SIR GEORGE GREY AT OTAGO.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5290, 9 March 1878, Page 3

SIR GEORGE GREY AT OTAGO.

(PER PRESS AGENCY). Balclutha, Friday.

Sir George Grey and party left Clinton this morning at ten o’clock, and arrived here at noon. They were met at the town boundary by the Mayor and CounciTors. On arrival at the hotelthe Town Clerk read the following address:—To the Hon. the Premier Sir George Grey, ICC.B. On behalf of the Boron-h Council and the inhabitants cf Balclutha and the Clutba District, we give you a cordial welcome to our township. We rejoice in this oppprtnnity of assuring yon of the most cordial and hearty support of all classes of the community here, in the great political struggle in which for years past you have been and still are engaged. We have watched with interest the Unmistakeahle manifestations of sympathy with’ the principles you advocate, and of loyalty to your cause, which 1 !* the cause of the people, that have everywhere greeted you during yo.fir present tour throughout the colony. We regard these manifestations as conclusive evidence that public sentiment is entirely 1 with you, and we trust you will be spared in health to carry out f.nd to witness the practical benefits of those legislative measures’you contemplate introducing to meet the present .‘circumstances of the colony, and that you may reap a reward conmensurate .with your patriotic sacrifices and services on behalf of New Zealand, a country so dear to you, aud for which you have spent much of your time, talents, and estat.es. — igned, John McNeil, Mayor. Taos “ Paterson, Town (Jle k. Sir George Grey briefly expressed his thanks for the address, which he sai-l was encouraging to any gentleman in a public position. He assured them that every effort would be put forth by him to promote the good of the country. : Three cheers were then called for by the Mayor for Sir George Grey, aud were heartily given. Sir George Grey, accompanied by the Mayor and 'others, then took a walk through the township, and returned to the Crown Hotel to luncheon. The‘Mayor occupied the chair, having Sir George Grey on his right and Mr. Fisher on his left. Mr. Thomson, M.H.R., was vice-chairman. A few of the borough councillors and a few of the leading citizens were also present. After the toasts of “ The Queen and;the Koval Family,” and “.The Governor,” the chairman proposed “The Health of Sir George Grey,” which was enthusiastically received. Sir George replied in a short 1 aud excellent speech. "The “ Health of the Members of the Assembly" was next pro posed, and responded to hy Messrs. Fisher, and Thomson. Sir George Grey then proposed’ the toast of “The Mayor and Bonnigu Council,” to which the Mayor replied. The company then’ brokeAip; - Sir George afterwards caller! upononeor tWohl acquaintances,and theparty left at f.Sa in a four-horse trap, followed by the borough councillors, for the railway station, and proceeded by special train to Dunedin. Dunedin, Friday.

Sir George Grey, accompanied by the Tlon. Mr. Fisher, arrived at 4 o'clock this afternoon from Balclutha. A large crowd assembled at the railway station, the Premier was welcomed with three hearty cheers. The ministerial party was afterwards conveyed in , a carriage to Fern 1 Hill Club. This evening sST George Grey addressed a public meeting at the Princess Theatre! About 1500 people.were present, including a large assemblage of ladies in the dress circle. ;'('he Mayor of Dunedin presided, and the platform t was thronged with leading citizens. Sir George on rising was received with loud and prolonged cheers. He expressed the pleasure he felt at meeting so many colonists, and went on to refer to the early settlement of New Zealand. He considered it was desirable that the Middle Island should first he colonised, as native difficulties might arise, and the process of blending the races should he slowly and naturally brought about. It was proposed that Otago should be occupied by a hardy vigorous race, and that they should enjoy a free and enlightened constitution, with the assistance of leading statesmen of England and the British Parliament. The Constitution was framed so as to enable the people to exercise political rights and enjoy the utmost freedom. For years they enjoyed a free and liberal Constitution. No disasters occurred in consequence, but a development of the resources of the colony, and a growth of happiness and contentment ensued unprecedented in the history of the British colonies. These institutions were swept away. He asked whether the new ones were such, as became free men, and were they likely to conduce to peace and happiness ? Sir George then alluded to the franchise. He condemned the system of allowing a plura’ity of votes to the owners of property, and the depriving of another class of the franchise. This was a violation of the Constitution which was origin ally intended to be given. The franchise should he extended, and he proposed that every resident for twelve months in an electoral district should have one vote, and that plurality of votes should bo abolished. He referred to the objections urged against the extension of the franchise because o( the existence of drunkards, maintaining that no man should be deprived of his political rights. Every tax-payer was entitled to have a voice in determining how his money was going to be expended. If men were compelled to obey laws which they had no voice in making, they were degraded, and rendered ignorant and vicious. It was inconsistent with honesty to deprive a tax-payer of his right to vote. The old Constitution, which had worked admirably,’ had been shattered, and a new Constitution introduced, which pleased no one. He contrasted the number of actual voters in the Colony witli the adult population, and urged that the alteration of the Constitution by a small minority of the people was a grievous injustice. A large amount had been spent in public works, and much of it was wasted. The bulk of this money had added enormously to the value of private property, and enriched the few at the cost of the many. He considered every person should contribute to the State in exact proportion to the advantage he derived. Under the present system of taxation a pauper class was created, whose children would become the serfs of the land, and monopolists and speculators would he created. To remedy and prevent thin he suggested that the system of taxation should ho revised, and a land tax enforced. He proposed that the land should be taxed according to quality. Absentee landowners, who derived large revenues from New Zealand, had to pay an income tax in England, and if they thought proper to reside there he considered they should be made to contribute towards the revenue of this colony. (Cheers.) This was not radicalism, hut pure reciprocity. It was to alter the existing system of taxation, and to prevsnt the creation of one.class rolling in wealth and another class steeped in poverty, that he desired an extension of the franchise. As long as a minority held the exclusive right to vote they would legislate for themselves. With the franchise extended, their land laws would speedily he reformed in a way beneficial to the people. He stated that his reason for advising the Governor to disallow the Band Act was to prevent the Canterbury squatters obtaining an extension of their leases for thirteen years, without the electors being consulted in granting these leases. Parliament had committed a fraud on the people, and he had threatened, when the Act was passed, he should use every means in V j nower to'prevent its passing into law. He , ..-..i 'hone, if they wished to recover their rig u- and to make the colony great and prosperous, to agitate for an extension of the franchise. It should be the ambition of every man to take a part in the work of legislation, and td‘ try to become one of the statesmen of New Zealand. He had been told during the tour that he was once Governor and he was

now only Premier, £ and he ;repUed that he would rather ; be. Premier than -Governor.; rEvery iruiir had to aid in the bmUhng up a nation, which he believed would be on? of the greatest 1 the 1 world had seen, , They were layino- the foundations upon which the happiness ormisery of many millions would depend, and according, sis they acted so would their memory be esteemed. He believed the people of Dunedin would hot prove traitors to such a glorious cause. ~ , , , . • i, The following resolution was earned by acclamatiou;V‘That this meeting desires to express its thanks to Sir George for his lucid and valuable, address, and to express its entire confidence in his Government. There were loud calls for Mr. Macaudrew, but he only said a few words.