MR SPEIGHT AT AUCKLAND.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1928, 29 April 1880, Page 3

MR SPEIGHT AT AUCKLAND.

[By Telegbaph.] AUCKLAND, April 27.

Mr Speight addressed the electors to-night at the Mechanics' Institute. There was a large attendance, and Captain D. H. McKenzie presided.

Mr Speight commenced by referring to the technical circumstances connected with the ejection of Sir George Grey's Ministry, and the part Mr Pyke played in that affair. When the subsequent caucus was held, it was stated that the only obstacle to the accomplishment of the Liberal programme was the leadership of Sir George Grey. On Sir G-eorge Grey hearing this he came and made a speech, which should endear him to every man in the colony. He said the Liberal cause was more to him than the Premiership of the colony, and he would not stand in the way. It was now aaid Sir George Grey was deposed, but that was a pure fabrication. What did all the misohief was the grossest perfidy and treachery, and he would prove it from records of the past. In the speech of a West Coast member there was a reference to this. When Mr Hurst took the gentleman by the coat tail, and said, " There is a split in the party; they expect members from Otago, and they have not come." There was no former example of such deception on the part of public men. He believed a thing had been done of which i Auckland had a right to be ashamed. Mr Speight here read the election addresses of the Auckland four, amidst much laughter. Then there was Mr Hurst's recent speech, which had produced a correspondence with Mr Vincent Pyke, as indicative of his conduct. He had not made Mr Fyke fatherconfessor to Mr Hurst, but Hurst himself. As for himself (Mr Speight), he believed in Sir George Grey, and would follow him as leader, both for his ability and his purity of motive. The Auckland party was utterly destroyed by the action of the four members referred to. What had been gained by it ? They wore bound, if they wished to gain anything in the Assembly, to be not only true to their leader, but true to each other. It had been said there was some uncertainty of utterance on the part of some- of the Liberal party on the education question. He yielded to no man in his admiration of that system. He could toll them that Mr Hall and Major Atkinson were both opposed to it. They had a Minister in Auckland, and what had they got ? Let them go down and look at the reclamation works. As to Liberal measures, tho Hall Ministry adopted the Triennial Parliaments Bill. It was a fine antidote against talking. He invited every man to register, and had before him on tho table 500 forms for registration. As to the Liberal measures of tho last session, he objected to the additional Customs taxation, and property and assessment taxes, although many members voted for tho latter tax, believing it would never be collected. Major Atkinson, for party purposes, had exaggerated the deficit; but if the deficit really existed to so great an extent, Mr Ballance proposed a method of meeting it much more preferable. The expenditure this year was £39,000 more than I last year ; yet this was a Government of 'economy ! The Civil Service needed reform.

Nothing was more common in Wellington than to see men thrust out of the public service for disolosing abuses which they had witnessed. He believed that the only ultimate way of getting justice for the North was by separation and adjustment of liberties according to expenditure. Auckland had a muoh better prospect than the South. The latter had realised their landed estate, while Auckland had yet to come into hers. As to the disfranchising of Sir George G-rey for Chrißtchuroh, four men whom they all knew had to go into the Government lobby owing to the exigencies of party, where their conscience would never have led them. The District Railways Bill was a disgraceful proposal, on which the Ministry changed i;s front no less than three times, and it had all the aspect of a job. From .£400,000 to £600,000 was a great sum, and he (Mr Speight) and others would have remained there to the present hour if they thought that the £600,000 would have been of any use. Mr Macandrew and Mr Sheehan voted for it, probably because the proposal was made to them when in ofEc9 ; but if it had their assent it never had that of Sir George Grey. Mr Speight paid a tribute to the Otago members who had worked with the Auckland party, and said there was, and would be next session, a natural alliance between Auckland and Otago. Ho was opposed to the present Ministry, and would do his best to eject them. Who their successors should be ho left to the future. Mr Speight spoke for two hours and a half, and concluded amidst cheers, Mr J. O. Oarr moved, and Mr R. S. Felton seconded, a vote of thanks and confidence, which was carried unanimously.