MINISTERIAL UTTERANCES.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5236, 4 January 1878, Page 3

MINISTERIAL UTTERANCES.

Giiahamstowk, Monday, Dec. 31* Sir George Grey and Mr. Sheehan had a fine reception on Saturday. Addresses were given from the Borough and County Councils and sous of old colonists, to which replies were given. Long processions afterwards went through the principal streets, and at the boundary of the county and the borough an address was presented from the natives. In •the evening at eight o’clock the Theatre Royal was crowded from pit to gallery, the stage also being occupied. There were numerous ladies amongst the audience. Sir George Grey was received with cheers. Dr. Kilgour occupied the chair. Sir George Guky, on rising, referred to his obligations to his constituents. When last here he had not expected to return as Premier. He questioned if he would have taken office but for the hope of an appeal to the country; and in Great Britain any Premier, taking office under such circumstances would have been entitled to such appeal. They had been met with votes repugnant to their own convictions, and to those of a majority of New Zealand people ; but they had fought on, believing it would he to the detriment of the colony to have given way and left the Government for another three years to their opponents. He next referred to the rapid change of public opinion in the colony, and the necessity for more frequent appeal to the constituencies. Southern representatives had agreed in doing justice to this part of New Zealand in generalising the Band Fund. Some of those men, of great ability, were members of the Ministry. The Government were in favor I of extending the franchise, so that every i man residing in a district should have a vote, and, farther, that representation should be equalised. When that was done, if things went wrong, it would be their own • faults. To enable him to attain those ends they must assist him. They must take all legitimate means to attain their rights. Next session there would be a struggle, and they must assist him, and support him. If he could not immediately obtain an adjustment of taxation, they could do so when representation was adju'-ted. When members knew they had to go back to constituencies, they would assist in regulating taxation, so that they might have some claim upon the electors. Re the laud question, he would speak his opinion fully and fairly. The Thames people were in a great measure to blame. They had been too quiet in not bringing their wants before him (the speaker) and others. (The speaker reviewed the land policy as affecting the Thames district.) ,£IOO,OOO had been spent without any benefit beyond securing to a few large’ estates. If some had secured blocks of thousands of acres, every one of bis hearers had received positive injury. It would take a century to remove these things, which had a depressing influence upon them all. They embittered and destroyed the homes , of many, and they (his hearers) should assist him and his colleagues in removing such grievances. He and his colleagues had encountered at the Government House and elsewhere many difficulties, .but they had dared all, and he believed they would have their approval. He would instance the correspondence re the dissolution, and the condition regarding supplies. (Sir George Grey here referred to the difference in the North and South Islands regarding education and other matters in conse- ■ quence of the localisation of the Band Fund, which abuse had been removed by himself and his colleagues.) Referring to Canterbury runs, he found that robbery was attempted by extending the tenure, and he had endeavored to prevent, the Bill becoming law. For this, he had been called a despot, but who was the despot ? (Voices; “ The Governor.”) He had held his tongue on this matter until he had come amongst those who had a right to ask some explanation, and it was for them to say whether he had done right. It had been a theory of his that, next to religion, political knowledge and duty to themselves and others was most important. Material prosperity had been made most prominent. He looted to a country full of contented population as material prosperity —men on their own farms- children well fed,, well clothed, and well educated. That he regarded as material prosperity. Had they such in their midst? Was it material • prosperity for a man to have some ninety or a thousand acres of land, with ■ a number, of serfs under him? They, must not be led astray. Where were the farms,, the schools, and the village churches ? Was it paying a million a year interest ou loans to benefit large landholders that they called material prosperity ? , (The speaker referred to the influences of good land laws on people generally.) If they saw their children educated, just laws passed, and justice administered, they could see that rascality should not have supremacy over virtue, and that the evil prevailing in older countries should be effaced. Bet them endeavor so to educate their children that in a few years they should be able to govern their own nation, preserving a loyal affection to the mother country, but passing laws to suit their own circumstances, ignoring the practice and relics of barbarism of older countries. (The speaker concluded an excellent peroration on the necessity of building up a system of laws suitable for the requirements of the colony.) He was most enthusiastically, cheered on. resuming his seat. After a few words from the Chairman, The Hon. J. Sheehan, who was received with loud cheers, spoke. His colleague the Premier had so fully and clearly delivered himselMhat he was relieved of saying much. Referring to the late Government, he asked them where was their shave of the loans which had been raised —tbeir proportion of public works expenditure, which they might have expected.' It might be interesting to them to know something of the intention of the present Government regarding acquisitions of land. He could say that during the last few years thousands had been squandered without any benefit. They intended to knock this on the head, and to stop the purchase of laud on commission, which looked to quantity rather than quality. It was to employ men with the full knowledge.that if they trafficked in private transactions they would be sacked next morning. Thht.was their general policy in land. One great evil had been that the natives had not known how they were dealing, and they imagined that they were dealing with men for the Government, when they had been grossly mislead. He had no desire to reflect upon individuals, but for years a pernicious system had been going on, which angered the natives and dissatisfied the Europeans, and they were determined to remedy this. Regarding liberal land law, they meant business, and between this and next session they hoped to place in the hands of the Waste Bands Boards all the lauds in the hands of the Government ; and further, to employ an efficient staff to complete purchases in progress. Re Bronmhall Settlement, he had been asked to rescind the bargain, but he would sooner put up with loss than break the bargain, and he believed it carried out it would benefit the district. Referring to communication with the Waikato, he trusted the Premier would see his way to affording capitali-ts a fair guarantee to , carry out railway communication, which he had attempted during a previous session, but in' which he had received scant courtesy. (The bon. speaker referred to several other matters of local interest, and aftsrwaads touched upon the action of the Government re Land Fund). He said that while the late Government had come behind the South like .a common prig stealing a pocket-handkerchief, they had acted the part of bold highwaymen, and the South had met them by acceding to their demand. Their programme further iuincluded improvement of franchise, and adjustment of representation, and having secured these they could hope to bring about an equitable system of taxation ; in doing which he would ever ' follow Sir George Grey. The speaker concluded with some local references, amid great and continued cheering. Mr. J. C. Brown, at the invitation of Mr. Sheehan, addressed the meeting in a few words, and the meeting terminated with enthusiastic cheering for Sir George Grey and Mr. Sheehan.