ELECTORAL.

Thames Advertiser, Volume XXIX, Issue 9496, 25 November 1899, Page 2

ELECTORAL.

Sir W. McCullough at St. 6c org's Schoolroom

Mr W. McCullough addressed a crowded meeting of electors of the Obincnmri district at St. George's Schoolroom last night. There were a large number of ladies present. On the motion of Mr T. A. Dunlop Mr J. L. Walton was voted to the chair and introduced the speaker, for whom ho, askeil a pationt hearing. Mr McCullough, who on coming forward was received with great applause, slid : Mr Chairman, ladies and gentlemen,—ln presenting myself as a candidate for your suffrages at the forthcoming election for a representative in Parliament for your district, I feel, as I. suppose, other candidates feel, somewhat at a disadvantage, in so-far as I am asking you to give me the confidence you have for years reposed in a very honorable man—Mr A. J. CHdmfm, - who deservedly stands high in your esteem. The Hon. Mr Cadmao is, however, an exceptional mau—he possesses qualities' not possessed by the majority of men, and certainly cot possessed by the ordinary member of Parliament. He has proved himself an able adminis* trator, has shown himself a painstaks ing and hard working member of Parliament, and an excellent repret tonlativo for the Ohinemuri electoral district. I feel called upon to say that in my opinion, that by Mr Cadman retiring from political life this district will lose the services of a good man, , the Parliament of the colony a useful . member, one who stands as high in the esteem of its momber as any man who ever held a seat in the councils of this young nation. (Applause). AN IXPLANATION. , During my canvass I have been | asked how it was that I did not aw nounce myself as a candidate earlier, . I havs felt called upon, at other centres, to give an sxplanation, which [ is as follows:—I was at the banquet 5 I tendered fo the Hon. Mr Cadman at , the Thames at which he first publicly ! announced his intention to retire from political life. I was called upon to speak on that occasion and in the most forcible language I could command I > urged the Hon. Mr Oadman to recon* [ eider his determination for I, in , common with others, felt that bis , ceasing to represent this district would be a loss to the community. During , last Be:sion of Parliament I saw Mr , Oadman almost daily and continued to urge him to allow himself to be again , nominated for Ohinemuri, assuring , him that his re-election would be certain. You are aware that, recently, : a requisition was signed to Mr Oadman i urging him to comply with the request of the requiskionisti and again offer | himself as a candidate. On the 25th , of last month I sunt Mr Oadman the ! following telegram I hope you will stand for Ohinemuri. If you will , not I shall be a candidate. Please , let me know .your decision as early as possible." You thus see that until Mr Oadman bad definitely decided not ! to stand it wa3 impossible for me to commence my candidature, for had I t done otherwise it would have looked as though I had been urging Mr Oadman to bccome a candidate on'the one hand, and undermining his position on the other, should he even* tuilly decide (o become a candidate, personal:

Men often find themselves in positions in v hick they are sailed upon to be veiy candid with their fellow men. The position I find myself on the present occasion is one when a man is. called upon to give his entire confidence and to be absolutely candid, when he teeks the confidence of bis fellow men and women, and asks them to eele; i him as their repre:entative in Parliament, I propose giving you my eoufidence in the hope that you will in return give me youn on the principle that one good turn deserves another. (Applause.) POLITICAL POSITION DEFINED I am a Liberal of the Liberals. I havo been so all my life, and am now of an nge not likely to change my opinons.l am a supporter of the present Liberal par.y, because I believe that p-rty the be "t calculated to advance The Ballance-Seddon administration has pasted many laws, and all are attempts to improve the social and moral condition of the people. It is needless to refer to them at any length, for are not we all living under them, and have we not been benefited by them ? I will, however, I briefly refer to the more important act 3 which have been "pi;3cd in recent years. ARBITRATION AND CONCILIA* TION ACT. Probably no Act that has been passed by our Legislaure or any other Parliament is eo far reacting in it 3 effects as this Act. All wise legislation should have for it 3 object the improvement of the condition of the people—to advance the cooial, mora! and materiel welfare of the peoplt who have to live under the laws in any country. The eim of all legislation ought to be to meet the requirements of the community ; it should remove any grievances or evils the people have, and add to the . sum of human happinecs. I have always been williug to support all measures calculated to benefit the mas:e3 This is not the game as England and other countries where a section of the people known as the governing class have been the ruling J power. Here we have a democracy-* i all questions are settled by the people. las a wholo, Every man is equal in the eyes of the State, and has in pi ineiplfl an eqnsl voice in making the laws upder wtyoh they live, The

mentioned has teen mos beneficial in its opwati''!!. "Wii.it. ii.<h it done? It has first of all definitely defined iho relations between capital and labour. It has given industrial rest to this country—one of the greatost factors in ensuring industrial progross — r-.at between the man who fir,d* the money and the people who do the labour by which he earns the interest. Let us go back and see what were the relations of capital to labour many yjars ago. There is no doubt that capital in the past did persecute labour and made slaves of men and women. In other words the capitalists took as much labor as he could get and paid 'as ltttle for it as possible, In England and other countries the laws aro more favorable to the capitalists,. as they encourago the employor to get as much profit out of his employees as 1>« can The result of this was that the laborer got to regard oapital as an enemy, and would give as little value for his wapes as he decently could. But uud*r tlis Arbitration and Conciliation Act in Now Zealand that feeling is rapid y dying away, Labor is expected to giva a good day's work for a good day's pay, und the law fixes the rate of pay and houn of »labour. Of couiso it cannot make men work But we have regulated both rate of wages and hours of work aud the capitalist recognises that, it is far better to go on quietly with his workmen by paying them good wages and trusting to their honour to give a fair equivalent in return. In?tead\of labour legislation being calculated to J drive capital away as some people j argued, a moment's reflection would Bhow that it would have a contrary effect. The Aot has raised the social and moial tone of ihe laboring classes ' We cannot now be made slaves and j cangivoour labour and got a good j price for it. Our industries are, flourishing in New.Zealand. Capital is stil! being intioduced into the colony and it is as safe as it can p jssibly be. It knows now that so long as it. deils | fairly with workmen it has nothing 'o fear. This law has done as much as; any to place the relations of cipiial, and labour on a good footing, (Loud applause). ADVANCES TO SETTLERS By this Aot the agriculluri-s's had been greatly benefited. Prior to its, bo ming law there was a difficulty J in gat'.ing young men to go on the; laud, for the reason that th j r« was little or no profit in farming. Many mea had invested the whole of their capital in land, and woro cramped for want of money to work it. Then they had to borrow at rates varying from 8 to as high as 12J- per ce;it. As farming only gave a profit of about 10 per. cent, it would be seen that farmers were heavily handicapped. The Advances to Settlers' Act, by giving them the advantage of cheap money, had enabled them to work their farms at a margin of profit of about 3 per per cent., and though this was cot much it was an inducement to farmers to continue their operations, and eacouraged them with the hip) that oven if they did not make a fortune out of it they would be able to leave a paying homestead to th ir children. (Loud applause.) MINING. The Mining Act now in force was a great advance on that previously in operation, and though it was by no means perfect, the security of tenure offered, and the 42 years loaso, w6re , acceptable to English investors. There were defects in it—such as the clause relating to tributing, but that was due to the fact that the Mining Act of 1899 was carried through the House at a late Btage of the. session when there was not timo enough to give it adequate consideration, OLD' AGE PENSIONS. Last, but not least, is the provision made for the declining years of the workers widor tfot most beneficial and advanced measure -the Old Age Pensions -Aot. You have no doubt witnessed its far-reaching benefits, and therefore there is little necessity for me to dilate upon the usefulness or the righteousness of such legislation. (Loud applauso). LIBERAL LEGISLATION. I have referred to a few only of the Acts passed by the Liberal party. Taking a measure dealing only with the great body of labour arid its relation with capital -the Arbitration and Conciliation Act—the Advances to Settlers' Act, which is of more immediate benbfit to that other great sees tion of the community—the agrioul" > turist; that more particularly relating to the industry of the Ohinemuri elec. torate, while the last-mentioned is j universal initsapplication. (Applause). • PERSONAL. I have told you the position I would take as your representative, and now I propose tollirg vhy I think I have claims on thfa corcQV.tnty, and what qualifications I poasess in support of my claims. This is essentially _ a mining community, and in its representative it should of neoessity have a mining matt, and one well acquainted with the district, its wants and requirements; and also a practical mm. The theory of Government is that each individual who lives under the laws should have a voice in the making of them; that the units of the State have a right to be heard, but as all cannot personally give their voice and attend, they elect from among themselves one to represent, them in the great councils of the nation. Naturally men and women should elect one of themselves—a local man—one whom they know personally; one who feels with them and is interested equally with themselves in the progress and welfare' of their district. I claim I can fulfil all tho conditions I have laid down. I haVe forked as a miner for wages on the

Thames, and previously on the West Coast. I subsequently had charge of several mines as man* ager, eo I am a praotioai miner—so much so th<it when thr proprietor of the 'iime:—then published in Sbortland in tho early seven 4 ties—wanted a practical man aa mining reporter, I was offered tho position on the Times and Evening Ster. Then I commenced my cuveer as a journalist, and for years I reported on all parts of this goldfiold r. rsd wrote on mining ■■iubjf.cis. I,am thus a practical miner; I know what mining is in ail its branches, and I am able to express those wants. (Loud applause). MY OBJECT. In this mercenary age it is usual for men to ask what object another man has in working for any position. 1 may be aslcod ths same question ;so therafo e to sav trouble I may answpr itatorce. I have no-axe to grind either for my.>o!f or my friends. lam not in need of the honor.irium; I have no giiovancps to sut right; I liavf nothing beyond the very laudable one of desiring to represent in tho Parlia raent of our country my fellow men and women. I have already told some of the qualifications I possess. I may now state that I am ready to place that knowledge and experience at tho service or my t fellow colonists, and, like all who are in a position to do special work for their fellows, I consider it a duty I owe to myself that I should use my talents for the general good. Such are the objects I have in askihg you to elect me your represen« tative in Parliament. 11 have thus given you my entire confidence, told you what I am in politics, told what qualifications I possess to discharge the responsibilities I propose taking upon myself, and which I ask yon lo ohergo me with, (Applause.) OTHER MATTERS. Mr McOullough then referred to the Accident Insurance, the Loans ti Local Bodies, the Wages Protec ion, Payment of Jurors, and Employment of Boys and Girls Without Payment. Prevention Aots, all of which he believed to be for the benefit of. the people. CONCLUSION. In conclusion, Mr McOullough urged the electors to pick the best man to represent tbem. If they thought he was not the best man they should not pick him; but if they did they should send him to Wellington, where he would promise them he would do his duty as a man. (Loud and prolonged applause.) A large number of questions were put and answered. On the motion of Mr George Brown, seconded by Mr J. Somervell, a hearty vote of thanks was passed to Mr McOullough for his able and instructive addi ess.

A vote thanks to the Chairman concluded the proceedings.