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MR. DONALD REID. M.H.R., AT MOSGIEL.

Mr. IlKU) first referred to the acrimony and strong patty feeling exliibited at the close of the protracted session immediately after the passing of the Abolition Bill. He described Mr. Stout as the Boanarges of the Opposition, and spoke of a newspaper correspondence which had been dropped because of unfair delays in publishing his (Mr. Reid's) letters, Mr, Stout’s lust letter showing also " tint he was not in a fit state of miud to argue tho matter” In reply to the charge of having deserted the ranks of the Opposition abruptly, Mr. Reid explained that he never attended any meeting of the Opposition since the day he told Sir George Grey lie eould no longer net with him ; and that lie had declined to preside at a certain great dinner to Sir George Grey and other's for the reason that “ as chairman ire would have to propose Sir George Grey’s health,” and would thus be putting himself in a wrong position, because be (Mr. Reid) could not see anything in Sir G. Grey's favor, being displeased witlr the way business had been conducted. (Applause.) Mr. Stout then said to him, “ He would propose Sir f George Grey’s health from the vice-chair "—a most unusual proceeding; and on these terms he said to Mr. Stout that he would take the chair. As long as the members of the party agreed and acted in good faith in fulfilling the legitimate functions of an Opposition, he was with them, but he could not take part with those whose sole object appeared to be to irritate and annoy the Government, and keep tho House late. This he had told the Opposition after ho had refused to act with them or attend their meetings, or vote with them o i any question except abolition. He (Mr. Reid) did not ignore the use of party government, but lie strongly objected to the system of party government which Mr Stout and others wished to establish. Ae deprecated the use of all such systems as theirs, which is that men shall have no principles of their own, and that members are to be headed by two or three groat leaders, for whom they are to vote, right or wrong, on any matter these leaders may bring forward. Ho then said lie had carefully read over Iris own speech, which bad called forth so much criticism, and he thought that, from his point of view, it was a very good speech. (Laughter.) He thought it very temperate, he knew the feelings he entertained concerning the recent convention, vb:., “ that it was injudicious and damaging to their position, and the future working of political institutions. Regarding all that passed at the meeting of the convention, he could not help thinking “that the whole thing must have been a very great fiasco.” They were warned of a great struggle before tbem. How long did it last ? At the very time that they were asked to carry out an object which was not going to be pursued Sir George Grey was addressing his Auckland constituents thus ;—“ Those people who have lived in a district where the land requires cherishing should rather have something from those who obtain the benefit of the better lauds, than be obliged to send something away to them If there is no common purse, the land fund is not common property.” Now, here is the Opposition paper’s report of that speech :—“The good land and bad must be cast together. Those people who live where the laud is bad require nourishing ; those who live where the land is good, should send money to the first, because the laud is common property.” Mark that. “ This is a proposal to which I hope none of you will assent. The meaning of it is that the land should be paid into a common fund, and every district get its fair proportion. If the colony is to remain one, unless we have one common purse, we shall not get oar just dues.” Mr. Reed then said ; On such a rotten foundation he felt convinced that it was folly to form such an alliance. Then the convention proposed to send Sir George Grey Home, but lie took ill—in fact, he had no intention to go. He (Mr. Reid) would ask, What where the aims Sir George Grey set before himself when he entered political life ? To prevent tire abolition of provinces was one, no doubt, but the secret of bis (Sir George Grey’s) popularity was his determination to get the land fund of the Middle Island. Those who bad been the means of handing over the land fund were but as “minnows" in the hands of Sir George Grey. But he has gained his end, and is now the most popular man in Auckland; as well he might. It was greatly to be regretted that people could not conduct public affairs decently without maligning and abusing each other. He (Mr. Reid) had been abused because he took a seat in the late Government, aft r Abolition had been sealed and settled. He was quite satisfied with the policy of the Government, and many members were old personal friends. It had been called a continuation of the Vogel Ministry. That was a fiction ; algo that he had taken responsibilities on ' himself attaching to tho Vogel Government — another fiction of Parliamentary procedure. Those who blamed him were supporters of the Vogel Ministry, and he was their opponent at the very time he was blamed—when the Abolitionists opposed his having a seat, when, as one of the minority, he held that the matter should be sent back to the constituents. He had stated when the time came, when the eonstitnencies determined by a majority that there should be a change, he would loyally accept the decision, and endeavor, as far as in him lay, to assist in framing the new form of government that was to supersede the Provincial system. All this he had publicly told them at the meeting, and then afterward he (Mr. Reid) had been singled out as a man false to his principles. This he denied publicly, then and now, aud cared little for such insinuations. (Cheers). :He contended that the opposition that was offered to the late Government was dishonest. Thera were refreshing daily telegrams about wonderful disclosures made, or about to be made, in the pigeon holes of the late Government, all of which were fabrications. (Cheers). He would ask that the strict line of truth should be observed as much in political aud party matters as in private affairs, and ho liopod that good men of all parties would unite In feinting that we should have probity, integrity, *»d morality in our public dealings. He (Mr. Refd) asked those present to denounce ail such conduct. He accused the Opposition of wasting time in needless talk. They did not “Stonewall,” but they quite as successfully wasted time. If such was continued the Government will fall into the hands of those who -will slick at nothing to gain their ends. Men of sense and moderation, who will not descend to such tactics, must stand in the background, aud leave to others the conduct of our public affairs. He regretted the loss of the Charitable Institutions Bill, and the opposition to this Bill

,(wlaioh was lost) was unjustifiable on the part xif Sir George Grey and his lieutenant, Mr. Jlees, and others in committee. The Industrial School was now crammed to overflowing, 2.nd children indiscriminately packed together. The Settlement of Works Advances Bill, the .object of which was to enable the Government to advance £50,000, for opening up new blocks of laud, by making roads to them, was also lost. Had Sir George Grey and party acted up to the spirit of his speeches, he (Mr. Eeid) would, have felt bound to have gone with them. Here Mr. Eeid, after reading extracts from Sir George Grey’s addresses, compared Colonel Whitmore’s policy with Sir George Grey’s, and the strange sight of two Ministers bolding together and maintaining different tactics and opinions. Why did not Ministers, in place of losing time, at once set to work and assist and forward the working of the County system 'I Again, the Government lias two policies. Thus: Sir G. Grey proclaims his line of policy from the housetops, viz,, “ A strong central Government at Wellington." Mr. Macandrew, at the Dunedin banquet, intimates the “possibility of a return to Provincialism and Mr. Ballanco denies this, and says : “ He will take the decision of the people.” Again, Sir George Grey declares that “now laws are to be framed whereby alt men now will have’ equal rights in the property and lands of the colony while Colonel Whitmore assures us that the Government policy is a “ Conservative policy,” abstaining from any alteration in- the- state of things.” Thus, the Government has at least two distinct pttliuifiS—the .“’demagogic policy,” and the

“conservative policy.”' Air.-Reid then said lie would now like t) show the consistency of the Government in their financial proposals. Thu lafo Government accounts were disputed, aud they were accused of falsifying the accounts ; the word “crooked” had been used. The present Government asserted that they could effect a reduction of £IOO,OOO in departmental expenditure ; and yet lately at Martou Mr. Ballance stated “ that after careful consideration, lie did'not think any further reductions could bo made.” The proposed reductions were to have been taken off the survey, whilst at the same time, many gentlemen had held land for fifteen to twenty years, aud their boundaries were not yet defined. The result of this backward state of tlie surveys is that the public are inconvenience 1 and cannot get land ns they would wish. To speak of curtailing the surveys was simply absurd. Of tire proposed Bills of the late Government they adopted all the more important ones, after railing at them, viz., the Education Bill, Mines Bill, Public Reserves Bill, and others, and he (Mr. Reid) thought it was well for the country they did so. Regarding the Laud Bund, a Mr. Reid said, “No province bad been so careful to conserve its laud fund as Otago; the revenue will be larger in tho future than in any other district.” Mr. Stout had said that Otago would gain by tho change, but when he (Mr. Reid) asked him where it was to come from, he got no reply. Mr. Stout “went off on another taek.” Air. Macnndrew said the Land Fund was gone through acts of the late Government, and they wished to save something out of the pie ; and then Sir George Grey said that “ there was no other way of restoring the equilibrium between tho income and the expenditure of the colony save by taking the Land Fund.” Again, Sir George Grey had said, “Some one will have to make a sacrifice for the good of their country; a sacrifice beneficial to all, which will not go unrewarded, but will evoke the gratitu le of the entire people of New Zealand.” Now (he would ask), what province was it which was to make this sacrifice ? If Otago were to be a gainer, why call it a sacrifice ? Air, Reid then went into an explanation of the Land Fund under the old system, and said that Mr. Stout’s way of putting it, that Otago would be better off than before, was not a fair way ; the change could not be shown to be a gain. Referring to tho charge of £109,000, proposed by the Atkinson Ministry to be made against Otago, he (Mr. Reid) had consented to this, because there would be this deficiency if works, such as tho Southern Trunk Railway, were to be undertaken, and also the whole cost of education. Besides that, the arranging the whole general finance of the colony, the question was either this or additional taxation, aud he firmly believed this to be the better plan, to borrow £109,000 on the land revenue of Otago and Southland, thinking aud believing that the Colonial Revenue would be so much relieved before next year that he would not be compelled to increase the taxation, as the Government were starting on a scheme whereby the revenue would be largely relieved. Air. Reid, after alluding to Air. Seaton’s remarks about the danger to be apprehended to the Otago laud fund, because Canterbury was selling laud in great haste, showed that the counties getting 20 per cent, was the greatest of all. He next alluded to the Waste Lands Bill, its provisions were as liberal as any Bill he knew of under the sun. This Bill contains the land laws of New Zealand, with the exception of one Bill, which was not of his production. He then explained the Bill, referring to the excellent measures for selection, for deterred payments on pastoral lands, fcc. He then referred to the Otago runs falling due in June, but not yet surveyed off ; and afterwards referred to the Canterbury runs. Recapitulating Lis former explanations, he showed that it was not without great difficulty that an arrangement had been made ; that he (Air. Reid), without consulting anyone, came to the conclusion that it would be a fair solution of the difficulty to propose that the rent should be fixed lor ten years, and that then the interest of those licens is shou'd absolutely cease and detent ine. They (the licensees) thought it hard, but ul (mutely agreed. Sir George Grey had said that he (Mr. Reid) had sacrificed the interests of the country, but the cry against the Canterbury pastoral tenants may be classed along with tho cry of the "Piako Swamp.” If «3ir George Grey thought it a fraud (as he stated) upon the whole population of New Zealand, why did he not rise in his pi ice in the House and oppose it, and try by every means to prevent that fraud being carried into effect? (Applause.) Yet lie never once referred to it. and whilst he (.Sir George Grey) declares that he never saw an Act which strikes more deliberately at the liberties of the people, he never in the discussion referred to the Canterbury runs. The Ministry passed it, and then, to carry out some project of his own, the Premier tried to get it stopped, and that act of Sir George Grey’s was most dangerous to our liberties. He ought at once to have taken action to prevent what he thought fraud from being carried out. But he wished to remain Premier, and showed himself too much of an autocrat. Mr. Reid next spoke of the Crown Lauda Sale Bill—the pet ewe lamb of the Government. Land formerly was 30s. an acre o.u deferred payments ; now the present Government had fixed it at £3 per acre. The Bill waa brought in and hurried through at the end of the session, in spite of all. his previous warnings. Air Stout said it was a mistake, but the Judge said the contrary. In spoaking of Sir William Jervois and the treatment he had received from the colony, and referring to the talk of the expense of the Hiuemoa, Mr Reid said ho thought that the gentleman who was a sort of Joseph Hume in the House should, whilst calculating the Hitieraoa’s proposed tip for Sir William Jervois, also calculate and find out what it coat for the AHnistry travelling about during the present recess. Air Reid concluded in hoping that the “House” of New Zealand would adopt in future a higher standard. He thought that since the present Premier’s advent (to whose appearance he had looked forward with pleasure) the House had deteriorated, for instead of discussing matters fairly on their merits, three-fourths of the time had been taken up in idle recrimination and in hurling charges at one another, which lie (Air Reid) believed had no foundation in fact. He then stated that after his address at Outram it was his intention to send in his resignation to the Speaker, and concluded by thanking those present for the prtient hearing they had given him. Air. Allan, in name of the meeting, proposed a resolution asking Air. Reid to reconsider his decision and still continue to act as their member. This was seconded by Mr. Shaw, and carried unanimously amid general acclamation. The Rev. Air. Will and Mr. Alurdoch also strongly urged Mr. Reid to withdraw his Intended resignation, but Mr. Reid stated his reasons, and replied that he was afraid he could not reconsider his determination, but at the same time he thanked them very much for the resolution they had passed. A vote of thanks to the chairman concluded the meeting.

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZTIM18780525.2.24.2

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5354, 25 May 1878, Page 1 (Supplement)

Word count
Tapeke kupu
2,790

MR. DONALD REID. M.H.R., AT MOSGIEL. New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5354, 25 May 1878, Page 1 (Supplement)

MR. DONALD REID. M.H.R., AT MOSGIEL. New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5354, 25 May 1878, Page 1 (Supplement)

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