THE LATE ELECTION.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13803, 14 January 1909, Page 6

THE LATE ELECTION.

PRESENTATION TO Mil W

JEFFRIES

A meeting was liekl in-the Volunteer Hall. Temuka, last evening for the purpose' of making a presentation to Mr \V. Jeffries, who at" the late election was the Opposition, candidate for the Geruldine scat, headed the poll at tho first ballot, but lost the seat by a, small majority on the second ballot. The meeting Was to be followed by a dance in the' Drillshed, and the first arrivals were a number of young persons looking forward to that amusement, and young ladies in white anil hatless were prominent in the front seats. The hall filled up as the meet-

ing proceeded, until there must have been about 300 present,- including many female voters. Mr Alex, Frew, Deputy Mavor, presided, and on the platform were also. Mr Hardy M.P., Messrs W. S. Maslin and F. H. Smith, Opposition candidates at the late election. Dr

Hayes, Mr A.E. G. Rhodes (a forrr Member for Geraldine, Messrs 11. H. Rhodes ,G. Saunders and Stiggms. Among the audience were one or two members of Mr W. D. Campbell's Timam Committee,

The chairman in opening the meeting said it was designed to be a perfectly friendly gathering, and he hoped they all would enjoy' it.' He re;»l telegraphed apologies from Messrs Massey, Allen, Rhodes and other Opposition members' of both the iVorth 'mm' South Islands, and others, mentioning last .1 cable from Mr W. D. Campbell, Opposition candidate for Timarn, on which ho spoke eulogistically ot the creditable' fight for Conservatism put up bv "the twin brother of Mr Jeinos,'" a voung man very little known ,11 the. district. The social character „v t.lO meeting was emphasised by tho programme opening wren several songs, ~y -u.sses \\jnjsiit and lien, Messrs 1. j-'alliscr, B. Coira and J>owden, and Liu-so \.u-e followed by the speeencs. ,ur riardy, tnc first speuKer, oxpressed his pleasure at being present to uo honour to' their guest and at seeing so miiiiv present. He proceeded to speak of the need for an Opposition, when' they had such a weak-kneed, ; limp-backed Government, given to backing-down, and to "nailing thencolours to the mast and then pulling tnemdown.' At tnc very tii>t ii.eccuiti of the new Ministry they gave another example of backing down. Relerrmg to Mataura, he regretted the defeat of Mr Mci Nab, "while glad that the Minister had been put out. Mr Hardy made a few remarks on the question of the miners' trouble. Ho asked a. Minister what clause 10 meant when he saw it in the Bill, and was told that it was only an Imperial law, and was not likely to have much effect in New Zealand. It was having enormous effect, and there was no saying yet where it was to end. In the meantime an important section of the industries of the colony was paralysed. Touching on the increase in the number of Ministers Mr Hardy said that if Ministers stayed in "Wellington and attended to their busiuess, there would be uo need for an increase in tho number of Ministers, instead of that they spent "a large amount of their time going about the country influencing elections. Alluding again to the hue gathering, ho expressed surprise that they had not elected'Mr Jeffries. Ho believed, how-

ever, that at next election the Opposition would capture all the uouna'y seats and' .many ,of the town seats, at any rate they would make a m» tr.y i... •it. Mr Hardy was frequently applauded. Mr Maslin congratulated Mr .'e M 'H's on his success, and, though unsuecest, tul, on the splendid meeting then before them. He had urged Mr Jeffries to come forward six years ago, and lie had been well satisfied with the splendid fight lie' Una inane, and tut iv.i.v

he had raised the Opposition vote in the electorate. Mr Jeffries would make a very good Opposition member. Oppositionists were not mere obstructionists, but had to do a. great deal more work than Government supporters. I'liey had to criticise Dills ami proposals, which Government supporters had not to trouble about. The Jess a Government supporter bothered his head about such things, the hotter supporter ho was. Mr Jeffries and Mr Campbell would have been splendid critics, just the sort of men wanted. The Opposition, he said, had never been so strong as now since the Seddon Government came into power, and it would be stronger still before long. In conclusion he congratulated Mr Jeffries on the success he had attained, and the electors of Geralc]inc on the appreciation they had shown of the Opposition candidate. (Applause.)

Mr F. H. Smith ventured to complain, that young men had been kept back instead of being urged to come forward, when their energy and their public spirit and unselfishness would be found to justify the selection of them as members. He was -sure that Mr Jeffries would some day bo a member — ..and more than that —Premier of New ■Zealand, and he Mr Smith (still a young man) would be one of his colleagues. (Laughter and applause.) Dr Hayes then made the presentation to -Mr Jeffries. He remarked that such a meeting, so long after the election, and after the holidays, showed the interest in politics in the- district. Mr Jeffries, he said, had a big fight against a well-known and popular man line Mi Buxton, an excellent man, whose only fault was his politics, and Ins getting tin; help of Ministers. It was a. very wrong tiling indeed that Ministers should spend the money of everybody in canvassing for their supporters, hi spite of that Mr Jeffries had been very near winning—had won in fact, bub Tor the second ballot. Mr Jeffries hr.d probably lost votes by being too plain- 1 spoken against wasteful expenditure—including £.10,000 at Mt. Cook. The Fairlic people probiVbly felt rather, small now. They had been gulled, and were not to get the £IO,OOO spent after all. Fanners who voted for the Government would perhaps feel sorry too, now that Mr Hogg—a Socialist and, in favour of taking the duty off flour — had been made a Minister. Or Hays extracted some, : musemciit from flic I'iiine Minister's n'l.se of Mr Bud'lo as "a practical farmer," in explanation ■"' his appointment as Minister of Internal Affairs and Minister of Health.

])r Hayes tlion held up a small handbag in which ho said there was 4'150, representing far more than £l5O worth of appreciation, and said lie had the greatest pleasure in presenting it to Mr Jeffries on behalf of his many political supporters, saying that it was only right that a man wlio fought their battles and could not very well afford it. should not be expected to do so at his own expense.

The whole meeting stood up and sang "For he's a. jolly good fellow," and cheered Mr .Jeffries.

Mr Jeffries, in replying, said lie ■v.ircely knew what to say. The first thing that occurred to him was that the present was. proof that the spirit, nf the Opposition party in the district, was not (lead. lie felt very much gratified by the very kind remarks of those who had spoken, esnecially Mr .Maslin. who had, as be said, suggested to him that he should conic forward three years ago. fie expressed his thanks to those who had stuck to him through thick and tin—-Hieir (•Iceman. Or. Hayes. Mr McKpown. Mr ■limn.'.;, and many others. including

ladies and Mi- :i{. H . Rhodes, who mked bard lor him in the southern l>.ut o the electorate. Ho was verv ploascd to receive a cable Iron. Mr Campbell Iron, ■Melbourne, who was in the same boat with hini—a. defeated but not discredited candidate. He would say that if his services were desired, he would' bo glad to be a ;a.--dirlate at the next election, and if there was a b.v-eleotioii anvwlieiv; in "this island, or either island," and the Opposition party: approved of him, he would be prepared to fight it. He was greatly gratified by the exhibition of appreciation which such a- meeting showed of the s stand taken bv the Opposition, it raigured well vfcir the future. One thing that struck him was the change' that had taken place in public opinion. FormeHy a man scarcely dare say. that he was opposed to the Government; many dared not say so. Now tlvey spoke freely. There had been some tinfair dealing'in connection with the election, but his conscience was clear: he had avoided all bitterness and ill-feeling, and if he felt that he had done anything but' was right and fair and decent, he would hand over the present to the Timaru hospital. He was proud to receive such an unmistakable expression of confidence, and he- hoped to be there to prove on some future occasion that he was worthv of if.

Mr A. E. G.j Rhodes, who' was received vith great applause, said he first gave an address in Temuka 22 years ago. and a number more later, and he was very glad to meet the Temuka people again after representing them for n, Jong time. He congratulated Mr Jeffries on the splendid fight he had made, and added that be had no doubt fliat -Mr Jeffries would be the successful candidate" at the next election. 'Mr Rhodes made some pleasant remarks about old times, and concluded by moving a vote of thanks to the chairman.

Mr Frew having acknowledged the compliment, the whole company sang "God Save the Iving." the meeting terminated, and the young neople made their way to the "Drill Hall for the dance.