MR WILLIS AT THE DRILL HALL.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XLIII, Issue 1500, 5 December 1899, Page 2

MR WILLIS AT THE DRILL HALL.

There was a Curge audience ut the Drill Ha: 1 lust evening (both parties bihg wellrepresented) to bear Mr vVillis- address to the Wanganui- electors. His Worship the Mayor occupied the chair, anil- in "opening the proceedings said Wanganui had never failed to put up a record in attendance at political meetings. He had now presided at three meetings, and he hoped this one would prove as well conduced as its predecessors, and asked that Mr Wills • should be accorded a fair and patient hearing. Mr WHis said be wished to c'.ear the at-' mosphere of the untruths and false statements made against him. Notwithstanding that it had invariably been the, custom for such untruths to be spread, about at election times it was aregretable pratice. Ho had not yet put. his pen to paper to contradict any otthem, so now he would refer to themThe matter of the assertion thai, dual voting had taken place at the Federal meeting — made by Mr Murphy mas the first to deal with. It had been asserted by Mr Murphy that 'he (Mr Willis) had printed *fche papers. This was not true, and those who knew him- cou'd not believe him capable of doing such a thing. He made allowance for the youth of Mr Murphy, but notwithstanding the contradictions the Chronicle had received that paper had still insinuated that there was truth in the assertion. Such conduct did not redound to the credit of the Chronicle. The ballot was taken at the Druid's Hall, and Mr Witiams was so satisfied at the .fairness of the ballot that he had come forward at once, and offered to act as his chairman. The least the Chronicle said about the matter the better for its reputation. Mr Murphy had made other accusations against him, and one was that he (the speaker) had voted against the Eight Hours Bill, because it would entail his (Mr Willis) doing away with his boy labour. Under this Bill no. man. in any trade would . be allowed to work overtime, and should he do so both emp'.oyer and man would be liable to a heavy penalty. When he explained this to Mr Murphy, he (Murphy) asked him why he ad not told him this before. Mr Murphy subscjuenfy had said he was in favonr of the Bill with modifications. He (Mr Willis opposed the Bill jn flip interests' of both employe]: and employee. Then there was th"o Masters and Appreneices Bill. A» a matter of fact there were only five boys In his establishment. If the Bill had been passed these boys would have to be dismissed as the Bi'l enforced the apprenticeship of lads. This he did not think advisable of being enforced, as in many cases boys were not necessarily fitted for this or that particular trade. The passing of such a Bill could not however effect his own establishment even though he had to sack the four boys referred to. Mr Willis continued to refute certain other statements' made by Mr Murphy. " ' '• ■ Mr Willis then referred to certain matters appearing in theChronicle, and made the most astounding assertion that it was generally imdersfaod tha£' sue}: letters were more often fh2n not made up jn the news paper office. This reference had special meaning in regard to the laying out of his garden, for which he had employed a strangei' from Marton. As a matter of fact an old friend of his (Mr Hunt) had been promised the' job, and the result was what they had ai'.l seen. This was aH there was in the accusation. As to the assertion of his having double-shuffled in respect to the Eastowii Station — there was no truth in {.he 'ijccustjtion, and he had done all he coiiCd 1 to '"get' th.e"stytjpu| greeted. There was another acussatipn in tlie 'phrqmele of th# fcioyning. He "had Hjet a Pressman at I/awrepoe shortly pfter his fjrst session, and the result of the interview wag somo jumbled up facts about leather medals, gold medals, etc, and a lot of ex> aggreations, that might be designated as scandalous untruths. When this supposed interview had first appeared in the Chronicle he h>|rf mad «i. Letter explaining the whole mafer, ai)d denymg t|ie spppusad report of an interview as containing nothing more or less thaii utruths. As regarded ths writer pf tlje supposed interview he would tell them that the same man had spoken a few words toMr Heddon, and the result' was a full column of" reading matter Since Mr Seddon hadlcft Wanganui that day he had sent mm (Mr Willis) a telegram stating that he (the Premier) had •ißUjjjied jjeajtry at tte article in tat morntti)£BCJnou}o)e'ufcj lie i«ti<igrijsecl the writer. Mr Willis" lier'e varied his audience that £}} e 5 r would no., douut see lie after Vje'dislic'd up for' jthem' bofwpsntjiat' and the day pf | the election^ but jio dojijjt ' j^Mjo wputa be more' interesting than ever ' a'> it wjjuid jin)ba))lv' contain something •very choice. Such, tactics wc^e tjie >»«? jplfi duj-jnjf election time, and when $e nolljiig was over they »'puld p.ropapi'Y have the C'lirOiHclo saying th.iit it, was a fatter for congratulation t-bnt the Pontpst had been cprriel out without resource lo per- ; sonalities. j Mr Willis leaving personal mattel'S tholl . gtive' ft 'defcei'tutiqn on the Keddon Govern- jment's legislation as "ag^ni'nsE that oi Major Atkinson. Major Atkinson had gone out of power, and Mr Scddon had driven the ljrut nail jntp- the coffin of the Conserva- . tivc party' by altering jilie' ii^ojideijt^' of tax- ! a'lion. Mr Uji; lance had wet with great flljljpsjtigi). and had probably been hurried to his grave by the £tppr)s[tif)n. Well Mr ' Scddon hud done this. (A voice— No ! Mr ' ftiairtnce). -Mr Willis -\y ell, Mr Seddbn was ' one of the sq it comes ' to the ' same thjng. (A voice —No 1 It is npt thq Biijiie. thjng; it was Mr Ballance, not' Mr Boddon), Mr Willis here Ternarked that' it wiis peculiar to hear the Conservatives praise Mr Ballnnce now he was dead, though whilst living he had not a, good word from them. Mr Carson, at his meejidg, had taken exception to his {Mr Willis') figures, but he wonld assert that what he had quoted was from the year boob and correct. With regard to llio £0,000,000 borrowed by the Goyerrjirient, the money, idLcame back in the way of interest and bonds, 'b'esjdes' givih" a I profit of ittS.QOO for use,' The Government hud raised A2,0QQ,0.q0 fq,- jq (ln§ f 0 K ptti<jr.s; and this did away with trie high' rate of interest hithevto paid by the settlers, He hisnself • ]

had supported this Bill when in the House. The Government had ajso raised large sums for loans to local bodies, and not only re- ' coived the money back but also made a profit. \ Questions were then asked for, and a budget was handed up to the Chairman. | The first question evidently proved a most disagreeable one, for Mr Willis flatly refused to answer it, as there was no name attached. ' He said it was mean and despicable for people to send up questions withont their uames. (The audience were at variance on this matter, and the major portion did not seem to agree with Mr Willis, and demanded that he' should reply, but the Chairman I backing the candidate up, the matter dropped. Mr Willis, however, notwithstanding that questions were unsigned, proceeded to answer several to the following ctlect. He was in favour of abolishing the totnlisator, as he thought a system, of gambling by which the Government made £13,000 a year profit, should not be tolerated. As to striking out tne " top line," it was his business whether he did so or not. Mr Willis said he was not in favour of an Elective Executive, as it would lead to logrolling and corruption. Mr F. M. Spuidle moved a vote of thanks and confidence in Mr Willis ns a representative for Wanganui. Mr T. B. Williams seconded the motion, and made an appeal to the electors to return Mr Willis and support the Liberal Government. He attacked Mr Carson for criticising the Government policy and for not having voted for the Transvaal Contingent. He was of opinion that Mr Willis was - a fit person to represent them. He hoped they would return Mr Willis by a large majority. The chairman put the motion, nnd the show of hands for and against was about equal, but the motion was declared carried, Mr Willis, returning thanks, said he had not been treated as fairly as his opponent, Mr Carson, had been. The meeting then closed with ch?crs and counter-cheers.' .-.H »!>■..' .