INGLE WOOD.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 8935, 18 November 1890, Page 2

INGLE WOOD.

[FROM OtJtt OWN CORRESPONDENT.]

MR McGUIKE'S ADDRESS.

November, 18. — Mr McGuiro addressed a very large meeting here on Saturday evening. The Hall was well filled, Mr Whitehouse was voted to the Chair. I may bore mention that -previous to Mr McGuire's meeting 1 a ruaiour was going lound that there- would be some disturbance. lam proud to have to record that nothing of the kind occuired. Mr McGuire got a fair hearing, and much attention was given to his address by all present. We in Inglewood are proverbial for giving fair play, whether we agree with the speakers or not. After the Chairman had introduced Mr McGuire to -the meeting.

Mr McGuire said it gave him great pleasure to be before them that night. When three years ago ho had contested his opponent was in good health, lie was exceedingly sorry to have to say that such was not the case at present. Now ho wished it to be clearly understood that auy statement he might make in the interest of the colony and of tho district affecting the honorable gentleman whom he again opposed in his address that evening would be made purely from a political standpoint. Ho would not be on that platform i£ he agreed politically with the membei* for Egtnont. They would see, therefore, that it was absolutely necessary for him to point ou r where they differ, in order that they might understand his political views. Air McGuiro then continued tlms :—": — " I justify my candidature on the following grounds : In tho first place our present member is tha head of the Government, which has failed in its duty to the countiy, therefore I am opposed to him. In the second place he has failed in his duty to the constituency which he represents. On both tliesa grounds he should, from my point of. view,"" be displaced. With your kind permission I will point out what I consider to be the duty of a Government, and what I consider to be the duty of a representative to his district. The first duty of v Government is to keep its name spotless. Did the Government act in a constitutional way when they appointed Mr Edwards a Judge of the Supreme Couit V If he was legally appointed, why pay his salary out o£ unauthorised expenditure ? If he was legally appointed, why did the Government require the House to pass a Validation Bill ? If he was legally appointed, why was the word ' judge ' struck out of tho Estimates by order of the Governor's message ? I believe such an unconstitutional appointment was never before attempted ia any portion of the British Empire. How the present Government kept their name spotless in respect to this appointment Ido not know. Again, if wo glance at the " Ward-Hislop-Fergus" correspondence — the correspondence on this matter has been printed, and can bo seen by any person — from it you will at once discover that those hon. gentlemen's attack on the Judge was most uncalled for, and unbecoming men in their position. The Judge's vindication of himself was accepted by the House as conclusive. Mr nislop, on the other hand, from his professional business relations in connection with this case, found the feeling dead against him, so much so that he resigned his seat in the Ministerial Benches, also his seat in the House. The other Minister, Mr Fergus, who was as deep in the mire as Mr nislop, was saved from following the footsteps of the Hon. Mr Hislop by the thickness of his skiu. I agaiu ask you have the present Government kept their name spotless in respect to this matter. Now this spotless Government determined to do a littlo business in the shape of loan conversion, but,unfortunately,thefinancialjposiLion of New Plymouth Harbour Board blocked the way, for it was well known that the Chairman of the Harbour Board had written to inform his London agent that tho Board would be unable to remit tho interest in full after a certain date. But as obstacles are only placed in the way to be surmounted, tho Government made up their mind that a littlo stumbling block should not be allowed tj stand in their way, they therefore determined to advance some short of the full amount of interest due to the bondholders. There are some who may think that this was done by Ministers in order to as ist the suffering settlors in tho Harbor rating district, but such was not the case. The Government was simply using the Board in order to better accomplish their ever honorable ends, viz., to deceive the British bondholders as regards the Board's financial position. The bondholders on that occasion received their interest in full and kept quiet. The way being made clear, the conversion took place. Who will therefore be so brave as to say that the Government have kept their name spotless. I will give another illustration, that sMr Hutchison's charges. GentlemeD, I have heard people say that there is nothing in them. Then why did not the Government use its undoubted influence with the Bank of New Zealand to induce it to at once furnish the Committee with tlie books they required. A very slight examination of these books would have effectually set at rest at once and for ever the question whether Mr Hutchison's very damaging chaiges had any tolid foundation or not. No private account of a customer, beyond the persons charged, need be looked at. Now the public ask if there was nothing to conceal why did not public men so seriously compromised instruct the Bank to at once show their accounts to the Parliamentary Committee. The matter of these charges was in the mouths of men long before Mr Hutchison brought them forward in his place in the House. I know some said that the public have no concern with the private affairs of Ministers, and that to enquire into them is an impertinence. In answer I would say that the public are deeply concerned in the honor and reputation of its Ministers. It is a thousand pities, in the interest of the colony, that they did not give every facility for the enquiry. 1 should be sorry to say that they are guilty, but there are many who do not take such a charitable view. They say the charges are so direct and damaging that they should have been at once sifted to the bottom, and if Minsters thought nothing of their own. reputation they should have some consideration for the colony, and that they should not have allowed four months to pass away without having the charges thoroughly investigated ; if innocent their actions still remain inexcusable. Have they maintained the first duties of a Government, namaly, to keep their names spotless? Mr McGuire referred to the fictitious surplus, also the public debt and bogus retrenchmeut, loan uct, absentees, duinmyisux land settlement, perpetual lease, education, charitable aid, &c.

Mr McGuire spoke for over two hours, and explained himself very clearly. Ho was asKed several questions, which he answered satisfactorily. What I have written is not one sixth of his address. Some person in the back part ot the hall gave three cheers for the major (Sir H. Atkinson), which was followed by three cheers for Mr MeGuire.

A vote of 1 luuks was proposed to Mr Mr McGuire, and as an amendment a voto of thanks and confidence was proposed. Mr McGuire said he would accept the voto of thanks only, as the ballot box was tho proper place to show their confidence. .This terminated the meeting.

From all I hear about this district tho odds are in favor of Mr E. M. Smith being returned for New Plymouth. Of couree the ballot box will explain tho fact.