BAY OF PLENTY SEAT.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3350, 17 October 1911, Page 2

BAY OF PLENTY SEAT.

MR. H. de LAUTOUR AT ORMOND. A REJOINDER TO RECENT CRITICISM. Last evening Mr Harry deLautour, Opposition candidate for the Bay or Plenty, addressed a large meeting of electors at the Ormond Hall. Mr Gilbert E. Jones presided. The candidate, who was frequently applauded 1 , said that his “cheek” in contesting the seat would appear to be colossal i.n the eyes of the evening paper at Gisborne. (Laughter.) 1 He must admit that he omitted to aslc the editor of that journal whether he could contest the election! If he was an Oppositionist how did he become one? When a boy he read the only paper they then had in Giborne'. It w&s then a strong Opposition paper, was the same “Herald.” But if lie could not see his way to change his coat when the “Herald” changed theirs, some few years ago, the “Herald” surely had 1 no legitimate right to blame him. He thought it was extraordinary on the part of that journal under these circumstances to tell the electors how they should vote. He was very pleased to see them say that if there was one man who had; a strong seat it was Mr MacDonald. Their haste to express tliis opinion showed that they were not' sure about it. Perhaps they wanted to create that impression. Proceeding, the candidate paid a high tribute to Mr MacDonald personally, but said that the policy of the Government whom lie supported’ was rotten. He then dealt with the public debt. It had, lie said, increased out of sight since the present Government took office. And the important part was that there had not been a corresponding increase in the population. The lack of settlement of the Native lands was one of the tilings that decided him in contesting the seat. He referred to statistics to show the large areas of Native lands in New' Zealand still unsettledl. Mr MacDonald, according to statements he quoted, was perfectly satisfied with the Government’s policy m regard to Native lands. The speaker said he was a freeholder, and he contended the Government should do its utmost to put young men on the land. To make good settlements they must let the people who took up the land own it. Mr MacDonald had! voted against the freehold in the House, and before the previous election he said he would support the freehold. The sitting member was a freeholder tied to the leasehold party. Mr deLautour then dealt with a number of other subjects, including local Government reform, and at the conclusion answered a number of questions. Mr J. A. Caesar moved a vote of thanks to Mr deLautour for his interesting address, and that, in the opinion of the meeting, he was a gentleman who was worthy of their sincerest consicleratipn at the next election.. Mr J. McLeod seconded the motion, which was carried with, applause.