Mr Moss before Ms Constituents.

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3450, 15 January 1880, Page 2

Mr Moss before Ms Constituents.

Mr F. J. Moss addressed his constituents in Farnell, and received a tote vote of thanks and confidence. He gave a long account of the work of the last session, and in speaking about the resignation of Sir George Grey said, however Sir Gco. Grey resigned the leadership, be his reasons what they might. Many of the party (including himself) were extremely sorry that such a thing was deemed necessary, for they even preferred to remain in opposition with Sir George at their head than to win their way back |to power by such means. This feeling was not confined to the Auckland men; for a number of the Otago representatives gave expression to similar views. He especially remembered the strongly ex* pressed opinion of Mr Hislop on the mat* ter. Yet, when their leader did resign, it was felt that he had done a right thing, and although they were sorry that such a sacrifice was rendered expedient, by the course affairs had taken, yet they solaced themselves with the reflection that in that way would they achieve the passage of those measures upon which Sir George had set his heart. They knew he was doing a generous thing in relinquishing his position and giving up all personal considerations for the good of the party, and they felt prouder of him in consequence. Although there was great and deep regret at the resignation, there was not one word of dissent, for it was seen that their leader had acted in a manner that was worthy of the cause and worthy of himself. (Applause) He asked them to remember all this, for he had since heard it said thatSirGeorge Grey was? -deposed;-ana nnnrthisrEia^lie -^ffeot of i causing certain members to secede. Speaking of the time when Mr JJall announced his willingness to take the no* confidence motion, and the feeling of the liberal party he says .—They had not up till that time the slightest suspicion that the Government Lad been negotiating with some of the Liberal members, and they had no right to suspect that any gentleman with whom tbe^had been honorably associated as a p»rty><sn Q ld be engaged in any secret negotiation* v ith the Government. It would have bet*} dishonourable even to have enter, tamed such a suspicion. On the next day, however, when they x iully understood the position they were in—well, he could not describe the feeling. It was one of incredulity at first, and then it developed into one of in* tense anger, and he might also say of disgust afterwards. He had never before seen such intense feeling exhibited by any body of men as there was on the day that the members of the party found that they had been betrayed, and that as a result the whole party was shattered to pieces: for it was felt at once that no man after that could know whom to trust.