ELECTORAL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5689, 7 October 1896, Page 1

ELECTORAL.

MR W. CULLEN AT THE -ART . GALLERY. ', Mr William Cullen. a candidate for the representation of Christclmrch in Parliament, addressed a meeting of electors at the Art Gallery last night. About 150 persons were present. , . The chair was taken by Mr Joseph Tnlley, who stated that Mr Cullen had been nominated by the Tailoresses' Union for submission to the Central Council as a candidate for Parliament. Afterwards he had been nominated by the Trades and Labour Council, not, however, for submission to the Central Council, and he had determined to stand by that nomination. Mr Cullen said that he claimed to be a lon&fida labour candidate; he had been a unionist ever since a year before he was out of his time, except for about a year and a half. He had fought to have the meetings of his union removed from a publichouse, had taken part in the formation of the Typographical Society here, and had been elected successively its vice-president, president and representative to the Trades and Labour Council. Workers had a right to be represented in Parliament by one of their own class. Much of the labour legislation in New Zealand was purely technical, and could only be understood by men trained in the particular subjects with which it dealt. Every large centre in New Zealand, except Christchurch, had a labour representative. If he were returned, labour questions, labour legislation, and the interests of workers generally would with him take precedence of everything else, and he would only ally himself with that party or that Government which would give him labour legislation and- Liberal measures. The only party l\kely to give labour legislation and Liberal laws was the par£y which had been doing so for the last five years, and if they abandoned that party on account of their own particular little fads, they would be false to the interests of the working classes. (Applause.) They had free and secular education, and he would not allow the Bible, the Text-book or anything else to interfere with that system. (Loud applause.) If the Bible were to be read in bcLools the Roman Catholics would have a just claim for Government capitation, but he thought it would"- be best to leave |hings as they were. ("Hear/ hear.) He believed that women should have equal legal, political and social rights with men. He would refer the question of whether the Upper House should be abolished or reformed to the people. Should the people determine to reform it he would like to see it filled with men who had been or were chairmen of Coxinty Councils, Harbour Boards, Chambers of Commerce, Trades and Labour Councils, unions, mayors, and members of Boards of Arbitration and Conciliation. The members, however, should be elected by the people, not appointed by the Government. (Hear, hear.) He held it to bft the duty of the State to see that everyone who wanted work had it. The present charitable aid system- was not only a drag on those who paid the tax, but degrading to those who received it, and tended to demoralise them. Blocks of land should be set aside to educate, people who wished to go on the land. (Applause.) These could form State farms"' of different grades. He would be in favour of the eight hours day, and the abolition of overtime wherever possible. The State was practically making larrikins by not providing that boys should be proj perly taught some trade, and paid while working at it. (Applause.) The cause of half the prevailing immorality was not drink, but the fear of starvation. A minimum wage would benefit both capitalists and workers. (Hear, hear.) He was in favour of the referendum, which should be so arranged that the people could put it in force themselves. In any Bill for raising a loan or for, national prohibition, there should be a clause referring the question to the vote of the whole people. (Applaiise.) He approved of the election of the Executive by the representatives of the people in Parliament. (Applause.) He advocated State pensions for the aged and infirm/ and the passing of a Betterment Bill. (Applause.) The municipal franchise should be extended to all adults, and all local Boards should be directly elected by the people. It was an incontrovertible democratic principle that the bare majority should rule, in everything (Applause.) Prohibition was not a political question, bub its ideal was good, though it must be attained gradually. The question of whether the liquor traffic should be regulated by a three-fifths or a bare majority should be decided at the referendum by a bare majority. He would not abandon the Government which had given so much Liberal legislation if it would not give the bare majority. Mr Cullen was subjected to a prolonged " heckling," at the close of which Mr Klein moved — "That this meeting thanks Mr Cullen for his address, but has no confidence in him as a candidate to represent us." The motion was seconded. Mr Davey moved as. an amendment — " That this meeting, thanks Mr Cullen for his address." Mr Wright seconded the amendment, which was carried by 1 a large majority, and the meeting closed. In response to a requisition from eight hundred electors of the Riccarton district, the Hon. W. Rolleston announces his intention of contesting the Riccarton seat at ,the approaching general election. [Per Press Association.] WAIMATE, Oct. 6. Mr H. R. Parker, a candidate for Waitaki, addressed a meeting here to-night. Generally ho was opposed to the present Government. He received a patient hearing, and was accorded a vote of thanks.