Reader Wood before his Constituents.

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3547, 8 May 1880, Page 2

Reader Wood before his Constituents.

(Peb Pbess Association.)

Auckland, This day

Mr Header Wood was received last niglit with considerable hissing. The Chairman said there were some hoodlums in the room.. Mr Wood commenced by asking for fair play. He reviewed tbe political position before last session. He said great injustice had been done to Auckland in the distribution of funds, and it was necessary the Auckland members should co-operate with members from other parts of the colony in order to obtain a fair share of the five million loan. •He traced the defeat of Sir George Grey. A caucus was then held, at which Grey presided. He (Wood) advised a waiting game, with an organised opposition with Grey as leader, and they would soon force Grey back as Premier. Mr Sheehan immediately said that was too slow a process, and as two members from the other side had come over Macandrew should move a vote of no confidence, and the Hall Government would be out in a week. Mr Shepherd was the only one that supported his (Wood's) view. Two Committees, were formed, one of three, and the other of ten, and Grey's name being left out of the Committee of ten, his attention was drawn to it, when Moss's name was struck out a»d Grey's inserted. Pyke, Sheehan, and Montgomery formed the Committee of three. When Macan* drew notified his intention to move a vote of no confidence in the ordinary way, two blunders were committed, first in not allowing the Government to bring down the measures, and in not tabling the noconfidence motion in the only way it could be successful, tte begged of Grey not to resign the leadership, which Grey desired to do in order to bring over votes. He (Wood) believed Grey's resignation a blunder; if he had not resigned he would now be Premier. He had been surprised at the large deficit shown in Atkinson's Financial Statement and the extravagance revealed in the Native Statement. Be and Swanson agreed that something should be done to stop the dead-lock, as Macandrew was not adapted for the position of leader, Wood, Swanson, Hurst and Colbeck therefore agreed to act together if the Government would bring forward the .Supply. There was no compact, and the only agreement was on five or six matters which Swanson deemed important. The existing Education Act was not to be disturbed, Auckland was not to be put on a par with the"'rest of the Cplony regarding school buildings. - The j Liberal Measures of the Grey Government were to be carried out, an Auckland member was to be appointed a Minister, and Auckland was not to lose any ot its members in the redistribution of seats. He (Wood), had an interview with Mr Whitaker, >who said the Government would agree if the four Auckland members went over to the Government in a body. Colbeck had not then decided, and was consulting his constituents by telegraph. Wood had an interview with Grey and urged Grey to call a meeting, and resume the leadership, promising to support him. Grey replied that he was bound to Macandrew. At eleven at night Colbeck agreed to go over, so giving the Hall Government a majority of two. He criticised Baliance's speech at Wanganui. Not a single shilling was specified in the agreement with Government. A portfolio was offered to him and Sw&nson but both declined. He referred to the votes for A uckland as proofs of the wisdom of the four Auckland members.

In reply to a question, Mr Wood said Col. Whitmore was suggested as the successor of Grey, but declined. Ho was perfectly free now ; the agreement was to support the Hall Government only for last session. He would be a blind follower of no man.

Robert Lusk condemned the action of

the four members, which he compared to the three tailors of Tooley street. He moved a vote of thanks.

Joseph Bennett moved a vote of confidence, but the motion was negatived.

Hooker moved a second amendment of no confidence, but it was negatived, and the motion of confidence carried.