidature he referred to him as a man of energy and a veteran politician, worthy of their support. ...... : . Mr Graham, who t»n rising to speak was received with loud applause, expressed his pleasure at seeing jfutih a large audience of his fellow citizens, and he acknowledged the kindly words of introduction that had fallen from the Chairman, who, he. said, had given him credit for what was' only partly his due. After referring - t6 ..the 'matter of the Midland railway -ha-, paid -a high tribute to the late Mf Secldon .for the prompt steps taken by the Govorhmont in coming to. the assistance* of. the; fiafik j of New. Zealand, aij"d\.arßrtyig. iwhat i would have -brought ruin to thous- ! ands and injury to the whole col- j ony, the result being that the Bank { to-day -was' stronger -and more solvent i than ever before. Mr Graham said it was five weeks since he left Wellington at. the closo of the last session of Parliament and it was four weeks since he last addressed the electors, in the, citj: „^ Sln'ee then, he ha^.ttaYelle'd- over the whole, or the electorate and he expressed his gratification at tha expressions of good will he . had received. It had been reported, in distant parts of the electorate that ho had lost his friends in town, while in town : an endeavour had been rjiade..t6 ipaKe j them . bejievS that, ne haii lost sup- j port iii. the outlying portions of the ! electorate, but lie assured them that-j neither statement was true*. Never in his experience had he had -such assurances of support from the neoplo in all Darts qL the district. He enumerated the places where he expected to receive substantial maporities and asked his- friends to vote so as to avoid that odious measure; — the second ballot, fie related some .amusing of how Sorrto vote's of.cobfideTip" had boon ob_tsi.inod -iii the -jßouiids,.! and road .a. letter f-rom-- a Richmond resident (Mr- G. G. Wparinc) in which it was stated that tho onTnmumVn.ti?d. rfrtnvi of a roeetinp- Yield ni RicVimond aDDPnrins: in "Tho Colonist", was "purely bluff," 24 oloctors only b'-insr nresont r^ost of whom wore i his (Mr Grnhrnn'r.) BUTvporters. Ho ! h«»d avoided- personalities and bad j noh takon any notice of pin pricks, j ■sv'nV!) wero 'vnrio for electioneering ! nnrnosos. He expressed his thanks > to Mr Nhffstt for th» kindly remarVs that ho. had modo about. the services he had rendered tho district, while, cnn.diifitini*. .liTjfj (Mr. fatt's) oatnpnirfn. Mr Graham then snojjci of..t-ho. fnoasuros psss-ed by the T:!b»ral Government, .refo.rrinir to the nVi r>rrf> rjori^'ors he had rssistod to raise to the- nrosent sum, r>ot to rf^iipo pr hsd bepn stated); *hn oi-oiV s"Tioe snnf>r«ririu.ition,. «r)r!<wfcin'' . lands fnr Settlement, fitc, HI. of which lie lied assisted to riass. Ho roiterateel that bo sunportf d the CoveriiTnoTit r\s niraJTist the Opposition as it esistod to-day, and on a vote of ro-confidonco would support the Liberal GovornirontV but he resorvod himself the liborty of votinir" as ' he , -thought fit so long as it did riot involve the fato of tho Ministry. Statements had boen n>!ulo that, he wns unpopular in the House aiict the . GovrrnnfTit d'd -not want, him back., His friends- hnci teWmnbod tho Pmtnior 'who had ronliod that bo was the' GovernTfont oorirlidnte anr? wishod him eypry success. f>ncl ■ ;thn Gov^rnr^ont w.intod him back. YVoico : Ar\r\ th<\ pooplo want you back. — Loud ■■ putjlpuso.^ - Mr Grahntn read tole.n- rnTr ,t. from- Sir Joppr>K Ward. Fon W. Hall Jonos, Mr James Coiviu. CGovornmopt whip ls> st ppp?innV. For * • "". "liii'PT'nps rtbo Rr)of)' r orV and ' Mr T. M. Wilford! wish'Ti"-.hT'n Biir--cn«!s at the polls. Yapnlanso) and lott^rs of nrvproniatioTi of his sorHoos from tb" TTnnT Mnirfor" T?onrl Bonrd prd mr!>Vf'inls.^-. 'Mr GrnVnm thanked \ his town committee of b<\twoon 2-50'^nd - Q Of) for tbo mTrinr in which th»v- h»d" worlrod dnrin;T his trnvels in tho oloctorate, inlso his country, committees for their "ffort.s on his; behalf, Mr Graham sm'd tboro'wcre 7577 .namos on tbo roll, from which should bo doducfrd &>7; which had been struck off. Kstiraating that about liOO electors would not record their votes, this left 6200 likely to vote. More people had voluntarily given their assurances of support ;than half the total number on the roll, ; so. that if friends would only, make it their business to fulfil their" promises there would . be., no.-, second ballot in Nelson. Mr Graham concluded his remarks amidst loiid- applause. Questions were invited, but only one was forthcoming. In reply to the Plumbers' Union; Mr Graham said he was in - f avoiir of the Plumbers Registration Bill that had been before the Houses- and would do his :best' to make it law. : ;Mr A. T. Maginnffcy -in a eulogistic -speech r moved a hearty vote of thanks to Mr Graham for his past services, and confidence in him as a suitable person to represent Nelson in Parliament. (Applause.) Mr F. Atkinson, in a vigorous speech, seconded the motion, cheers greeting his remarks. :. The Hon F. Trask, M.L.C., spoke strongly -in support of the motion which on being put to the meeting was greeted with, such a unanimous chorus of' "ayes" from -within the hall, There wei;e a few shouts of VNo" from outside. ' The Chairman declared, the -motion carried unanimously by those within the hall. The customary vote of thanks to the chair terminated the. meeting.