THE SECOND BALLOT.

Colonist, Volume LI, Issue 12407, 24 November 1908, Page 2

THE SECOND BALLOT.

Mil GiIAHAM AT THE DRILL HALL. A large crowd oi electors gathered at tii'j urui iiail ia&i evening xo near mr Airanam'B nnai speeeii ueiore iiio second Daiioc. 'ilio candidate, ou ascending - tue piatiorui, was greeted wr.ih loud ana sustained applause. He was also presented with several bouquets from little girls, amidst, applause. Mr A. A. Grace presided, and there wero on the piatfarm Hon. b\- Trask, M.L.C., Messrs J. Piper (Mayor), aud F. W. Fairey. Mr \V. J . ftloifatt, who was defeated- at the first ballot, was received with loud applause on entering the hall. Mr Graham, who, on rising to speak, was received with loud applause, after" expressing his pleasure at seeing such a large attendance, spoke in condemnation of the Second Ballot Act, which he described as a measure to enable defeated candidates to have a chance against their successful 'opponents. He denied most emphatically that he had voted for this measure. He referred to the voting last Tuesday, which he said was the heaviest that had ever been recorded in Nelson, and said if ho had had only G8 of his friend's (Mr Moffatt's) votes — and he was sure iihe latter would have gladly given them to him if they had known what the result would be — there would not have been any necessity for a second ballot. Brief reference was made to the passing of the Railway Authorisation Bill, which provided for the extension of the- railway to Hope, and Mr Graham read congratulatory messages received by him from the City Council and Chamber of. Commerce. He commented on the f aci thai no sucli message had been received from the Inland Communication League.- Mr Graham said he had always favoured reduction in Customs duties, and stated that- on _ three occasions he had assisted in amending the Tariff Act in" this direction, which had resulted in a reduction in these duties representing £600,000 a year. Referring to the .harbour works, he said they were the _ admiration of all the captains coming to the . port, and numerous congratulations had been received on their success. • Replying to statements that had been made during the week, ho said it was not true that if elected he would endeavour to remove the railway station from its present position ; he had not stated that 7s a day was" 'sufficient for a working-man;, and he had not addressed a meeting of electors at Aniseed Valley on a • recent Sunday. • In in his opinion, triennial parliaments were not in the best interests of the country, and he considered tiveyeara would be a great improvement. After referring to the beautiful weather experienced in- the Sounds last Tuesday, Mr Graham read telegrams from the Premier, Hon. R.MaaNab, Hon. W. Hall-Jones, Mr Colvin, M.P., and other friends, wishing him success at the second ballot. Waikawa Bay, where he received s a block ■ vote of 20 to hone, wired : ; "Will do our best to-morrow," and other centres wired that the prospects were even better than on the occasion of the first ballot.. In conclusion he urged the electors to record their votes, and hopejl that they would '■ repeat the splendid victory of Tuesday last. (Loud applause.) * The Chairman referred to the statements made at the Theatre Royal, and said that there were 900 people in the hall. -Questions were then invited. A Mr "Andrew Clark asked Mr Graham if he ever stated that 7s a day wag enough f.iro working man. Mr Graham repeated bis denial, when the questioner, pradu.iiacr an exercise book, from under his coat; shouted drainitically. "I hold the documents myself. You aid." Ainidsome. 'Uproar the chairman asked for the book, which oontained a number of newspaper clippings. The-Qi.estionOT painted one paragraph out, and Mr Graham prooeedad to read, "Mr Graham told' the Engineer of the Harbour Board to pay not less than eigbt shillings a day, but he was to get good man." An outburst of cheering made the remainder of the passage inaudible. On being appealed to the Mayor said that was more than tne ordinary rate of wages paid at that time. (Loud oh peringi ) : , Mr. H, B. Walker asked Mr Graham if be addressed a political meeting at Anisaed Vailey on a Sunday. (Cries of "No," and uproar. ) '• , M.r Graham repented bis denial, and said it was very evident the questioner had not beeo present during the evening. Mr Walker proceeded to speak, and was called to order by the chairman, amidst uproar. •....■ Mr F. W. Fairey then moved "That Mr Graham is the right man [ to represent Nolson in Parliament [ for the following reasons: That he * 13 * energetic, capable, and ever watchful for Nelson's prosperity f.nd her future, as bis past actions show, i and we, the electors, will affirm pur • opinion to-morrow, as we* did last Tuesday." The speaker _said Mr . Gruham had fought a cloan tight, 1 and was the right man to steer the 1 ship of State for another three 1 years. 1 The Mayor (Mi Piper) seconded the motion. Mr Moffatt, who was received with ' loud cheers, supported the motion. He understood that; Mr (Jraham did not intend to seen re-election, nnd that was bi'3 reason for standing. Lie considered tbat Mr Graham nad been fairly elected, and if he had known that so many personalities were to have bean introduced into the contest'— (Mr Graham: Not by me)— he would not have stood. The motion was tnon put, a forest of hands being held up in favour, and about a dozen against. l'he meatinjg coaeluded with ringing cheers for Mr Graham, and general enthusiasm, during which, the customary vote of thanks to the chairman, was carried.