The Stanmore Representative.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5093, 29 August 1884, Page 4

The Stanmore Representative.

PUBLIC MEETING OF ELECTORS. The Committee and supporters of Mr D. Reese met by advertisement in the East belt Oddfellows' Hall, last night. There was a very large attendance, the hall being quite full. Mr Henry Toomer was called to the chair, and explained the reasons which had induced him to call the meeting, not confining it to the Committee. He apologised for not holding the meeting at a more central place. He then read the telegrams which had passed between him and Mr Reese, as also the following letter from the latter gentleman ; — " Wellington, August 22, 1884. " Mr Henry Toomer, Dear Sir, — I received your telegram, to which I replied, and promised to write you full particulars of what took place previous to my voting, so that you might understand my reasons .for voting with Sir G. Grey. Well, to start with, when I arrived in Wellington, I met a great number of the members from all parts of New Zealand. We soon began to find out our parties and their strength. •.The .^followers of Grey, Montgomery and Macandrew, about 40; ot Atkinson, 31, ,and of Sir J. Yogel, 23. Yogel, with tho of Robert Stout, started to try .and get Macandrew to join Yogel, but Mac would not do so without Montgomery. When I found this out, I tried "to get Mr Montgomery to see Sh* G. <*rey, but h« would not condescend to „.eee G. Grey to try and consolidate our par,ty. At i'lis time there ■was a great deal of whipping going on. I entered into this fun with spirit, and after an introduction to Sir George Grey, I mentioned the matter to him about how necessary it was that he should see Mr Montgomery about consolidating the party? He agreed, and said he would go and see him at once. He (Sir G. Oroy) thougb this was a very fine opportunity of forming a very strong Govei . aent from the three parties now in the Housa; so he went to Montgomery and had a loaf* chat over the position, and the result was that Montgomery agreed not to do anything jvithont consulting Sir ft, Grey, 'f]ias very 1

afternoon Yogel sent for Macaadrew, 'but J he said he could do nothing without con- .5 suiting Montgomery, which he did,! and took Montgomery back to Yogel and Stout, and after a consultation they agreed to offer a seat to Grey in the Ministry, which they did. Grey refused, saying that Yogel and Stout were intriguing to destroy the Liberal party by asso-^ ciation with the conservatism of Yogel. \ He told them that he had the support of a : great number of the Atkinson party, and if they stuck together they would form a strong Government, hy taking two from the Yogel party, two from the Atkinson party, and make up the remainder from our party ; but they refused, and joined Yogel. But before joining Yogel, they started a rumour in the lobbies that Grey would do nothing withoufrhe was Premier, and doing what he liked. I saw Grey- soon after this interview, and Teported what was reported. He said it was then that he refused to act with Yogel ; but he never said he wanted to form the Ministry, and be everything and everybody ; on the contrary, he was willing to stand out of it if it was necessary, and if Yogel could not form a Ministry, and the Governor sent for him, he was prepared to advise the Governor to send for Montgomery or Macandrew, and they could form a Ministry with or without him, Sir G. Grey ; but, notwithstanding this, Montgomery and Macandrew joined Stout and Yogel. I was to have seen Montgomery and. tell him what he said, but, on second thought, Sir G. Grey said he thought it would be better if he went straight to Montgomery himself . So he went and interviewed Montgomery; but no, Montgomery accepted office with Yogel. The day following the Canterbury supporters of Yogel met in the morning, and decided that it was a great mistake to have anything to do with Montgomery ; in the afternoon they met at Vogel's house, and urged the advisability of throwing Montgomery overboard. Beoause Yogel would not, Grigg and Wakefield left his party. It then became a fight between the Grey-Atkinson and Stout-Vogel. " I having taken an active part in trying to consolidate the Liberal party, and the desertion of Montgomery and Macandrew from what I considered their political principles, I said I would stick to my colours, and support Sir G. Grey, and I.think, by doing so, wo have heard the last of these two men as leaders of parties. It then resolved into a fight between the two Islands, and I considered it wrong that the. South should have tried to encourage that feeling. The Canterbury members tried hard to get me to vote with them, but Lstood to my post, and that was what two or three others would like to have done, but had not courage to do it. I knew I was doing an unpopular act at the time. I consider I have acted right, and if you will wait for a few days quietly it will come all right. I have nothing to gain by my action. On the contrary, I have offended a great number of our Canterbury Tories, and Mr Holmes in particular. He has been very busy since the .division, inspiring telegrams from Christchurch. I would ask you to look back. a few weeks, and see who it was I had to fight against, and I think you will see it was the Yogel element ; and you all mind that I was a great admirer of Sir G. Grey, and as long as I find him trne and consistent I will follow him, but if he tries anything that I consider wrong, I will not support him. Surely my vote has not caused all this disappointment to Canterbury. Yogel has not many followers out of Canterbury. It is serious times for New Zealand just now. Yogel may have another trial yet, and it is hoped he will get better men in next time/* He would leave the matter in the hands of the meeting, trusting that they would give it a fair, cool and impartial consideration. He had had an idea of publishing the letter, but would like the meetii&g to say whether it should be published or not. It was proposed by Mr Ward and seconded by Mr Maddison — " That the letter be published." The resolution was carried unanimously. Mr Dombrain thought that the question was : Had Mr Eeese kept his pledge to his constituents ? (Cries of " Yes" and" No.") If he had let those who thought so show . that he had ; if he had not let some older elector move a vote of want of confidence. His own opinion was that Mr Eeese had not kept his word to the electors. (Cheers.) Mr Storyer would accept the challenge of the last speaker, and show that Mr Eeese had broken no pledge. At the same time, he (Mr Storyer) deplored the action Mr Eeese had taken. Mr Eeese had promised to support the Liberal party, but the Liberal party had become divided. Mr Yogel himself had Baid that the adverse vote had been given on personal grounds. (Cheers and dissent.) Mr Clephane, who was received with yells and hisses, thought a resolution should be moved by those who found fault with Mr Reese, and after that an amendment might be proposed. Mr S. Clarkson, who was received with demonstrations of approval and the reverse, had a resolution to propose which he hoped would be passed. What difference was there between the policy of Sir Julius Yogel and the ticket Mr Reese had been returned upon ? There was no difference. He moved — " That this meeting having heard the explanation of Mr D. Reese as to his reasons for voting against the late Stout-Vogel Government, consider them unsatisfactory, and his action in the matter inconsistent and totally at variance with his political pledges given before the late election of members ; this meeting therefore has no confidence in him as member in the House of Eepresentatives for the Stanmore district, and the Chairman be requested to forward this resolution to Mr Eeese." (Loud cheers.) Mr Maddison seconded the resolution. Mr Clephane spoke at some length in defence of Mr Eeese. Mr Berg could not allow to go unchallenged the statement in Mr Eeese's letter with reference to Mr John Holmes. To prove its incorrectness he would say that he had telegraphed to Mr Holmes : " What do Canterbury members think of the member for Stanmore ? " Mr Holmes had replied as follows : " People here think that Eeese was very unwise to do as he did, but attribute it solely to the evil influence of Grey on his mind. In fact, Reese was not here.24 hours before he was a violent partisan of Grey, and strongly opposed to any Government that would include Yogel." (Cheers.) Mr Collier defended Mr Reese. Mr Darlow was dissatisfied with the action of Mr Eeese, for whose return he had worked hard. He trusted, however, that the verdict would be given after mature and calm consideration of the points in dispute. Mr T. Carmichael, like others present, had been victimised by the action taken by Mr Reese. He had objected to have his name put on Mr Eeese's Committee until assured that he would not be a blind follower of Sir George Grey. (Applauso.) Mr Laurenson made an appeal for mercy, and moved as an amendment — " That this meeting expresses its deep regret at the • action taken by Mr Reese in voting against j the Stout-Vogel Government." Mr Flexmore seconded tho amendment. I He knew that, though the meeting was called for supporters of Mr Ksesej it was actually composed of men opposed to the representative. (" No," and " Yes.") Mr Eeese was a straightforward, honest .man. ' (Cheoi-3 and dissent.) If a requisition was got up calling on Mr Reese to resign, he •would get up another calling on him to | keep his seat. (Cheers.) Mr Partridge, though not a supporter of Mr Eeese, claimed n right to be present, as tho Chairman had given permission to others tban those originally invited. He spoke at soinelength against the amendment. Mr Clephane spoke in support of the amendment, but was refused a hearing until the Chairman threatened ,to close the meeting without bringing the matter to an issue. The Chairman asked those who had not voted for Mr Reese not to express any opinion on the resolution. Mr Ward contended that the m&sting was a public one. (No.) The amendment was put, and about a, score voted for it ; against it a considerably larger number voted, and tho Chairman declared it lost. Mr Storyer moved this further amendI ment—" That this meeting strongly ccn- ,

•sures the action -taken l>y Mr Reese in voting against tyhe Stout-Vogel Government,, and considers his explanation unsatisfactory; and begs to remind him that, the views of a inem'ber of Parliament ought to coincide with 'the views of the majority of his constituents. This meeting informs Mr Reese that the electors of Stanmore are thoroughly opposed to a Ministry contain- : ing Major Atkinson, and hope that he will 1 vacate his seat if heoanuot conscientiously, vote against it." The amendment ■was put, and the Chairman' declared that 5(1 had voted for it and : 3(3 against it. The original resolution was then put ; 48 voted for it and 40 against it. A vote of thanks to the Chairman closed the business.