SIR GEORGE GREY AT DUNEDIN.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1951, 26 May 1880, Page 3

SIR GEORGE GREY AT DUNEDIN.

[Bt Telegraph.] DUNEDIN, May 25,

Sir George Grey addressed the citizens of Dunedin at the Princess Theatre to night on the political outlook. The chair was occupied by the Mayor, and the theatre was crowded. Sir George Grey, who was received with loud applause, said that he had thought it his duty to yield to the request of his friends to address them on the political position of the colony. He would start by setting himself right. He had been charged by the leading politicians with telling a deliberate falsehood. He did not, but on the contrary he simply told a sad truth. The speaker then went into his story of the telegram business, concluding by saying that all he had said on the subject was actually true. The Premier had placed himself in a most unfortunate position in this matter, and ho could excuse him for the language he had used towards him (Grey). The statement of the Premier that the Education Act would not be interfered with was one of the terms of the compact with the Auckland four. The other terms of that compact were not known, but everyone had a right to know what they were. Nothing more unconstitutional could be done than for our members to enter into a secret agreement of that nature with the Government. (Applause.) He deplored the temptations held out to members to act contrary to their previously expressed convictions, and said that a number of members lost their discretion directly they arrived at Wellington. After alluding to the advantages a nation derived from a good system of education, the speaker said that the Premier claimed credit for the Government for carrying out Liberal measures. The fact was that the members of the present Government had opposed Liberal measures for years. The Premier had opposed triennial Parliaments and the ballot, and his feelings were shared by the other members of the Government. The Treasurer was like a pampered porter at a palace gate, and if spoken to, his reply was, “Don’t disturb me, let me rest.” [Laughter.] All that that gentleman thought tne colony required was political rest. Ho did not intend to go into figures, but there were certain general things that would be understood by them all. It had been the custom in this colony to regard the land fund as ordinary revenue, and the deficiency during his term of office arose through the sudden stoppage in the purchase of land and the consequent falling off of this fund. But the land still remained ; it was increasing in value, and the deficiency was only a temporary one. It was said that the Government of which he was a member had made no definite propositions* They had proposed a land tax and other measures, but they were turned out and not allowed to explain them. Ho did not consider that the finances of the colony were in a desperate condition. On the contrary, the colony had a fair and prosperous future before it. The Premier said that there were seventy thousand acres of land open for settlement, but what was that among all the people who wished to purchase land on deferred payments. It amounted to absolutely nothing at all, and then look at the conditions with which it was hampered under the Property Tax. Many who purchased under that system would end in pauperism. If a tax of threepence or sixpence per acre had been put on the land under the cheap land regulations he had introduced, men would have been deterred from acquiring very large properties, while small settlers could have obtained land at 10s per acre. One thing that struck him was the vastneas of the subjects with which they had to deal that night, subjects upon which the future prosperity of the colony depended. It was said that he was always talking of the same things, but then he had to speak so often in different parts of the colony, and he did not wish them to have their attention drawn from the main points. [Applause.] The great fault of the Premier’s speech was that he dealt with none of these great questions, and sketched out no policy for the future. If the objects they had in view were carried out, it was a matter of indifference who carried them out. In giving manhood suffrage the Government had spoiled the spirit of the Act by the enormous powers given to owners of landed property. Those who proposed great measures at Home seldom had anything to do in carrying them out, and if we were to do good here, we must get rid of petty jealousies. After referring to the circumstances connected with the ousting of the Grey Government, the speaker said there was no doubt that the policy of the Hall party was to get rid of the land tax, and put the property tax upon the whole of the population of New Zealand. He did not announce this policy, but took the colony by surprise. So great a change of taxation should not have been introduced without the people be ng consulted on this subject. [Applause.] Mr Hall only aspired to be the servant of the people, but he did not ask them how he was to dispose of their property, and he did not act fairly. He hoped that they would insist upon all public men appearing before the people from time to time to educate them. The Act to which he had just referred was forced upon an unwilling House, and was supported by many men who hated it; but the question was which did they hate most, the tax or himself. The land tax was a fair one, but the property tax was unfair. [Applause.] The Deputy Land Tax Commissioner had published a book showing how to evade the tax. [Laughter.] When he first read it ho thought that Dean Swift or Mr Jenkins, the author of “ Qinx’s Baby,” had come to New Zealand. [Laughter.] Looking at the details of the property tax, r.o one could deny that it was inquisitorial, while many men would involve themselves in ruin by making a true statement as provided t>y the Act. It was useless to say that the information would be kept secret. He did not believe that anything could be kept secret. [Applause.] The information that by overestimating the value of his property a man could conceal the true state of his affairs with impunity should never have been put in the Deputy Commissioner’s book. The tax should fall equally on all men who derived a revenue from New Zealand, whether they lived in the colony or not, but this was

not the case. On the other hand the la tax reached everyone. The property tax did not deal fairly with all classes, and would keep capital out of the colony, and many men with money that might have been brought here for investment would never reach our shores at all. The tax was a positive premium for dishonesty, for the honest man would pay while the dishonest man would not. [Hear, hear.] There are men here who would enormously undervalue their property, and ho did not see how they could be got at at all. Why was such an Act introduced here when it had never been tried in any other British possession ? Great apathy was displayed when it was passed, and he did not think there was an intention to enforce it, as many Government Members were slumbering and snoring on the benches. They should insist that Native lands should bo sold as if they wore Government property. They should be put up in small blocks on a systematic plan, and the sale and description advertised all over New Zealand. The land would then be bought up by settlers, and would not fall into the hands of speculators. The Premier said that the Government intended to bring down a Bill of this kind, but he had not acted generously in this matter, as he (Mr Hall) had refused to allow him (Sir G. Grey) to carry through the Native Land Bill he had prepared. If such a Bill were not passed next session incalculable damage would be done. In connection with the land question, he distrusted several members of the present Government, who were concerned in transactions by which vast properties had been improperly acquired. Some of them were concerned in the extension of the Canterbury runholders’ licenses for ten years, and also in the gridironing business. The same thing would be done with the Otago runs if they did not take care, and the matter would be more serious, as there was no right of purchase at £2 per acre. The ownership of land carried with it the ownership of men. Ho was the lord and they were the slaves ; that was the way to put it. This was the cause of pauperism in European countries, and the gentlemen in power had endeavoured to bring about a worse system here. Look at the land laws, plural voting, and the nominated Upper House. He was not attempting to set class against class ; but it was really his opponents who endeavored to do so. Was not the creation of a nominated Upper House an attempt to create another class. [Applause.] He was the man who said that there ought to bo an elective Governor. Those who differed with him said he was trying to separate New Zealand from the mother country ; but this was not the case. After speaking at some length on this subject, Sir George Grey said he believed on this subject that he held an unpopular creed. [“No,no.”] Other creeds he had held had been unpopular once, but they had been carried out, and ho believed the time would come when the present Premier would be dragged captive at his chariot wheels. [Applause.] After a few more remarks, Sir George Grey sat down amid the most enthusiastic applause. Mr R. Stout then entered into an explanation of the circumstances in connection with the cable message sent Home for 6000 more immigrants. He was then Minister of Immigration, and took all responsibility on himself. A number of deputations waited on the Government, complaining of the scarcity of labor, and all that the New Zealand Government did was to suggest to the Home Government that the surplus labour in England should be sent here. If this had been done £120,000 would have been saved. [Applause.] He thought it would be well for the meeting to express an opinion on at least one of the matters dealt with by Sir George Grey, and ho would therefore move —“ That this meeting is of opinion that the property tax is impolitic, inquisitorial, and unnecessary.” [Applause.] Mr Stout then spoke for half an rour against the property tax, his remarks being well received. Mr Brown seconded the resolution, which was carried unanimously. Mr Thomas Bracken moved “a hearty vote of thanks to Sir George Grey for his able address.” The motion was seconded by Mr D. Boss and carried unanimously. Sir George briefly returned thanks, and was loudly cheered.