Sir George Grey at Christchurch.

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue XI, 19 May 1880, Page 2

Sir George Grey at Christchurch.

(Pbb Pbess Association.) Wellington, This day. Sir George Grey addressed fa large meeting at Christchurch last night. He was enthusiastically received. He said he was still their representative, although another person has been put in bis place, by a method which was a deadly-^tab at the tt liberties of the people cf New Zealand. (Hear.) He had been ousted as the representative of ChristcUurcli, contrary to all precedent, and contrary to law, and the decision of the judges. He pledged himself that every session he would move that the votes which deprived the electors of Christchurch of their just rights should be expunged from the Journals of the H.ouse. It was his duty to do this in order to defend the rights of the electors of New Zealand, which had been outraged in the persons of the electors of ClmstchurcJi. He denied being a stump orator, and defended bis conduct in addressing a large meeting, to instruct them on gi'eat subjects, and to teach them . how. . to rale. He strongly condemned the Auckland Four Compact, saying the Auckland people rejected with scorn the bribe offered, lie gave up office rather than be a party to disgraceful jobs. He defended the principle of nominated Governor, and advocated a discontinuance of the Legis- i lative Council honorarium. V He objected to an increase of Customs Duties, advocating instead a Land and Income Tax. He asked the peopb to stamp out any attempt to stop free education. The cardinal points of those now in power were to take the taxes from the land and tax the necessaries of life, and further they would stunt the trre of knowledge, "but the people would not allow of that. Then too, they talked of stopping subsidies instead of getting the substantial endowments promised by the Treasurer. Where he advocated the dohg away with the provinces be was w'lling to abolish the Education Boards, allowing the committees to communicate with the Minister. He denounced the present jobbery in native lands at which Government connived. It was their bounden duty to see that t^e Public Lends were not tampered with by speculators, and also that ever/ individual had hia vote preserved, so that the rights of these single individual-* might, as the rights of the whole, be flaci-edly preserved. He finally concluded by avowing his de'ermmation to persevere in the corrse he had taken until his life's end.

A resolution proposed by Mr Andrews, M.H.K., expressing regret at tbe circumstances wbich had deprived them of the services of Sir G orge Grey, thei* tl arks for his address, their renewed confidence, and that they still regarded him as their representative, was carried unanimously.