THE GENERAL ELECTION.

Timaru Herald, Volume XL, Issue 3055, 9 July 1884, Page 2

THE GENERAL ELECTION.

ME ALFRED COX AT GE^ALDINE. ' Mr Cox addressed a crowded and enthusi-, astic meeting of electors iv the Oddfellows Hall, Geraldine, on Monday evening last, there were probably more than 300 people present. Mr Angus Macdonald, of "Waitui, occupied the chair, and m introducing Mr Cox, said it was almost superfluous to do so to a Geraldine audience. Moßt present knew Mr Cox by sight, all probably by name. He (the speaker) knew him before' he came to Geraldine, 28 years ago. Ho took that to be the reason why he was asked to take the chair. (Applause.) He did not know why a Geraldine audience was never very critical about what Angus Macdonald said. Ho supposed it was because they believed that if he did not say the right thing, he meant it. They had assembled to hear the views of Mr Cox on tho political subjects of the day. Though Mr Cox's opponent was a great friend and "favorite of his, yet Mr Cox was the man for them. That gentleman had already spent four years m the House, and had considerable weight there. He hoped they would give him a patient hearing, and be orderly when the time came for asking questions. Mr Cox, who was received with loud applause, said he should not go at length that night into the reasons which brought him forward to seek to represent this constituency m Parliament. He would give one reason only, that was that New Zealand was a free country, m which a man might do what was legal and reasonable to himself. It would be a poor look out when a man might not do that. He believed that no one seriously questioned his right to oppose Mr Rolleston He, however, had been laughed at and chaffed considerably for coming forward. However, as ho had said, New Zealand was a free country, m whicli a man could speak out and vote according to his convictions. His friend had spoken of him m a kindly way. He had no cause to speak otherwise of him. Mr Rolleston had spoken of him as holding views identical with hig own. In fact so much so that Ca;sar and Pompey were very much alike, especially Pompey. They had heard Ctcsar, and now they were about to bear Pompey. Ho would first Bpeak about men and measures. Of the men who came forward, and were m a position to assume the leadership either of a party or a Government, the first on the list was Major Atkinson, tho head of the present Ministry. He could say this of Major Atkinson, that he was an exceedingly able man both m his views and acts. He (the speaker) had supported him, but he must say that he had wandered somewhat latterly from hia beaten track. Obviously ho had lost his hold on tho representatives and the people. Mr Cox then recounted tho history of his Parliamentary career, his connection with tho various Ministries, and his oonuection with Mr Rolleston. Ho next spoke of Sir Julius Yogel. It would be affectation, he said, to ignore him. Ha had known Sir Jnlius m 1863, when he was a free lance, and a long way off from boing a Minister. It was a remarkable thing, and one which lie had never witnessed before, that this man no sooner came out from Home than the minds of all men seemed turned to him, although he was elected for no constituency. Throughout New Zealand men wore found pledging themselves to support him. It almost eeemed as if he had appeared when, the colony was m a depressed Btato, and ready to rusli into his arms. He hoped, however, that the eleotors of Geraldine would not send him blindfold to support Sir Julius Yogel or any one else." "He was predisposed to support Sir Julius Yogel m order to test what was m him, provided he formed a Ministry. ( Although, that gentleman had spoken, it was yot necessary that he should Bpcak more definitely and explicitly on some subjects. Ho, however, had already' dono : good by ' stamping out several quasipolitical questions such as Separation, which interfered with the real political questions which were before the country. Sir George Groy would m tho future lead"a party, no doubt, but not an Opposition, nor head a Ministry. He was an able man. Aftother soctional loader was Mr Montgomery. Uhtil those sections coalesced o» disappeared no strong Opposition could arise! " As to Mr .Rolleston, he would not speak of him, since if he were m, Mr Rolleston would be out of Parliament, and if Mr Kollestotf wdrc m, ho (Mr Cox) would bo out. Ho ?o^d, therefore, lay Mr Rolleston wido. .Besides the many ho had named, tharo were othew who might be m tho next Parliament, some who were capablo and many who wore ambitious to lead sections or parties. As to Mr KoUeaton, thero waft no one who ws» o better administrator than ho was. Ho (the speaker) was fitted neither by instinct, inte|lectj<:nor aspiration,, to lead. He was essentially one of the ruck. He* -therefore, would nst be brought within the roach of tomptatum for office, and would never bo tempted by getting into office to subordinate the interests of his constituency to thoso of tho country at largo. Mr Cox then wont on to speak of Mr KoUaston's Innd schomo, of tho Nationalisation ; of the Land find Perpetual Leasing. Tho latter he oharacterisod as a fad. They reminded him of the old school rhyme; — , ( „.,,,.''- „

Multiplication ia vexation, -— .._-■»■ — Division is as had, The rule of three it ; pazcles-me, '_ \ ': And fraotiona drive me mad. He was inclined to paraphrase- or -parody the old rhyme thus .— Land nationalisation is a vexation, Perpetual leasing is just as bad. --,- Ihis unearned increment "puzzles mo ' "' ' And Federation's only a fad. He differed from Sir George Grey, who wished to see aU people reduced, to a,common leTel. He, on the contrary,' wished .every child to .take' a higher placo than his father had. done. Mr Cox then discussed the rise-" m the railway tariff and the native policy at some length. Speaking of the latter, he paid the highest tribute to Mr Bryce as Native Minister. The North Island railways and the constitution of the Upper House were then spoken of. He thought the latter should bo nn elective body. The snbject of education was treated clearly and. fully. Mr Cox said he should bb m favor of giving grants to denominational echools provided they reached the Government standard of efficiency. The country had too much to think about to trouble itself about Federation for many years to come. He had great faith m the future of New Zealand. He also felt instinctively that he was to be the future Member for Geraldine. Tt was not his abilities that would win the election for him perhaps, but the energy of men who believed m him' and had known him for 25 years, and of new men who took up his cause on the faith of the 'former. In conclusion, Mr Cos said: Electors of Geraldine, I have to thank yon for the patient hearing you have given me to-night ;to express ' to you my warm thanks for coming together to hear me publicly express my views upon some of the principal questions occupying the mind ' of the country at this time. And I would like to cay m conclusion, that whether elected or rejected, I shall be prepared to say that I " -" have no regrets at having at the request of my friends, come forward to fight m a great and a good cause. " A coward would figbfc m such a cause." Men of Geraldine, if lam elected I shall go home made very happy. if rejected, I shall say .— " 'Tis better to have wooed and lost, Than never to have wooed at all." Mr Cox sat down amid considerable applause. The following questions were asled :— An Elector: Will Mr Cox tell us whether he intends to go to the poll, or whether he .• will resign, m favor of Mr Eolleston at the " eleventh hour P Mr Cox : This question, must have been given to me m mistake. It must have been meant for Mr Rolleston. Before I announced myself I considered the question well, and I have never reconsidered it since. I came hore with my eyes wide open. I am going to the poll whatever happens, and so I tola Mr Eolleston, who came down with me m the train. An Elector : Aro you m favor of the working men getting a pint of beer for 3d ? Mr Cox did not answer this question, which caused some amusement. Mr Waitt : Are you aware that the tele, graphic report quoted by Mr Richardson, of Mr Rolleston's statement about the railway returns is incorrect, and differs from the fuller report given by the Timaru Herald m these words, " Seeing that if things were allowed to go on, instead of returning: 3 per cent, only 2i per cent would be returned ? " Mr Cox said m these returns railways which were yet unopened were taken into account. If railways m full working only were ao counted, the percentage ought to have been 8J instead of 2j as stated. He did not see that the correction affected the question. Mr Waitt : Are you aware that there was a deficit from the railways to the amount of £56,000 for the year 1883-1884, ac stated m the Financial Statement ? Mr Cox : I know nothing further than what I have stated. Even if there wag a deficit of £40,000 I maintain that that was not a sufficient reason to plunge the country into the expenses of e.n election, the cost of which is £40,000, and that is not the whole. There is the question as to whether the Ministry has a right to take such a serious step without consulting Parliament. The net profit is set down on railways m official papers as £2 10s 2d per cent, including unopened railways. If £60,000 was' the deficit) it was not worth while to get a dissolution for. The greatest question involved is not a matter of £60,000 deficit; it is whether any MinisUy should be entrusted with such power that with the. stroke of a pen they can almost cripple the industries of the country. It is stated that Government lowered the railway rates to gain support, and that being done they had to raise them possibly for a similar purpose. This is the whole story. Mr Coltman (who was received with shouts and groans) asked if Mr Cox would be m favor of imposing a special tax on absentee landlords, who allowed their land to remain uncultivated. . Mr Cox said he thought such lands would be taxed m the ordinary course by the property tax. He would levy no special tax Mr Coltman : Is it true that at the last general flection you expressed yourself m favor of a national system of education ; and if so, when did you alter your opinion t ' Mr Cox said he certainly never spoke at tho last election, but he was m favor of a national system of education. An elector: If any general scheme for granting assistance or wholly providing for the schools outside the Government schools on a sound basis, which would meet with the approval of colonists generally and the electors of this district m particular were proposed, would Mr Cox, if elected, support v measure giving effect to the same ? Mr Cor : Yes, certainly. An elector: Will Mr Cox state to the electors whether he h coming forward as a candidate nt the present time m the interests of the Bank of New Zealand or any other bank or institution ? Mr Oox said there was a time when he had large transactions with banks. It was 35 years ago sinco ho began to draw cheques For 20 years he dealt with the Union Bank of Australia and 10 years with : the Bank of New Zealand, but had never before been insulted by such a question. However ha was not now m a position to be tempted m that way. He wob the nominee of no man nor institution. He was the nominee of numbers, and it was by numbers he would be OiCCt€d> In reply to a question, Mr Cox said • Ton ask me what I meant by saying Mr KoUeston was the nominee of Mr Postlothwaite —Well I may have erred m thus speaking of theaction or Mr Postlethwaite ibthis deetion contest. The word used is perhaps i ot the most appropriate to the occasion and circum. stances. Technically there has been no nomination yet; that is fixed for Monday next. What I mean v that m , Mr Poatlothwait* -. Mr Kolleston has.Rt hia back a big man as an electioneering agont a man not to bo surpassed There is not a man, woman, or child m this electorate tif Geraldine. that ha has not made an attempts bring within his influence j not a mftti tW he has not put his .and^on and gently urged to ™te for his- 1 ' friend; not a woman that he has not persuasively smiled upou; not a baby m arm* th»bhe_ has not shown a readiness to nurte. ' IfmyfnendMrßolleston bo not elected, it •= will not bo tho fault of the late hon. member for Geraldine. ■•■• ■-• '■ : In reply to a question As to how, if elected, io proposed to deal Tvith the unimproved and purchased purely ns » speculation, Mr Oox said let it bo 'valued and made o pay a property tax. Sir Julius Voeol laJd a scheme for taxing laud slightly For .^ local purposes. The speaker was opposed to a land tax, but if some such schemo as Sir ■■'■" Julius Togol'a wore proposed, he might bos " his way to support it. >■:■.' l An elector : Mr Rolloston having expressed himself to tho effect'that a representative, should liva among constituent*/ aha hairing promised to-do so, would' "yon" if ~ elected, do tho same P ' . i ' ; Mr Cox : I will not proiniso that unloss you will promise to find, me a hpnee. It i» -, all stuff about tho bonefit of living amongst yne's cenititnenta. I could coma down fepm CoristcUurch, m four hours, Jfr' Eoßeefon could come from his placo m two hour*. 'All the difference lay m that. With a free railway puss, he could oonie down *a often as necessary. ■ . • : iln reply to. a question, Mr Cox did not see why, after 21 years', tenancy had expired, the Crown lands should not be put up to auction and let the highest bidder ■be the next tenant. ; Aaeleoto* atked if MrOoxirould promise.

to aup/jXJt-t Sir Juliua VbgeV only, »p far as th« measures brought forward by him -would, ir Mr Cox's opinion, conduce to the welfare oi the colony M&wholeP , ■• . r ■:■ Mr Cox said Sir Julius Yogel was a strong man. of great abilities, and he ought to b< used m Parliament. ;He would, do service ir turning men's minds from, nonsensical fads and laying practical questions, before thorn He, however, wanted watching closely. Oni man, .however, did not form a Government He would, have colleagues, who would be i check, oa him. As to himself, he woulc follow Sir Julius Yogel go • long as he aotec wisely and well, if nob, he would cease to dc bo. , In reply to a question, Mr Cox said he had been offelred a seat m the TJppar Eouee, three separate times. Hia reply to the offer had been that if. ha could do any good service he preferred to be elected by ft body of people to look after their interests. Mr Gore : Will Mr Cor 'say whether ha thinks the Chinese will make good colonists P Mr Cox said that Chinamen at present did a lot ol useful, work, both on gold diggings and off. If they at any time should come m very large numbers he might then think it his duty to take some steps to protect European labor. Mr John HufFey then came forward, end m a speech m which he was constantly interrupted, proposed a hearty vote of thanks to and con&denca m Mr Cox as their future representative. Mr Amos Sherratt seconded the motion. .• . On the resolution being put by the Chairman three-fourths of the hands »n the room were held up m favor of it, while those against it numbered seven. The Chairman declared the resolution carried, he might say unanimously, and the result was received with great applause by the meeting. Three cheers were called for Mr Cox and were heartily given, with one or two extra ■ ones m the bargain. A similar compliment was paid to Mr Angus Mac* donald, the Chairman. Mr Cox and Mr Macdonald returned thanks, the latter saying m his opinion the meeting would have no reason to regret sending Me Coi to Parliament. He would do his duty as he had always done. (A voice : " Hell, do it, and without agants too.") The meeting then terminated.