Sir George Grey at Dunedin.

Thames Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2829, 9 March 1878, Page 2

Sir George Grey at Dunedin.

.... - r , IBx Tbuiobaph.]- ;;,• . ¥ Dckxdik, FjaiDAT,.9.p.m. ■ Sir George Grey, accompanied by the Hon. Mr Fisher, arrived here at 4 o'clock 1 this afternoon from Balclutha. A large crowd assembled at the. .railway station, and the Premier was welcomed with three hearty cheers; TheHMinistoriel party were afterwards coaveyed in a carriage to the; Fern Hill Otub. J -.: .1 „. This evening Sir' Gedrge addressed '* irieetinjf at the; Princess Theatre. About 1600; were present, including- a": large astemblkge of ladies in -ihe dreas circfe. The '-Mayor presidedi and. the platform was thronged with leading citixens. . Sir Geo. Grey, on rising, was receired with loud and prolonged ; cheers; ->Heexpressed pleasure in meeting so many colonists, and, went on to refer to" the early settlement of I7ew Zealand. Jle ■aid he considered.it was desirable that the Middle Island should first be cold* nised, as native' difficulties might arise, and theprocessof blending the races be slowly and naturally brought about. It was proposed that Otago should be occupied >y a hardy, rigorous race,. and'that they should enjoy a free and.enlightened crjttituioj. With the assistance of the-, leading statesmen .of England and the British Parliameat, a constitution was framed,, enabling the people to exercise their political, rights, and enjoy the utmost freedom. For year* they enjoyed free and liberal institutions. Ho. disasters occurred in consequenoe, hut a development of the resources of the ibDlony, and a growth of happiness and contentment ensued unprecedented in the history of British colonies. These institutions were swept away, and he asked whether the new ones ,were such as became (tie men f Were they likely to conduce to'peace and happiness? Sir George then alluded U the franchise. He condemned the systlm of allowing a plurality, of rotes to the owners of property, end .the. depriving of another class of the franchise; ft- violation, of the

Constitntiou which was originally intended to be given. Tho franchise should be extended, and he proposed that every resident for iwotvo months in an eleotoral district; should have one rote, and that plurality of rotes should be abolished. He referred to the objections urged against the extension of the franchise because of tho existence of the druukard; He maintained that no one should be deprived of his political right. Every tax payer was entitled to have a voice determining how his money was going to be expended; If men 1 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 con* atitutton introduced which pleased no one. Ho contrasted the number of actual voters in the colony with the adult population, and urged that the alteration of the constitution by a small minority: t>f the people was a grievous injustice. A . large amount had been spent in public works, and much of it was wasted. The bulk oi this money had added enormously to the value of private property, and enriched the few at the ccit of the manyi He considered every: person should : contribute to tbe State in exact proportion to the advantage he derived. Under the present system of, taxaiioo a pauper class, whose children would be«ome the serfs of land. monopolists and speculators, fwould be created^ I To remedy and prevent this, he sugges^d tjbat the System of taxation shpuld be revised, and a land' tax imposed.". He proposed that the: land should cbe *'taxed : aooording to quality. Absentee landowners, who derived large revenues from New Zealand ' had rto pay an income tax in England. > If they thought proper to reside, therel he considered, they should be made to eon* 'tribute' to the revenue of * this' eoloiiyl (Cheers). This.wai not radicalism, bat pure reciprocity. It was to alter the exf isting system of taxation, and to prevent the creation of one class rolling in wealth and another steeped in poverty, that he desired.an extension of the franohise. As; long as a minority^ held the exclusive right to .vote they , would legislate,, for thefnaelves. ; ; With the franchise ex> tended their land, laws would speedily be reformed in a way beneficial to the -'■ people. ~;"He;:"! itat^d "' thfeP* fihif. reason for asking'the Governor to disallow the Land Act was to prevent the Canterbury .squatters obtaining a*i extension of their land leases for! thirteen years. Without the electors being consulted in granting the leases \Parliamen x. had committed a fraud ion the people, actd he had threatened, when the Act was pasted; that he should use every means in his power to prevent it» passing into law. He urged them, if they wished'tb recover their rights,^ arid make' the colony great and prosperous, to agitato for an extension of the franchise!. It should be the ambition of every one to take a part in;the work of legislation* and try^ to beoomeone of the statesmen of New Zealand^ He had been told during his tour he was once Governor and he was now. only Premier, but he replied he would rather be Premier than Governor. Every man had to aid in the buildingup'of a nation, wirfsh he believed would' be one of the greatest the world' has ever'l seen. .They were laying the foundations upon which the happiness or misery of untold millions would- depend, and according as they acted would their memory be esteemed. He believed the people of Dunedin would not,, prove traitors to such a glorious

The following resolution waa carried by acclamation:—" That this meeting desires to express its thanks to Sir Geo. Grey for his lucid and ralnable address, and to express ita entire confidence in his Gorern. ment." '* t \ "There wen lond calls for- Mr Macan« drew, but be only aaid a few words. " ;'