Home Rule Campaign

Waihi Daily Telegraph, Volume VI, Issue 1849, 26 January 1907, Page 2

Home Rule Campaign

- ■ ■♦ Opposition Meeting at Auckland

Mayor Consents to Preside

Speoial to Daily Telegraph. Auokukd, this uay. YBsrEtDAY a depntatioD, consisting of (he Revs, 0. Watt and J. Wilson and Mt Rose, waited oil the Mayor to aßk him to preiido at a mooting lo bo hold in opposition to Homo Rule, ut Mr Watt seid he thought it only right that the people ot Auokland who were op. posed to Home Rale should have the opportunity of expressing themselves if thoy so desired; and a great number of reputable oitizen's had written to him approving of the .proposal. A preliminary mooting hid resolved to ask the Mayor to take tho ohalr in his official capacity—they were not of course ■• oonoornbd as to what his personal vlewa ' on the question might bo. The Mayor ssid that having heard the names of the propoeod speakers, he accepted the deputation as a represen. ~f| tativeone, and as he was satisfied that ; \ the object of the proposed meeting jsas to disoues a matter of great publio in. lorest-he might say an Imperial quej. < tion—he would aooede to their request to (abothe ehiic. He wished to take this •opportunity of expressing his regret thai a soetion of the oommunity had teen fit to question the ett'qoetio and seemliness of his aooeding to the request of the deputation that conveyed to nim there, eolation passed at a pnblio meeting, asking him to take tho ohalr at the Home Bole x meeting.' When a mombor of the British ' ' House of Commons desired to address a meeting on any matter of pnblio interest, and tho Mayor was approached by a reprei sentative deputation asking him to preside, lis considered it his duty to do so; and II was a matter of deep regret to him that his notion should havo been misinterpreted, Mr Watt said that he thought the feeling on the enbjeot had become intensified owing to the Bolion of the Premier In giving his support to the Home Bale dele, gates, and also beoause all tho mayors in ->A the southern centres, by presiding at Mr *v Dovlln's meetings, seemed )o identify themselves with bis views. The Mayor paid the ; faot that other mayors had presided at these'meetings oonfirined bis opinion that be had taken the right course. If be had refusid to preside, he might fairly .have been io< oused of partisanship, ' Mr. Watt: "I do not think you oould - have dono anything else; you would have "town a party spirit if you had refused.' and now that you have'consented to take the ohair at the meeting on the other side -> <■. aa well, that frcos yon from any suggestion of partiality," • ~-.'■ • , Tho deputation, fhon thanked M' Mayor, and withdrew, ■■■',-., (