ONE OF THE "AUCKLAND FOUR."

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XV, Issue 120, 20 May 1880, Page 4

ONE OF THE "AUCKLAND FOUR."

The following is from the Star's report of Sir jGeerge Grey's late meeting In Auckland V —--" In response to loud cries of " Swan-son,-Swanaon," Mr Swanson, M.H.B. for Newton, made his way through the crowd jn thiTbpdy of the hall, and c mounted. the platform, but was received with ft 'storm of hisses and groans. Throwing bis hat carelessly to one side, he sat down upon a chair, and calmly awaited (the Bubßidence of the uproer. He made several ineffectual efforts to speak before silence waß restored. At length he was heard to say, Mr. Chairman and gentlemen— l did not volunteer to come here, and I was not invited, but I have heard a great deal about the iniquity of making compacts. Now I am going to tell you about a compact (hisses and groans). The Chairman ; You have called Mr Swanson before you, and you ought to hear him. Mr. Swanapn : If you will be quiet, I will promise to be brirf. When we went down to Wellington, immediately after the Governor had delivered bis speech, there was a caucus of the Liberal party, at which I was present, and the conversation which I am going to relate to you, took place between Sir George and myself. Every gentleman who has spoken to-night was present, and heard it. I shall repeat the conversation without a syllable of addition or omission. It has been been kept very secret,— nothing said about it. It has not been trotted out before tbe world, and this is the first time that it has been spoken of. A programme was read by Sir George Grey, who presided, and I said, " Gentlemen, if this is the programme, I had better go." (Interruption, and cries of Order). Sir George Grey said fo me, " What is your objection, Mr Swanson ? " I object distinctly to any interference with the property vote. If any party introduces such a measure, I will not only oppose the measure itself, but the party introducing it." A Voice: " Give us the Bill of Sale that you sold the province on." (Cheers and laughter). Mr Swansoc: If you want that, my friend, you are going the wrong way about it, because tbe House of Assembly with all their power was not able to bounce me, and I doubt whether yon or any other man in this room is able to do it. The Voice: We "ought to have it, Mr Swanson." — "You may think so, but you'll not get it." The Voice : You'll have to give it." Mr Swanson: "Silence you hound. If the people want to hear m 9 what right have you to interrupt me ? (Uproar.) Those who know me know this

— I never turned my back on friend or enemy in my life, and it is not likely that I am going to be afraid of such a cur as you." A Voices " Shove him down." Mr Swanson: " If you mean to speak like that, just come outside aftar I have done and I will talk to you. (Renewed uproar). Sir George Grey said to me, after a pause, "Mr Swaoson, if that is your only objection, the party may drop it." A Voice: " You may drop it." Mr Swanson: "I won't drop it. I waited for a considerable time, while tbere was a long pause, in order to see whether anyone would speak, and I said— " Gentlemen, on the understanding that that is to be dropped, I shall remain." What was tbe result? I discovered, though not as soon as I would have wished — that this solemn pledge —and aa we are talking about solemn compact?, it may have been considered a comic one — was broken. The very men who made that pledge to me attempted to destroy the property vote, succeeded in destroying the leasehold vote, and carried in tbe Lower House in spite of me, a measure providing that all tbe elections should take place in one day. I pointed out that the power of the town people would be destroyed by the system af election which they proposed, and that the Central Committee would be rendered powerless and unable longer to exist. My liberalism consists in this : in giving votes to men who have not got tbem. and not in depriving tbem of tbose rights which they possess. My Liberalism consists in endeavoring to secure for every man in the town as well as in the country employment, and a house and ground of his own. It may be all wrong, but that is my view, and I apprehend that I have a perfect right to express it. As near as possible to the place where I am now standing when I was asked about the matter of following Sir George Grey, I answered that I waa entirely different from any of the other members — that I was reelected without opposition — that no man bad asked me for a promise (and if anyone bad it would not have been given), but that then I would make this promise — that I would support manhood suffrage, triennial parliaments, and an income (ax. I said (hat I had often voted against Sir George Grey, anl that I (night do so again, giving him, however, the benefit of the doubt. So long aa be was leader I gave him my general support. A voice : You'll not go back again. Mr Swanson : That is possible, but let 009 tell you this— that it takes two parties to bring that about. I have been told that before and yet have gone down, although I have never asked for a vote. I have been a representative man for the greater part of 20 years, and I appeal to you now if I have ever

asked any one of you for a vote for myself. I may here repeat what I told the people of Newton at my election: — "Do not think that I am going down to do what you think right, but to do what I think righf, and if you don't tbiok I am doing right, you can easily get rid of me. Two thiDgs will then happen, you will be better served, and I will have more time." A voice from the stalls : I'll pull you out of that. Mr Swanson : You know a trick worth two of that. Come up here and I'll send you down like a sho\ Mr SwaneoQ ihen descended to tbe stalls.