SIR GEORGE GREY AT THE THEATRE ROYAL.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2181, 31 December 1875, Page 2

SIR GEORGE GREY AT THE THEATRE ROYAL.

Sir George Grey addressed the electors at the Theatre Eoyai last nighty the proceedings commencing at half-past seven o'clock. The theatre was crowded in erery part, and on the stage were a number of Sir George's prominent supporters. Sir George Grey's appearance was the signal for loud cheers, which were continued for some second's. The names of several gentlemen were mentioned for the position of Chairman. Ultimately Mr John Brown, M.P.C., was proposed and accepted the position introducing Sir (gfeorge Grey in a few remarks, in the course of which he. expressed the hope that that meeting would, like all Thames meetings, reflect credit on the community.. At the conclusion of' Sir George Grey's address an opportunity wculd be afforded to put any questions to him. ;.

Sir George on coming forward to address the* meeting was again received with enthusiastic cheering, after, which had., subsided, he commenced his address byexplaining ? the .circumstances under which he had bef£n induced to come forward for the Thames after being elected 7 for City West, and his reasons for. doing so. He said his wish was to do the best he could for the people, and he had come forward in response to a large and Influential requisition (A voice-—you wero not elected then), and had not. intruded himself upon the. electors; s Sir George then said he had one or two* other matters personal to himself to refer to, and proceeded to. explain the rfeasons which led to his recall from the Government of the Cape, f the subsequent adoption and approval! of the views heihad^promulgated, and which led to his recatV and his ultimate, rein statements. The views he had then advocated were now being aclopted byLord Carnarvon, the Secretary of State for the Colonies, who was ihen die cause of his recall. He then weiit\ih'to local matters, and first as to public lands. He said here they were in the position of the inhabitants' 1 of Gibraltar—the ■ sea before them and the hills behind. Yet, in their immediate neighborhood, were unlimited areas of land of the most fertile character, which he, as Superintendent, should have the disposal of. But such was not the case, and he- drew a comparisonl between this province and Taranaki. Transactions in connection with the land here were i concealed from the authorities of the province. The Ministry of the day had no more power than any of them regarding the land. They were mere* servantsof the people, and had no right to override the law, and no man in office had the power to give the lands to his friends. ' (At this period, there was an interruption, and the Chairman mentioned that intimation had been received of several roughs coming there to interrupt the proceedings.) Sir George continued. No ministers have power to break the law; on the contrary they should all scrupulously observe it. Unless the lands were opened up he saw no.hope for .the future of the Thames. He advocated that no lands should be parted with until they were surveyed, and then sold by auction, after due notice in the press of the colony, and sold only at the public lands office of the; district under certain conditions as to purchase, in. order that the rights of every one might be protected. Now what

had they done ? 80,000 acres had been alienated to one person privately—a capitalist, to oblige him—for half-a-crown an acre, on •, condition that a' certain amount was expended on roads. He jb'elieved that not a penny of money had been paid into the., public treasury for it yet. Thailand was as much the property cjf the public n'ovil as ever it was. There 'were large'■ numbers of men out of work JJo'n the Thames, and if he had that land ihe- could /transport 500 men to those : fruitful valleys and give them 160 acres apiece. He could provide for 200Q families by such meats. Ttiat was not a'solitary instance. He believed that now transactions were going on to alienate large blocks of land, and immediate action was necessary to prevent it. He believed that now there was a; piece of business of this kind in progress, and he could not get any information from the Government as to its, details. Why could .not he, take; up an army of small settlers at his heels and occupy that land ? ■ vThe persons interrupting him were servants of members of that Government who perpetrated these acts. (Considerable interruption* and cries of order from the chair.) These deeds were deeds of darkness? and would not bear •the lights He; would discuss these points with them. Sir George then referred to certain charges "that had been made against"'him of attempting to form a' democracy. Who were the democracy, and who the aristocracy? (Cries of "wev" &c.) Eeferring to the next session of the Assembly he said there would be an attempt to wipe off all sorts of errors and mistakes. Let those who had broken the law abide by the law. Equal rights for all was' what he contended for. He had seen it mentioned that he and others were to be called to Wellington to condone the wrongs: in connection .with the land purchases in Hawke's Bay. Sir, George condemned the Bill of last session, and advocated the operation of the Disqualification Act, and the exercise of the powers conferred upon every subject by that. Act. He said if members had erred in ignorance, the accused should have been fairly exonerated in a Court of Justice. The poor consolation had been denied to some of them of notifying that they declined to take advantage of the Indemnity Bill by public notification.in the Gazette," , Sir George then reverted to the .land question as the most important affecting their interests.' Foreigners, he said, had been brought into the country—persons unaccustomed $6 many of the comforts they possessed, and with whom they would have to compete in the labor market. There had been during the last five years some: twelve millions expended—one and a-half spent, he believed, in bribing persons to get this money—extravagantly expended in public works; with such an army of officials and other accessories as he had never seen in the world, and he had some experience. The immediate effect of that scheme of lavish expenditure had been to largely enhance the value of private property and the large tracts of land ac-. quired by individuals. To pay back these large sums they, the small holders, would have to' pay out of all proportion. They who benefited most should pay.most, and a property lax : was necessary; to meet f his unequal pressure. They must there-* fore'adjust.theinoidenceof taxation, and those who benefited largely should payaccordingly. He was not sanguine of an immediate change, but he believed a new generation would arise who would insist upon this. Men would arise whose names would be revered in the colony for centuries, for fighting for those" principles which he was now advocating. (Cheers;) Sir George then reverted to several points already discussed in his speech, including the land question, taxation, and thelndemnity -Act. With regard to the ?larid, he said, some people seemed to imaging that •they were born to inherit it. Having acquired . some- they .wanted more. They* began to fancy tjheyhad a vested interest. Only lately when the 1 pdwer was given to certain municipalities., tp elect their own^ Mayors, there^ was' an outcry against >" f oufeider's. ?7 > ; (Chee&i) That was* an example of the principle he had referred to. Passing to the form of Government in '$ew'y -Zealandrhe, said it was a veryfim- j portant question.. Few gave it the requi-, site amount of thought, he feared. Upturning to the Provinces he said they had been killed, by enemies.; .He v ,had told them before and, he repeated .^nafc r whatever form of Government they determined upon 'he would do his; best 'to forward, and to have equal laws , and rights for every r one. They should insist on that form of Government being discussed freely in the Assembly and after being submitted to the public" for the people, themselves- to decide what it should be. He reminded them that in 1856 an agreement was entered into by certain members of the Assembly by which the land fund of the colony was swept into the treasuries of particular provinces. The next year '57 it was attempted to make this t arrangement law. . That law, Sir George contended was radically wr.ong. and inflicted injury on theni and their children. However, ,there was a clause in the Abolition Bill. which gave the land fund for all time to the provinces of New Zealand within their, own .boundaries.' He had noticed placards- stuck up here " Abolition the people's charter." They were put-up in all good faith he: believed, but ho thought that those gentlemen would agree with him that had time been given to argue the/matter, the people here would never have consented to give up all the land fund for all time. He further argued'that the constituencies should be .consulted. (Cheers.) He then went onto speak of the enormous runs itaken up in the South.lsland. ; One.in particular, he instanced, which carried" 500,000 sheep. In Cape Colony, he said, no one was allowed to take up., more than 6000 acres, and with that the owners lived like gentlemen. This s I matter of lands he would also like submitted to the people for them to decide. The next point he touched on was, the education of the young men for a political life. Sir George then urged on his hearers ta'insist on a shortening of the duration of their Parliaments. Their" representatives should be obliged to come befdre' them often. He, himself, was not obliged to be before them, but he did so to give them information.. (Cheers.) He believed in telling them what he had done, what he purposed doing, and in consulting their wishes and views. He considered it^'-nothing derogatory to appear before them, even if interrupted by: some rough voice. By exercising his paiience ufider the circumstances he. set them a good example. (At this stage three cheers were given ,for Sir George.) If their representatives loved their fellowmen they would like to be chosen by them. (Cheers.) If they did they would

like to come often before them and show the youth of the country what a member of the Upper House should be capable of doing. (Cheers.) ..Sir George concluded by saying he had tried to speak on every point touching their interests, and if there were any necessary points he had omitted be was quite willing to answer any questions they might put to him. Sir George Grey then resumed his seat amidst loud and continued cheering. ; The Chairman then announced that Sir George would answer tiny question* they might wish to put, and he would suggest that the questions be asked as" CWcisely as possible. Mr Adlam stepped forward and said that with all .due respect to Sir George'a education and birth—(CrieVof,, question.) Mr Adlam further tridd to speak, but ro much disturbance was made that he could not be heard. The Chairman ruled him out of ord«. Mr Adlam then put his question? ai follows:— How did . ,Sir „ George Grey know that no money had .been paid, on the Piakq swamp? (Cheers and hooting.) In answer; Sir George said'that'tfoj— agreement r was to the effect that 2s 6d be^ paid on the delivery of the Grown -grants,and this transaction he had already said -was ; illegal,; and ..nolCr.qwiv, grant could issue till a law was passed to legalise it. Moreover, he had reliable information .that no money had been paid except the expenditure of 2s 6d per "acrerequired for making the road to drain the swamp. (Cheers.) - . Mr Adlam contended this was no answer to his question, but the Chairman ruled him out of order and Mr Adlam had to retire amidst cheers, hootings, and sounds of various kinds. Mr George Beddish asked the next question. He wished to know what, Sir George hai 4&ne with the 3000 men whom he had brought over from Victoria and to whom he had promised 50 acres of land each. Sir George said at the time to ypch Mr Eeddish alluded, there was a tresponsible Government,, and he himself had had nothing to do with it. rHe had left it to his^ministers, and'as far as he knew every man had received Bis land.> (Cries of no, no.) Any who had not. should .petition the General Government. Some migiit for what he knew, have-forfeitctd their right through, misconduct. (Cheers). Mr Eeddish then asted what steps Sir George Grey would take to find worfclfor the numbers of unemployedontheThames. Sir> George answered this by saying that as, he was a candidatejfbr their suffrages he wouldnot;■■'give' any/ answer to the question. -He would not attempt to bribe them, he respected them and himself too much. (Criesof "send them to the Piako swamp.") j_ , " . Mr Cox then asked if Sir Georg#fas in ; favor oJf Abolition pure and simple; Sir George in reply said he did not know what that: question might mean. (Cheer sand laughter.) „.. Mr Cox asked another question through the Chairman—-^Was Sir. George in favor p£ secular, .education.?" „, ,' r. ,:;v „,;'...: Sir George said in the presen^ stats of the country he was in favor of the present system, but not in favor of the source from which the money to pay,.-for, it was raised. "He" said in the Abolition Bill a special;provision was made for the Auckland provincer J' >*till to retain the present" system. (Cheers.) He 1 then -^to TMir' Spencer^ who was, he said, one of his greatest friends. (Mr Aitken: he is an atheist.) Sir George said, he was not. .'Her maintained his'right to consider future discussions on the subject of education, and the right also to alter his convictions from time to tinie; "' -;>s< ■■

Mr Sims asked Sir: George what form of-Goyernment did he propose if he, had a majority at his .bacik^ The meeting were desirous of knowitfg. : ! " 5 -'■ Sir George said he' hopedrhe woftld speak 'in such a way as: would- ••-claim their attention. He could rather imagine they wanted him to sing a song, which," had he a voice he might do (cries'of get Sims to.dance.) Did he propound a scheme at that late hour bfthe^vehing, that would take months of consideration to mature, he would be reputed a fool. (Laughter.)' Po.ssibly the gentleman could produce a form of Government for him. ; v , Mr Aicken asked if i Sir George- would endeavour to get the "water supply speedily finished, (Hear hear.) In answer he referred, to Sir Julius 'Vqgel's promise at Wanganui of £100,000 "for harbor workj." He cotild not make* any promise, as he did not think Ut a proper thing to appear in the papers. Mr Oldrey asked if Sir, George would endeavour to get larger representation for [the Thames? Sir George said that if returned for the Thames he'would, endeavour, as he, had always promised, to £et increased representation.: Mr Oldrey asked whether Sir George would further the making of the Thames ' Valley Bailway. Sir George said his views on that subject could be purchased in any bookseller's shop for 3d. Mr Speight then stepped: forward, andf endeavored to speak, but.-was met with^h gtorm of hootings. ! ; > The Chairman explained that Mr Speight wished to move a resolution, and hoped they would give every speaker fair play, as any one- else could move an amendment.; ■ . '■'.]'\\■-■'* ■.£"; .;T

Mr Dixon wished to know if Sir Gteorge thought himself an. eligible candidate ?, Sir George: That is for the constituency to decide, not for me;' Mr Oldrey wished to know/what Sir George was doing with the £12,000 re-, ceived as'goldfields; revenue. '(Cries of " He's no elector.") .^-..-.: r Sir George: The £12,000 has dwindled to £8000, the other portion having been spent at ■ Ohinemuri. Full particulars will be given in the Government Gazette. Mr Speight's resolution was as follows: —" That this meeting heartily thanks Sir George Grey for his 'able and statesmanlike address, and that we hereby state .. our convfction that he is the most fit and proper person to represent us in the - forthcoming Parliament of Nexr Zealand." (Cheers.) ." ■' , Mr Heron seconded the resolution. .The chairman then called for a show of hands, just at which time Mr Adlam stepped forward and w&s understood, to say that he wished to more an amendment, but was ruled out" of order by the Chairman. On being put to the meeting quite a forest of hands appeared, and the chairman declared the resolutions carried almost unanimously. He conveyed the vote to Sir George. ,Sir George Grey then stepped forward and thanked them, and then called for a unanimous vote of thanks to the chairman for his able conduct during, the evening. Cheers tor Sir George concluded the - meeting.