AN ELECTION ADDRESS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4771, 11 October 1893, Page 1

AN ELECTION ADDRESS.

( Mr E. O. J. Funston at the Tuam Street Hall. Mr E. O. J. Funßton, one of the candidates for the Christchurch electorate, delivered his first addresß last; evening in the Tuam street hall. There was a fairly large attendance, and Mr J. Ffrost occupied the chair, in the absence of Mr A. Ayers. The meeting absolutely refused to listen to the remarks made by the candidate, and during their delivery a large section of those present indulged in cries of derision and ridicule, and made an uproar that at times drowned the speaker's voice. He read his address, and allowed the interruptions to pass unheeded, beyond stopping when they became too tumultotia. Owing to the continuous uproar, which only ceased at timea to change into a different key, much of the context waß lost to all but the listeners immediately to the front. Several times the crowd started "Ta-ra-ra-boom-de-ay," with pedal accompaniment, and once the first two bars of the "Dead March" were whistled. Mr Funßton thanked those present for their attendance, and asked that his many defects might be overlooked. He had come forward on account of the experience he had had in Birmingham and other large centres of commerce, and because he had been a3ked to do so by a large and influential section of the townspeople who appreciated Ms many years of commercial experience. He had given good advice to Mr Joseph Chamberlain, and had conversed upon matters political with Lord Eandolph Churchill. He was determined to alter the present system of trade, and had now come to tell tha working men of the Colony about the evila under which they were suffering. He had attended the opening of the Imperial Parliament, and had taken a great interest in matters political at all times, and therefore he was now in a position to offer himself for Parliament. The first reason for coming forward now was that he waß a commercial man, and had the industrial and commercial interests of the country at heart, haying associated himself with every progress. Secondly, because New Zealand as well as England expected every man to do his duty. He came forward without any personal ties whatever, and was pledged to no par by. He intended to deal with the possible remedies for all the evils that existed. He had to epeak about Protection and Freetrade. The industries of a new country had to be protected all round, and he was a Protectionist. Queensland would soon compete successfully with New Zealand in meat if that trade was not protected. The Freeh ade policy of England had been adopted simply for the purpose of gulling other countries to : open their ports to English goods. New Zealand had been allowed to languish and her backbone to become weak because men ; had been sent to Parliament who were ignorant of commercial affairs. Goods that could be manufactured here should be protected, and all else admitted free. The present trouble in New Zealand was because the population 'was composed of merchants, storekeepers, bank clerks and shop assistants, as well as a few well-to-do men who, for want of something better to do, went about seeking whom they might devour. The people of New Zealand were like a crew on a raft, living on each other and waiting for someone to come and deliver them. A certain class of people "would like to see beer and ale come into the Co'-ony free of charge, because they would like to shut up the breweries. Most of the colonists had been drafted from the large manufacturing counties of England, and their sons would never remain content: until they could follow in the footsteps of their fathers. New Zealand would have to develop into a commercial centre if it wished to live, and thejl Government would have to legislate oa better lines in this direction. ■ His next heading would be party government. Beware, he said, o£ so-called Liberals coming to the constituencies just before the elections. He was much against party government, and would deal with everything on a coin-' mercial basis. Men must go to Parliament free from party ties, and free to do what they could for the best interests of the country. Too many were consumed with selfishness. He was in favour of an elected Council. Regarding women'a franchise, he considered that tho3e who were against it s >owed selfishness, and were afraid that the women would upset their pet plans. Mafiy of the most successful, commercial men had their wive 3to thank for their success. Female franchise meant that a proper value would be placed on the labour of women. He saw nothing to be j gained from Federation. Business morality J should be looked to, and Republicanism should be shunned. Federation waa simply the dying gasp of Melbourne land boomers. He entered a warning against inter-colonial Freetrada, ■which would shut up what few industries New Zealand Lad in a few weeks. Regarding payment of members, he considered that a labourer was worthy of his hire, and if a man was required to work for his town he ehould be paid for it. Besides, independent men were not required. Industrial men were not wanted in the Houße, and good men should be put in even if a higher price had to be j paid. Railway management and freights { were a Chinese puzzle. The next thin g the I Government would be doing would be to \ hand over the railways to the English j money-lendera. The railway employees were under Berf-ru]e, and much ill-treated. | One of the gr?ate3fc drawbacks in New Zealand was caused by the fact that I many men hoarded up their wealth, and ! would only part with it at high rates of interest and good security. He _ would favour a tax to cause such men to disgorge their capital. He would take off the j j income-tax from small clerks, storekeepers | and farmers. Government debentures i should be sold to the public, and loans 'should not be raised outside the Colony. Banks did commercial instead of banking business, and thia was shown by the bank crisis in Australia. He was, therefore, strongly in favour of a State Bank. At present city men wera living on __ the farmers and sheep-owners. This position 3hould be reversed. Manufacturing industries should be established in the towns, and the city men turned into producers. Large estates should be all cut up. Firemen received shameful treatment, and had to turn out to false alarms without any reward. He would support State fire insurance and payment of firemen. He would like to see the gas works in the hands of the Corporation. The cost of the Legislature should be reduced to a great extent. At present the people were legislated to death. to please the whims of the members. Owing to party threats and the feara of moneygrabbers, the majority of the member? were of the legal'fraternity. Would any business man leave his business in the hands of lawyers, who were always the worst law-makers ?„ The country would not prosper under Labour members, who were the worst rulers of all. The Heathcote tunnel was a proof of the don't-care atti. tude of the commercial men of the district, and a proof of the regardlesßneßS of $he 1 Government to the interests of commerce. The Government held a monopoly, and exercised tyranny, which could only end in the destruction of the oppressor' or the oppressed. He believed in a half-holiday on Saturday instead of Thursday. II times were as they should be the storekeepers would be able to granfc it. He was a believer in the eight hours' movement I and in Labour Unions on proper lines i Wage-earners should wake up and demanc ' their rights, and plaae power in the hand:

, of those who would use it to their benefit. He held the key to the situation, and he wbb going to bring about prosperity to all. He would establish throughout the length ' and breath of New Zealand a "Wageearnera' League,", of which every man, woman and child earning wages should be members upon the payment of a fee of one shilling per year. Creed or trade should make no distinction. The objects of the League would be to promote the industries of the Colony, and to supply work to all classes. If the people gave him their support he would guarantee to set the machinery o? this vast concern in motion next session. The Union Steamship Company was one of the beet public concerns, turned to the worst public use. It was a spoilt child whose back would have to be broken. Manufacturers had but a poor outlet for their goods, while such . monopolies kept up toe freights. Dunedin firms and other firms were shut out of commercial intercourse with this' place on account of the high ratee. Eacing matters had to be looked to, and something better put into the heads of the youths of the Colony to drive out racing notions. On the education question he felt strongly. Unless children were instructed in religious matters the effect would be most disastrous to the commercial interests of the country. Some people would deprive one-Bixth of the population of the rights of conscience and religious education. The Catholic claims were most just, and the Catholic Church had done a great deal in the cause of education, and educated its children in a far •superior manner to those who went to the State schools. They only wanted a capitation fee of £2 per head, with the right to use their own books. It cost the Government £4 per head to educate the State school children, and if the other denominations would agree" to educate theit children at £2, the same aB the Catholic 3, the Government would Bave some thousands of pounds per year. Eegarding the prohibition and drink question, again he said let the Government make the country more prosperous and there would be lets drinking, as men in New Zealand were drinking in deepßration to drown their sorrows. There were far too many public houaes, arid the licensees had to resort to all sorts of objectionable practices in order to get a living. Why should people who liked the comfort of a glass of wine be debarred or it because some people took too much ? Why should a working man be deprived of hia glass of ale after a hard day's work, simply because a prohibition gentleman preferred a cup of tea and did • not work so hard ? QUESTIONS. Several questions were handed in to thecandidate, but were evidently of a frivolous nature, as Mr Funston said he had not come there to be made a fool of, and would not answer silly questions. He would answer any sensible question worthy of being answered. He had come there to do what good he could to the people— not to be made a fool of. (Loud derisive cries and uproar and a voice, " You're one already "; and another voice : " Why didn't you talk Bense ?") The Chairman said Mr Funston declined to answer any more questions, and therefore he declared the meeting closed; I The candidate lingered on the platform [ some time after the Chairman left, but the uproar was not abated, and ultimately he ; walked off amid a chorus of groans. i■ ' '. 1