SIR GEORGE GREY AT DUNRDIN.

Oamaru Mail, Volume II, Issue 578, 9 March 1878, Page 2

SIR GEORGE GREY AT DUNRDIN.

['Bv TEUKiIIAPH 1 DiWEL'ix, March 0

Sir George Grey, accompanied by the ( Hon. Mr. Fisher, arrived at -i o'clock yesterday from Balelutha. A large crowd assembled at the Railway Station, and they welcomed him with three hearty cheers. The party were afterwards conveyed in a carriage to the Fevnhill Club. In the evening Sir George Grey addressed a public meeting in the Princess Theatre, at which about 1.01.10 were present, including a large assemblage of ladies in the dress circle. The .Mayor of Dunedin presided, and the platform was thronged with leading citizens. Sir George Grey on rising was received with prolonged cheers. He expressed pleasure 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 lirst have been eolonised, as Native difficulties might arise, and the process of blending the races should be slowly and naturally brought about. In alluding to the franchise, he condemned the system of allowing a plurality of votes to tim owners of property and the depriving of another chess of the franchise, as a violati m of the constitution which was originally intended to be given. The franchise should lie extended, and he proposed that every resident for twelve months in an electoral district should have one vote, and that plurality of votes should be .abolished. Every tax-payer was entitled to have a voice in determining how his money was going to be expended. A laive" amount had been spent in public works, and much of it was wasted. The bulk of this money had added immensely to the value of private property, and enriched the few at the cost of the many. Under the present system of taxation a pauper class, whose children would become tiie serfs of the land, monopolists and speculators would be created. To remedy aiid prevent this ho suggested that a new system of taxation should lie devised and a"land tax imposed. He proposed that the laud should be taxed according to quality. Absentee land owners, 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 bo made to contribute to the revenue of this colony. (Loud cheers.) This was not radicalism, but mere reciprocity. The following resolution was carried by '. acclamation—' r That this meeting desires . to express thanks to Sir George Grey for his lucid and valuable address, and to express entire confidence in his Government."

There were loud calls for Mr. Macanclrow, but he only said a few words.