Sir George Grey in Auckland.

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3339, 4 September 1879, Page 2

Sir George Grey in Auckland.

[Special Wibe to "Stab."]

(Pee Pbbss Association.)

Auckland, This day

Sir George Grey addressed a public meeting of the electors at the Theatre Royal last night. Long before 7.30 the building and the platform was crowded to excess. D. H. McKenzie, Chairman of the Central Committee, presided. On the platform were members of the Central Committee, Grey candidates and other influential citizens. On making his appearance, Sir George Grey was reoeired with tumultuous applause which lasted seforal minutes.

Sir George Grey, after briefly alluding to the movement now going on in England to abolish the feudal privileges, and give the people who were in serfdom an interest in the soil. He said that after 20 years legislation, New Zealand was behind every British. Colony in its position of constitutional privileges. We had rotten boroughs and pocket boroughs j who could be easily managed, and he said it with sorrow that some districts had no other complaint against the Government than a lack of a large Government expenditure. He and his colleague, the Hon John Sheehan represented 4 thousasd Thames electors, while places down South had a member for 250. All sides of the House were in favour of Liberalism, but he doubted the sincerity of many thus suddenly converted As to the Triennial Parliaments Bill, he voted for it, but if he had made it a Ministerial measure he and his cabinet would have been ejected. Manhood suffrage and the Incidents of Taxation had never been taken up till he brought them forward, and he was covered with attempted ridicule for doing so, but his opponents only succeeded in making fools of themselves. In the constitution he sent home for New Zealand, the franchise was alike for European and Maori. He was not sorry that the Upper House bad thrown out the Maori dual votes, as the three bills must go together—Electoral Representation, and the Triennial Parliaments Bills. Ho objected to the dtial and (o the special Maori representation in the Assembly. He voted with the object of requiring time to to explain matters to the Natives, and ai negotiations were in hand with them for land for railways he thought the question should have been left over for the decision of another session. The Premier again repeated the statements he had frequently made respecting the assumption of undue privileges by the Legislative Council, the creation of a bastard aristocracy by the bestowal of unconstitutional honors, the monopoly of of the lands of the colony by a privileged class to the exclusion of the masses, and the exemption of that, plutocracy by favored legislation from bearing their fair share of the burdens of taxation. He 1 referred in severe, terms to the land com- j pany of which Sir Julius Yogel was a director, and said they had no right to go to the public with a statement that in addition to their freehold estates they would be in a position to deal with the 160.000 acres of leasehold, as no one could possibly compete with them for its purchase. . He referred in eloquent terms to the misery and destruction of Great Britain arising from the people having no interest in the soil, and a little share in making its law, and trusted that in this yeung colony they would avoid such mistakes by allowing every man to have a stake in the soil for himself and his children after him, and a right to participate in the govern* ment of the country, which was his inalienable privilege. By identifying every; man with the welfare and prosperity of the colony* and making him, according to his means, bear the responsibilities of citizenship, could'at they alone produce contentment and happiness, and build up a strnog and progressive nation. At the conclusion of the Premier's speech, there was an enthusiastic cheering for some time. , Mr Boylanproposed that a hearty vote of thanks be accorded to Sir George Grey for his able address, and that the meeting further affirms that it has the fullest confidence in Sir George Grey as the leader of liberal party. The motion was seconded by Mr Thompson. In response to cries from the meeting, Messrs Tole, Speight, Stark, Wall is, Hurst, Moss, Swanson, O'Borke and George addressed the meeting. The motion was carried with acclamation, after which Sir George Grey moved a vote of thanks to the chairman.