Mr Fraser at Shortland.

Thames Star, Volume XV, Issue 4845, 21 July 1884, Page 2

Mr Fraser at Shortland.

Mr W. Fraser, a candidate for the representation of the Thames, addressed a largo and enthusiastic meeting in the Shortland Public Hall on Saturday evening,. Mr J.Forgie being iv the Chair. The speaker, first gave his reasons for contesting the election, pointed out the large interests he held in the Thames, both in mining shares and property, and contended that daring the four years he represented this district in the Provincial Council, he had gained sufficient knowledge to enable him to take a place with confidence in the House of Bepresentatives., Parliament would, he thought, be divided into three parties, Sir Julius Vogel having the largest following, Major Atkinson coming next, and Sir George Grey (he was sorry to say) having fewest supporters. He hoped to see a coalition between Grey and Atkinson, as such an event would benefit this district. He was sorry to see Mr Speight attacking Sir Julius Vogelso strongly, as the latter was bound to have a very powerful following in the House, and if Mr Speight was returned his requests on our behalf would naturally not be very favorably received by Vogel. He (the speaker) was well acquainted with the members likely to be returned from fcoldfields constituencies, and from his friendship with them, he felt sure they would aid him, if returned, to secure justice to the Thames. After expressing his firm intention to conduct the election in an honest, fair, and square manner, and his determination not to be a party to any reprehensible practices, he gave his views on the land tax, the customß tariff, our railway to Te Aroha, the gum lenses question, and the necessity for furthering local industries, and then passed on to explain the reason why be did not answer the question put to him by Mr Speight on nomination Bay. The whole facts of the matter Were that about two months ago Mr Speight told him that he need not greatly trouble himself about preparing for the Thames election, as he (Speight) would probably be in the South Island by that time, in a post concerning which negotiations were pending, and asked him not to mention the matter. Two. days afterwards he heard from .several people in. Auckland that Mr Speight; was about to take the editorship of a paper in Otago. After the dissolution, and while canvassing for this election, he told this circumstance to several electors, showing them that if they returned Mr Speight the district would be in as bad a fix as before—represented by an absentee. This came to Mr Speight's ears, and he accused him (the speaker),, of betraying confidence, and thus taking an unfair advantage of him, but he told Speight at once he understood the promise was not to mention the matter at the' time he was. told of it, but that it was now public property. He then, however, promised Mr" Speight not to mention the matter again, and he felt in honor bound to hold his tongue when the question was put to him on nomination day, nor would he have again mentioned the matter at all had it not been for the fact that capital was being made out of his silence, and he was represented by Mr Speight's friends and supporters to hare been telling a lie. This was the whole truth of the affair, and he did not say it to damage Mr Speight, nor would he say anything against him more than was necessary to clear his. own character. (Loud applause). In answer to questions, Mr Fraser said hei would use 'his exertions to secure to those Volunteers entitled to it the land of .which the passing of the 1876 Act had de prived them ; «he would always do his best to favor the Thames Volunteer cause ; he was not the nominee of the Auckland Central Committee, but was fighting the election entirely on his own:footing, and with his own funds; some scheme should be devised by which sailors who were away on duty on election day should vote, and a measure with this object would have bis hearty support. A vote of confidence was proposed by Mr J. B. Sawyer, seconded by Mr Manning, and carried, there being only two dissentient hands held up. The speaker was frequently cheered during his speech. A vote of thanks to the Chair concluded the meeting. .