SIR GEORGE GREY’S MANIFESTO.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 4811, 23 August 1876, Page 2

SIR GEORGE GREY’S MANIFESTO.

The following is the manifesto delivered by Sir George Grey at the caucus of Auckland*/' members mentioned iu the New Zealand Times yesterday : Gentlemen, —I have called this meeting as a consequence of a letter addressed to me by Mr. Tonks, Mayor of Auckland, which I will read. “ Government Buildings, "Wellington, August 11,.1876. " Sir G. Grey, K.G.B. « Dear Sir, —I shall esteem it a favor if you, aa the leader of the party, will call a meeting of the Auckland members as soon as possible, ' to consider what further seeps it is advisable to take to further the interests of the province,— I am, &c., “ B. Tones.” On receipt of that letter I called a meeting of those Auckland members who had voted with me on the resolutions lately before the House, for submitting the question of the Constitution to the public, and recommending that the Northern province should have its fair share of revenues and an ample system of local self-government. When the gentlemen I had convened met, it was subsequently suggested that it was desirable to have a further meeting, to which all the Auckland members should be called, to consider what further steps should be taken to further the interests of the province of Auckland, and Mr. Tonics has since suggested that the object ho had iu view was to try and bring all the members of the province of Auckland to act together. The first meeting of Saturday morning requested me to call a second meeting for the abovenamed purpose. I have done so. After the meeting of Saturday had terminated, telegrams were received containing information which had I at the time known, would have prevented my calling this meeting ; but having preyiously to the receipfcof these telegrams made a promise to certain gentlemen, I have felt bound to carry it out,

1. The House of Representatives has recently unanimously resolved that the Government has involved the country in such financial difficulties that its constitutional position must be reconsidered.

2. Recently resolutions were brought forward which provided means by which the people of New Zealand would have been empowered to choose the form of the new constitution under which they were to live, and •to determine the mode under which the existing financial difficulties were to be met. These re.' hitions would also have secured sufficienfewenues for the people of the new prosktCcV "'with the power of administering " them themselves. . ... 3. Certainmemhers of the provmoeof Auckland voted against these resolutions, which, with their aid, in my belief, would have been carried. . ... , 4. I think that the constitutional measures proposed to be carried out by the Government m place of these resolutions will 5. force on the people of New Zealand a most objectionable form of constitution, to which their assent has never been asked, and of which they had no knowledge when they returned representatives to the present Parliament. 6. Which gives them no fair franchise. 7. No just electoral districts. 8. No fair representation in either House, and” no proper form of voting or controlling the expenditure of public monies; which throws the discharge of the enormous public debt, and the burden of the vast public expenditure, upon the masses, exempting wealth and property from its fair contribution to those great charges. 9. Which will throw the power of taxation into the hands of a class, 10. Which will secure the chief benefits to he derived from the public and Native lands for a class, and not for the people at large. 11. Which will create a governing class—a vast and powerful Civil Service—and deprive the people of their rights. These considerations have led me to the following conclusions:— That the people of New Zealand, and many of our constituents, will not be disposed at once and without further efforts to acquiesce in the arrangements that have been made. This is also my view of the matter. Consequently I ought to take no step which will be an admission on my part that I have given up a contest in which I think my duty requires me to struggle to the last. Especially, then, I ought not to unite in common action with gentlemen who I sincerely believe are wronging their fellow countrymen, since they are willing to gain temporary pecuniary advantage for the province of Auckland at the cost of allowing to he quietly imposed upon the people at large what in my judgment will secure the poverty and ultimate degradation of the great mass of the people of New Zealand. I say this in no spirit of discourtesy. If I have said aught harsh, I beg fully to apologise for it, but I must only act with those who think that their full and complete liberties should be assured to the people of New Zealand in some such manner as onr friends have proposed, that all may see that I have not given up hope, and will not relax in my exertions, and now, having called this'meeting, as I was requested, and undertook to do, I will, with permission, withdraw, assuring you all of my personal good will, and that X act as X do simply from a sense of duty.