SIR GEORGE GREY AT AUCKLAND.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1474, 2 March 1886, Page 3

SIR GEORGE GREY AT AUCKLAND.

Sir George Grey addressed the electors of City East and (he citizens of Auckland generally on Friday evening at the 'Ti)6atVe" Royalr"' : lheye waß j crowded ijudienpe and the Mayor presided,. On the platform were also a members of the Legislature, of local bodies and representative citizens. Sir Qeqrge on comjng forward to address £he ipeeting was received with great applause. He commenced by saying an important crisis hud arisen in the affairs of the colony, and he almost shrank from the task of addressing them. He knew that some distress existed among part of the population of Auck- ! land, but he hoped that through his

, plans and suggestions prosperity might , be again restore'!. Unless thei r colonial l land system "as rmtly alt°red, and men , replaced shoe,, -.-oie was a gloomy future before the colony. lie referred to ten families in Hawkes Bay having had their estates raised in value from £20,000 to * £2,000,000 by public works. He said a land tux was the only remedy tor such a 1 flagrant wrong on the colonial land tax--1 payers. He then reviewed Sr Julius Yogel’s letter to the Trade and Labor 1 Congress, which he said, taking the letters 1 to read at first sight, kept in view a \ state of things which should not exist in a young country. The whole tenor of the letter was in favor of capital, and the remedy for the present distress was a land tax. To get good land for the settlement thereon of small farmers, he had brought in a Bill last session to purchase estates and cut them up, but only got it advanced a stage. Sir George then explained that under the provisions of (he Bill, estates would be purchased at the property tax valuation and a certain percentage added. Part of his plan also was to purchase the best of the native lands on terms perfectly fair to the natives and settle Europeans upon them. It would bring here from the neighboring colonies the best class of immigrants—men who would not now come here and buy land at the exorbitant prices speculators asked for it. He would put an end to Government assisted immigration in any shape or form in future. It was monstrous treatment to the laboring classes to bring Here additional competition to share their bread. The natives of the King Country would dispose of their lands when treated like men and getting a fair price paid them—not as heretofore’by being made drunkards, and gating a few shillings per acre for their land. He was in favor of the imposition of an income tax, and making the wealthy give a portion of their wealth to the State. They could not stop borrowing; every modern nation was borrowing; the great point was to make the expenditure pr®ductive. He was sick of hearing about the public works policy ; wby from the foundation of the colony there had been a public works policy. If there were a dissolution it would not be a cry of Public Works, for no sane man would raise the cry of the latter, and so aggravate the existing distress or cause a panic. The Government talked about having the loans “earmarked,” but a Minister bent on keeping his place and power, with a majority at his back, would soon cut off his ear -(laughter)—or seize the old ram and clip both ears off. (Great laughter.) He was io favor of the abolition of plural voting, and explained the proceedings in the Assembly which led to the Bill on thin head being thrown out last session. With regard to the Government Insurance Department, it was a great misfortune it had been removed so largely from the control of Parliament, and he had tried hard to prevent it. Those who were not insured in it, and he was one of them, had to pay for the losses. All the taxpayers were interested in the matter, and they should endeavor to regain control over persons who were now spending their money in this Department, and vest the power in Parliament. Sir George Grey sat down amid cheers, A number of questions were then pul and answered. He was in favor of the establishment of a State Bank proper principle; was opposed to the increase of the protective duties, unless good cause was shown with regard to certain industries ; was in favor of the construction of the East and West Coast Railway on proper Conditions, but not on the conditions proposed last session. If people settled along the line as sections of it were completed, the lino would pay. The connection of both sides of Middle Island by this public work would be u great public gain. The following resolution was carried, practically unanimously thanks of the Qity East electors be heartily accorded to Sir George Grey for his able address, and this meeting further begs to record its unabated confidence in him, both as the representative of the constituency and the true Liberal leader of the people in New Zealand.”