The Premier before his Constituents.

Thames Star, Volume IX, Issue 3075, 23 December 1878, Page 2

The Premier before his Constituents.

The Premie:, Sir G. Grey, addressed his constituents at the Theaire Eoyal on Saturday evening. It is estimated that there we c 10C0 persons present. On tlie. motion o! Mr B. Gre an wood seconded by G: Hancen, His Worship the Mayor, W. McCulk igh, Esq., took the chair. The Chapman said to 6irG. Gray ihe Thames reople we.c ioue.bted and should evarbe gra,e u'liiideed.he had provt i himseif \o be tie vey best friend the Thames ever hri. (Cheerj.)^. -'If pnyfhing were warning 'o prove that 'a^senion be could 7>olnt to the succe;:ful tmnio^ of the first sol cf the railway, which bad that day been inaunavated. Sir George's action, and the great interest he had shown in the mailer of the Harbor Bill, would ever bs remembered by the Thames people; He then inL.oduced to them Sir Gf :orge Grey, who wt.s received in a most enthus'astic manner. ' ' ;

Sir George Grey said the Cha<vm&n h; d said the Thames people had reason (o be graleul to him. All he could answer was; He had reason to be £,-■»>eful to them, as tbey gave him an opportunity of : seivinv them aul New Zealand. Eef'ore speak'ug on political matters^ he would sxf a few words on local matters. • La'ely a great deal hrd been dofle in tbe codsiruciioj of roads and making improvements, which bad bee i carried ont by tbe aid of the local authorities. Tbey h»d arranged wi.h the Government ;aat they woald endeavor to carry tbcm out for the benefit of both races, and has led to conv;nce tbe native? that the;r inieiests were indential. with ou I.^. The local bodies carried out tbe ar.'PugemeDt faitntully both here and at Co»omandej. It ! would be a gre?t eccou"a^ement io the Government jto do what is ;,ood for us all. He would now &ive an account of his stewardship, showing what w^s the couise to pursue during the f-om'og ■ session; what wue the objec.s they should .endeavor >o attain., and what wr.s the system they .should B«,.ive to build up? They had heard such language as ".G"ey will make a line spec. h o you,' and tbis is all." He d'd not consider them so weak in iitellect a3 lo be leu astny with fine speeches. (Applaase) They were Unaware ihafc a cause was introduced id v Bill givincr a lv*<*e quantity of land to Canterbury land-bolders for a number of years,, which should not have been given. He was an^-y at it, ind'gjant at it, and,upon remarking that he pitied the children of the South ,Ishnd who had been deprived cf the land ie hpd been ridica'ed. Should hn have pi!id the , clrldren or not P (Cheers.) Any man who cared for his country would have felt such pity. Lau&h'er was no answer "or argument, md undeserved ridicule was no anuwer to weighty Brsumep;. -As their repeeu native he would take care they had (heir fair shaie of public revenue spent amo iqst them. ■ They would hold him responsible for that. It was for them to see public money was properly spent. Ls.ely tho ciy had be^a raised ia several p^rts of the colony about lands in North Island bein<; unfairly dealt with. The argument w:s th3fc.thty had had rights coming to them which did not come ' to the public at large. Let them not be led aslray by arguments of thai kind. In that case laws were made by which lands became the pro-pe-.'y of private persons, although the same law gave everyone equal rights. That was true; but if they came to some of these individual peculiar rights, where they had the power lo make a law that what had been unlawfully done should be made lawful, they said they had the power to do that. . He said any people who argued in that way were enemies'to their countiy. (Applause.) Theiewasno law In this world that could give power to any Government to do exactly as they liked. In a Government doin^ wrong, they were doing wrong to the whole community. When it was said, gentlemen were, developing a country by spending larje sums of money in it, he said it wpt not these gentlemen's money; It w.->8 the people's money. If he gave a man ICO.CJO peos of land he could go and get a large sum fom the money lenders upo*\ it. If laborers were employed on properly co acquired it was not the money of their employers which pai^ them, but.their own money }>iven l^ck agrin, (Applause.) To give men large trac;«, of

country in thai, way was fo give them the power of >iiis"/]j» cuo roous louus. Every one must know the ralue of faring depen Jed on the facilities for gelling 'he pioduce lo the market, and the means of Ljmmunication. If, therefore, he gave a m>n power of deiermbing whether ro-d8 wese to be made through that land or not, he gave him the power of taxing eve«y one of his neighbors, a* tb-j value of every man's farm in the large hadholdex's virinKy was limited.. This.allled to auofher point—to a subject on which he woald have to speak. The people who acquired the«e large tracts of land had votes in proportion to .their, laud.:, They mi&bt have five voles to one. It was possible for a man lo have 45 votes, and most of his neighbor to have only oner It would (hu3 be seen that votes were unjustly distributed., According to his own view the voles should be proportionate to the owners of property in the disirici. He would hot etfe how many aoies it was -aid persons thus, qualified * should have tbe power of saying, "We desire our properly should be ta?«d at 10 mucli an acre." (Cheers.) fie contended the majority of the people, in a district should have the power of detei mining which amouut should be imposed. It should not be allowed to oneman to have 45 voles with which he could elect a whole County Council, and to gire a man power to do was to create a governing elsif of! \ #hich they coild not get rid "of; Where one man had a right < Co: exercise 45 votes, they gave him the. power to spend, the money,' and thds):a distinct elan j was Ci*eated,.id the 'community; one of whom would have the power to govern: a«!. the rest of (he other clrisVwbb^woild'htTe to go, hat in hand to, him, and ask to get wo-'k with their own moneyl ;No worse attempt bai b*en made' tfr'set up an^aristociaey in; New Zealand,,and th*t of' the worst possible kind. If they' supported plurality of votei it would in time oecbme aftieatcune.- It would secuve^ degradation i.O a class for,.all ,tit^e/anV ..raise op' a class ol the w/drst possible kind; ■ Jfooey who had no light rto'acquire money from the means'they had used'; ftnd 10 iicquire money by pliliJity of votes:;was;6ift of .the worst ways by which power !o6uld be acquired. These were the diftepniable means by, which power 'was r^dired in the present .flay. i Ol^ h f lch •■*:T?^ rt'sitet^!?* I with reference to his,conduct duringiast session,. ;In round numbers three-q«mt«rt of a million had been rtaken from }g«Bertl revenue aid giveu to local bodjesuwhica they woald see belonged lo e^ery orii in ■ equal proportions; and do quehadil right to a larger share than bis fe'lows."'Why then had any^ohVaright to expend* ffidney which b»d no relation tOh'S* property at all ? The whole rates' of tbe coldly few under £1OO,C?3 per annum,'; therefore the proportion which that Bi»mVbt4r« to ihe total expendi live ''was!' t&ofyl'pifr eight'i. They would,uhderitaVd that the people contributed tberevenue themselves. He would now speak, oJtV^W,;El?e£onl Bill. In England the..Goverpmont had always power to dissolve Parliameialand appeal to the p opl.e. In all wirings of governing s alesmeorin this-,matter he had found tbe words;;ctiiefljQUscd—"lf such circumstances tike place we will dissolve." They didn't say, "we will , advise the Crcwu to" dissolve."" They »poke always with the most perfect conn* dence that that should take plvee. They would all agree with him that,tbere.could bs no possible harm' in appealing- to the people. In New Zealand the right of dissolution -aT)d:appeilm^ to the people, had been denied them. It was said the Governor here was outi'de the question of ligbt, and that his rights descended from Governor Co Gove aoi.: tome Governor ■« might pleaie lo allow a diinolatioa nn A othei^mlghi not-^that was to say that New Zealand statesmen, weie not lo be trusted with the same powera as ex:vc;sed' by statesmen at Home, antt (ney Obad here J .seme statesmen who said lhat such wai the ease. (Laughter.) What was meant was that a Mirisl'ry hating a minority hefl .'Co be ti'ied wh'vher they could get a majority, ana uilc°s toey could; show :hat, they were not allowed a dissolution. The effpt of this was only Mo a Miuisuy in the House, but also chat the Opposition knew they would cot b» sent bacic lo their constituents. Thus no Ministry in the Cbloay cottld 1 be strong, enough to carry their measures witheer* tainly. That had been disposition and that of his friends.. Now, certainly, in the ne\t session of Parliament if a dissolution was esked for it would be allowed. Now let them corsider t|ie constitution of the Upper Home. In tome other colonies there were Upper Houses, but none under similar circumstance* to our Legislative Council. Perhaps it would be * said = they» <;Kad' <r in ''Upper House as the House"of Lords is in England. '- But there rwas ah extraordinary difference in' New Zealand* adhere was no Unpe, 1 House wh'.ch iwaa paid as the Legislative Council was here. A man here was apnoiotedl to .:t'ie iCboricil,: and immediately acquired-800 guinea a-year. It was not for.a day, but for life—a pension tor life/ (Lau3hf"v.) -Let them t.«ke the civjl service hTe. A Jmanwas put into the Uppe • House and: got' 2CO gtuheat a-yearas we?l »s his pension. >In England when 1 they gave ac'vil Servant a pension it wme from tbe CrowD; 'Take'his own, case. He got'a peus'on from Home, of £1000 aye-. He wanted 'to get' his miniate) nl sarnj leouced from' £\YQO to £\2CO per annoro but tb«» Bill was thrown out. .Well, f\ona his pensibVi they ,took £790 per annum. If a oivii gervant got into the-Upper House be received 200 guineas per annum 'v addition, to his pension. (Applause.) / A<poor maneould not get into the Upper.Hotae,--)-bat he might resign his seat in tfcjelj Lower House and go .'inlo the : > Upper House. There was oothing to prevent a man doing it, and he co'tftHrinsFet 1 himself back and forward from one'house to the other if he wished.' It would thus be . seen that the dominant power *in! tke Colony', were come 50 members of (be Upper House. Pibperty money and power h^cf got them ithere, ard if his friend* wished to get a. majority >there, they have io put in 55 member*, and no^jnan who wished io work the constitution properly could do tb»t. The Governors hemseivei had no power, hut they m'ght depend upon it they (the governois) w?re iu(ended !fc? party pttrpoees. Look what 1 Lori!. BeaconafteJd/fcad s*id. He said that the whole poicy of *W Im- ", peripl Tarl'ament had be?u directed to* break up the Colt r;a' Empi c. They 'woald see th^f: the cona'U rtion was rerjr iU to woiK a*d if they expected him io >.ai-i7' ttuwJii ;as '$mf;!#A. at home, .ikej woaid be' greatly oWired. wa,s in the nov»er of any Governor to ruin. any. Ministry, Weauie if

ffiight ally himself with the Opposition. If a ministry was too weak to carry its measures ii must fall into disgrace. Now he came to the question of the Electoral Bill. They did not wish to introduce a bill they could not carry, and had to consult their friends auainst whom they could not carry a measure. They were obliged to bring in a bill in that shape . that would not conserve their vote, and ; tliey believedi as a Ministry if. they had di?i<led their vote they would have been lost altogether. He was fully certain that an appeal, to the country would not be granted upon the question ; but another of his friends brought in a proposal to do away with the plural vote . Tthat each man should have one vote , He.wg,B in favor of Triennial Parliaments, ' as if any great political crisis arose during • ,a five years' Parliament, it could not be dealt,with during that period without a dissolution, which a Governor, on good terms . with Ministry, might give and another might -refuse. He thought it a pity constituencies should bo prevented from exercising their voice for ;. fiteyears.; He had no hesitation in saying that ihis^ opponents ■ had saved themselves by keeping the four native votes in han(J, arid had managed tQe whole thing upon admirable plan. When the Electoral Bill got into the Upper ffKouse they struck out the dual vote altogether except this-? Th; 6 act went on to say that 1 'all;natives wiibse names were enrolled as ratepayer^ should have power to vote if Vthey paid their fates ; and all Europeans "■" Whose names were on the ratepayers' roll . the power of paying: or not. ' !rte and ni's friends had determined not to Bubmit t» this. (Sir George here quoted the cause relating to manhood suffrage.) This was accompanied by-a'statement made in the .House, that the natives in the Uppef House had arranged to pass the Land Tax, and that they ought not to be allowed to-do that again. He was not jn favor? Qf the Land Tax himself. He " thought the Customs Duties were already sufficiently, heary, and that tbe= people -, Bhould not be taxed twice over. He 1 contended that the Upper House, in rejecting that meun'e, had exceeded their privileges, having as a nominated body no such right,- .A .sense of delicacy should have restrained them from interfering in a matter of this kind.. (Applause.) He believed, in Triennial Parliaments, and thought'it. quite possible parties in the Bouse might want to meddle, the Upper .. House having set them the example. . The Upper House did not hesitate to meddle with the House of EepresentativeH; 1 therefore what was sauce for the goose was'sauce for t'sj gander.' They had thrown the gage down. He determined in his own mind not to accept the amendments to the measuae, and would * not accept tbem, as the majority of the House' coincided with him. He believed

next year he could get a better. Keiorm Bill.' 1?or years the Thames had only ; one memberjj while other places with less population had as many as: three or four. Besides the JReform Bill, which would do :> <;'■ away with the plural vote, he; thought he could "get triennial Parliaments. He jjiiow^caine to the Lands 'Bill; It said ;w that^very^niain m;; New Zealand should •"'bftve a-right-bf homestead, add halve no on it' Whatever, and that be should be; enabled' to bring",up a family, and 'fotind aiipme to live in, and that every 0 Wan" sh.otild begin to pay a land tax as his ,";,'froperiy'pw.'."/The,' land; Jaw gave;a Wealthy man also enough to support his o >pji&^and family, and- the rest he would V^aye t jto ,pay-for, (Sir George here referred to the general provisions of the ,! Bill.) The whole value of the land with; . out improvements should be' taxed/ The -whole theory of the Public Works policy o-was that the land should be taxed -A property tax would riot suit the people ht all. He had no objection to it, outlet those people who held great tracts of • 7 land for special purposes set the example. ':^t^.flji^J'ltiriAa^p,era''in l England who <:'aerived ■large revenues,from the colony 'jpay^hfei^ share |o the taxation., He would j'fc'et' i^out, of th,em,,by:and-bje if it was ' Jp^ssible. (Loud cheers.) Let them make Jswe of the, large landholders in the coun".Jtry, These wanted a tax on improvements, ,-^Sas they, believed, if it: were done' a large \; jjfumber of farms would fall into their >irll«ii!*d>. " He' Said, "Let every man improve his land to the best of his ability, ■ c.i'but'dd' notlet him pay for improvements '-' which heihas made on it with his own 1 lab&fi"' v'l'oud cheers.) The landowners, - *■' to'isreSte :idi?scb|itent, said the Gbverninent "^nlyimp^sfey the tax of on e halfpenny an "; acre 1 to deceive" tVe people.., He, said let nfcheW see ■wba£ , this halfpenny , woujd bring in. It tb,ey wanted more they had the great machinery in their hands to rai<eit.% (The speaker referred to arguments^for,and againstthe tax). They would K '.pee. they were entitled to a-reduction on 1,, Articles.of consumption, but they had to deal gingerly with this matter, not being ,■." certain of a dissolution. If a dissolution took place the electors would become' the legislators for the time being, and could 1 lay '-down: a • programme. Next session they wbuld'have to determine this matter. Was atitled aTistocrac/ t6 come to New Zealand tobe set up»'prnot? (A voice: No.) He intended to resist it to the ,nimoit: ' (The speaker here referred at length to nis acLion relative to the title of •.'nonbrable" to be conferred within the Colony to retirpdvjudges, and also to the pseudopower of the Colonial Department to create Colonial Bishops.) He was per/ •fectly certain as soon as the Home Government, found that a decided stand : T?as token, on this matter they, would give ' Way. He now came to the question of-the nomination of the Governor. He had told the, people of the Colppy that they had a perfect right to decide how the Governor was to be nominated, providing the Governpr should .be recommended to the 1 Queen, leaving the Crown to make the aD p iO intment. The Colonial Department had admitted the colonists had aright to pass imch alaw. He thought it a great thine ibr them to know that the power rested in their own hands to be used at they pleased. (Applause.) One other question be would refer to was the power nf the iudiies. Before . last session they caimedVey had the >ight any time to commit a man to gaol for life for contempt of court; and that they were^ not obliged to make any record of such committal. They also said neither the Governor nor the Queen had power to release a man so imprisoned. Some time ago they committed -a WelHnptqn gentleman Tor a month, and when the matter came before Parliament it was found that the Judges Maimed the right lo imprison .editors as well as Jawyers, He thought their pow^r -with regard to the Press should be limited. The Judges were not qualified of deciding this wit boat a jury. He said that the Judges should direct a prosecution if they wished, and,. punish the ■ofi'ender letting the State bear the cost, «nd a jury should decide on the matter.

The result of the debate in the House on the matter was llnf 'lio majority were of opinion tlm- tin* powers of the judges shouU) n^i !,e uiUi'fered with, but he fi"U«li' Hie House wrong. (Hear, hear.) H< believed in the course of a r ew years it would be admitted, too. (The speaker here referred to the obsolete powers of Ihe judges to torture and press to extort confessions.) An investigation had been made in England as to the power of judges to torture, and it was found they.had no such power. He thought they should strive to remedy what was a great wrong. (Cheers.) After briffly referring to the benents that would accrue to the district from. tbe railway, and the advisability ot having a harbor in connection therewith, he concluded his address as follows:—"Onr duty is to guard against the formation in. this new country of any territorial aristocracy—against the ™ere power of wealth—agnnst the establishment of these customs. I say, let us watch from the beginning, so that our posterity will riot suffer. Let us consider these subjects, and I am certain we shall earn the thanks of all who may come afVr us. Here in this colony of New Zealand we have the noblest clay ready to the bands of the potter. Let us see^hat lit is formed by no unskilful hands. That is the task of your representatives, and the choice of those representatives is in your own hands. Give the present Government credit for desiring to see justice done to the claims of this people, and be on the watch that no such)Tast inequalities arise as exist at home, and that no nuch system shall 'ever come into existence here. If it does Ijhe wholß' 1 population will with justice cry out arid say we will be moulded by no no such potters as you." Sir Geoijge who bad spoken for an hour and fifty five minutes, sat down amidst tremendous cheering, the whole audience standing, and it was some time ere their enthusiasm had subsided. „

Mr John Brown, in a highly flattering speech, proposed—" That this meeting cordially thank' the Hon." Sir George Grey for: his .admirable, address, arid reiterates the feelings of confidence so frequently,expressed by the people of this district in him as their representative in the New Zealand Parliament.". (Loud applause.) This was seconded by; Mr Robert. Graham, who also spoke in a complimentary, manner of the Premier, and the motion was carried unanimously amidst enthusiastic cheering. Sir George Grey said : I cordially thank you for your vote of confidence, and assure I shall ever act so as to continue ;to merit your confidence> and support. I have just, one, fajor to ask of you, and that is to pas«; a 3 pariy, .vote of thanks, by acclamation,; to \pur worthy Mayor for the manner .jn which he,; conducted'the business of this eyViine^and by. so doing, proving to him that he has your confidence and goodwill; and will receive your support: in carrying out all projects for your benefit. From the way in which I ask you t" give him your support ram desirousi yon should respond enthusiastically, and can. aspire him of the support and assistance of myself and my Ministry during hid term of office/ J , !:The resolution was'received mostenjhnsiastically;! with continued teheering, after, which Mr Brodie called for three cheers for Sir George Grey, which were given in the most demonstrative manner. The meeting then dispersed.

customs Duties irms Act Fees Light Dues ... Pilotage Port Charges ... 21 3 10 ... ... 019 0 ... 0 7 5 ... ... 519 8 ■..:•■-• ... 22 o Total "I.:- ...£3O 1111