ADDRESS BY SIR GEORGE GREY.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 2, Issue 346, 17 May 1881, Page 2

ADDRESS BY SIR GEORGE GREY.

Sir George Grey add’essod a crowded meeting last night, in tbs Theatre Roval, Auckland. A number of hdies were present, and Captain D. H. Mclenzie, chairman of the Central Committee, presided. Sir George was enthusiastically received. After referring to the pleasure it afforded him to meet the citizens of Auckland, and noticing some of the atticks made upon him, the hon. gentlemen went on to condemn the anomalous constitution of the Legislative Council, the gridironing system in Canterbury, p.vrality of voting under the county system, the Government insurance system and its abuse, the nontaxation of absentees, the unequal operation of the land tax, thcPatetere block, and the land question. le said the education expenditure -wouk be the first to be curtailed, if anything ,iad to be lopped off by the Government. Now if the unearned increment of picperty was taxed there would be ample furls for education, for free libraries in town, and for charitable institutions. He aid he had a new plan for remedying som of their political evils, and he mentions! it here in the place where he had Hud for so many years, namely—federatethe empire. The colonies were at presentiumb dogs. They ought to have a voici in the Imperial Parliament. He inteided to bring on a motion of that charactr in the Assembly next session if an oppotunity presented itself. If his scheme wa adopted by the Legislature, other Legislatures would follow suit and it would be impossible to take a retrogessive step. As to the Chinese question,the speaker said unless they barred out freign labor and kept themselves a pun race their demoralisation was certai. He did not think the present Goverment intended to bring in any measure on the subject next session. The quesion was a very serious one, r and ho hoed that Government would yet bringin a bill. The Ministry said they didnot desire fresh legislation. Possibly tey did not, but just as one stirred up a;on with a long pole, so he would stir p the Ministry. The hon. gentleman thei referred to the advisability of the younjprinces visiting Auckland, so that the naive chiefs might have an opportunity of testifying their loyalty to the Queen. A the conclusion of the address the foilwing resolution was carried by acclamatin ;—“ That the meeting accord its hanks to Sir Ceorge Grey for the abl and statesmanlike address which he ha: just delivered, and expresses unabated onfidcnco in him as a leader of the people.