SIR GEORGE GREY ADDRESSES HIS CONSTITUENTS.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIIL, Issue 297, 23 December 1878, Page 2

SIR GEORGE GREY ADDRESSES HIS CONSTITUENTS.

Ghbamstown, Monday. Sir George Grey turned the first sod of the_ Thames- Waikato railway od Saturday amidst great enthusiasm. There was an immense concourse of people including all the notables. An address was presented to Sir George Grey by the Mayor. In the evening Sir George Grey addressess his constituents in the Theatre Royal when 800 were present, the Mayor in the chair, anfl received a perfect ovation. He spoke

at considerable length on the affairs of the session in the course of which he pointed out the evils of allowing the land to be alienated irom the mass of the people, and landowners having a plurality of votes as compared with the one vote, which would create a governing class. He complained of the power of Governors to refuse a dissolution till the House wag exhausted by trying Ministry after j Ministry. Thus no Ministry could carry any measure with certainty. He deprecated members of the Upper House being paid 200 , guineas No other colony had such an -I Upper House as this. There were upwards or titty there now, andjlf his Ministry wished to obtain a majority there they would have to put m fifty-live more. Governors were appointed iv England for party purposes, and any Governor could ruin a Ministry by forming an alliance with a party, and in time cause the Ministry he opposed to fail into disgrace. He defended the action of the Government regarding the Electoral Bill, and announced that a better Reform Bill would be brought in next year, doing away with pocket boroughs and probably plural voting, aud giving triennial Parliaments, and also an opportunity of appealiug to the country. If he remained Premier he should endeavor to procure a property tak for the country. If a dissolution [were granted this year people Would have ah opportunity of Spying whether there should be a settled arbtotracy or not such as the " bonorables " appointed lately, nnd notice of which he refused to insert in the Gazette. He maintained that the colony had power to pass an Act, by which they could choose thoir own Governor. He condemned the power possessed by the Judges as unlawful A banquet given to the Premier in the evening was largely attended.