Address of Sir George Grey at Coromandel.

Thames Star, Volume XII, Issue 3850, 3 May 1881, Page 2

Address of Sir George Grey at Coromandel.

The school-house in the Lower Township was well filled last night at the hour ippointed for the address. Mr Cadman, Chairman of the County Council, occupied the chair, and in a brief speech introduced Sir George Grey. Upon the appearance of Sir George Grey, the audience cheered loudly, some of the more enthusias ie waving their hats and shoutiug welcome to their member. Sir George Grey commenced by saying it was with great pleasure ho appeared before them. He had not had many opportunities of visiting this portion of the electorate, but on this occasion he hoped to make himself better acquainted with the wants of the people, and his remarks would be confined to matters touching tbeir common interests, to offer explanations for many actions of the past, and to speak of the policy of the future. He would admit that the district had suffered in some measure for having him as their representative—that is, if judged by the results of votes of money, &c, obtained, but if it were.taken into consideration other se. vices, it would be found that the sacrifices made by the people of Coromandel had resulted in good for the colony. If they had had persons of a certain class, friends of the present Government, yote9 of money, &c, might have been obtained, and, in many instances, money so given had been taken from deserving districts in order to favour others. He would just read a telegram that had been sent by the Government on a late occasion to friend of theirs, which would show what he meant. The telegram was addressed to Mr F. A. Whitaker, the member for Waipa, and was- read by that gentleman on the occasion of a public meeting in connection with the opening of certain public works' in the Waikato. It stated " that in consideration of the representations made by you as membpr for Waipa re the vote of £650 for afroad between Hamilton and Whatewhata, the Government had agreed to vote the money." This the speaker said was a remarkable telegram. It did hot say upon the representation of the people, nor upon the representation of the local authorities, the Government had been induced to give a certain amount of money, but upon the representation ot their member. (A voice : That's the vp/iy the oracle is worked.) Yes, it was tantamount'to saying to the people that if they returned a man prepared to support the Government they would obtain large grants of money for public works in their district. He felt all present would agree; with him that the language used in that telegram was most offensive to the people of the colony, and that the Government should not have acted in that-manner, as it was most unfair to the colony at large. It was no doubt intended to benefit the member for the district referred to, and to help him; into favor; but, in his opinion, it would have quite the contrary effect. (A voice: No, no.) He said yes, and if it was the opinion of his constituents that auch conduct was proper, and that such a course should be adopted by him, he would tell them plainly that he would not do it. (Cheers.) Sir George Grey next referred to the statement made by Major Atkinson to his constituents at Fatea, that " they had got all they wanted from the Govern ment, and more than their fair share." (A voice : That's different from the way we have been treated. The Thames got all the money.) He pointed out at length the utter want of honesty which such a statement showed; but he believed if they had had a man who would have worked in accord with the present Go vernment, they would have got more money spent in the district than he had been able to get for them. The operation of the Property, Tax was next explained, and its unfairness in bearing so heavily on the working-clashes. If the people allowed taxation to be imposed in the manner it had been, the result would be that the working or laboring classes would gradually and surely become poorer and more wretched as year followed year. (Hear, hear.) They might doubt what he had stated, but, nevertheless, it would be found that he was speaking the truth, and that the working classes would be ground down, and in time would occupy the position of such classes in the old country. The mode in which large blocks of land were being acquired in the colony by the wealthy classes was next referred to by Sir George Grey, and the evil consequences forcibly pointed out. The position of Great Britain in this respect was instanced, where 525 noblemen own from one - fifth of the entire land. It was admitted by all statesmen: now that the unequal division of the land -was one of the primary causes of the destitution and suffering entailed upon the laboring classes, and if experience bad showa such to be the case in Europe, why should the , people of New Zealand allow a policy to be in operation which in time would bring about the same evil. It was well known that the wealthy and powerful in political influence were allowed in New Zealand to acquire immense blocks of land, end in many instances in an unlawful manner, and by unfair dealing with tHe natives. Even the lands secured by the Government were unfairly administered, and the poor man was still at a great disadvantage. Upon the Land Board men were placed whose interests were opposed to those of the working classes, and as these men were the nominees of the (government of the day, and once placed on the B,oard they were responsible to no one for their actions. He would ask them if si;ch a state of things should be allowed to continue. (No, no). Why should the people not have the gowpr of ejecting the men who should administer the lands in their districts? (A voice; Yes, that is what we want.) Well, you will never get it till you get au alteration iv the law

relating to the mode of election of your representatives. While property \% le - cognissd as it is at present, the mass of people will be at a disadvantage, and the wealthy man will be able to outvote his poorer neighbour. Once get an alteration in the existing law, doing away with the plurality of rotes, and very soon your representatives will succeed in getting greater power of local self-government intrusted to you. Sir George Grey instanced many cases "where the evil effects of the present system were \ apparent, and urged the people to^agitate., and insist upon a revision of the law, showing also in how many ways benefit = would result to the people at J*rgeThe abuses which rtfc^a" ™»?^ the Goverment nominating; the lAcensing Commissioners were referred to by the speaker, who was of opinion that the people should hare the; election of that body, and some mea--aure- follow the custom In-the United States, where even the Justices of the Peace were elected by the residents in .a district. In speaking of uthe property Vote, he said that the system in vogue in this colony had been copied from Victoria, and it was the only colony in which such a principle was recognised. The only argument ever advanced its favour was that it was calculated to induce poor men to become possessed of property, that by giving a vote to land men would purchase __ in several districts. The absurdity of this line of reasoning would be apparent upon the slightest attention to the subv^ ject, for even accepting for the sake of-" argument that it had that effect, surely the rich man wonld yet have the greater means for qualifying 'aimself for. votes thau the poor man, and so in the end have the greater advantage. The only cure for it was to give the man the vote, not his property, (tf ear, hear.) It was unsound in principle to give plurality of votes, arid .';■ was used to keep the poorer classes down, while it gave increased power to the wealthy. (Hear, hear.) The way .in which the life insurance business of the Government of the colony was used in the way of patronage was reverted to, and the faults of the system pointed out. Before concluding, Sir George Grey said that it had been represented to him that many of his constituents wished to see him, and as his returning to the Thames at an early hour would prevent him from meeting them, he had altered his programme, and would remain in Coromandel till noon next day, going: by the s.s. Coromandel to Auckland. (Cheers.) The Chairman said Sir George Grey would be happy to answer any questions. Dr Hovel I asked if the hon. gentlemen could tell them if the people of Waipa , had asked for the grant of money for the Whatawhata road which Mr Whitaker had obtained. He continued' his remarks at some length, but interruptions were numerous. Sir George Grey said he was not aware whether the people of Wai pa had asked for the vote, but on the face of it the telegram showed that a wrong course had been taken. The Government camnot grant money, the Parliament does that; but it was not so much the money, as the way it was given, that he objected to. Dr Hovell attempted to ask another question, when an irate Irishman named Barry struck him over the head with his ; hat, and told him to shut up and hold his tongue. This caused the doctor to declare no man could shut him up; there was no man there could put him out. ,He was determined to ask his question, and he would do so. (Cries of, "Barry, let him alone." The Chairman asked that fair play, might be given, and Sir George Grey\ said be would be pleased to reply to any question put to him. Dr Hovell then asked if Sir George Grey was so much opposed to the introduction of immigrants, and the practise of giving them land when the colonists could not get it, why he sent George McCullagh Reed home to Ireland for immigrants, and paid him a good salary for his services. Sir George Grey said that when he took office the Parliament had affirmed,the desirability of a large number of people being brought into the colony, and the money was voted for the purpose. la doing as he had he had only followed out the wishes of Parliament. (Cheer 3.) A person in the meeting asked " why the Auckland rats had deserted him?" (Laughter, cheers, and cries of " shut up, we don't want to know anything about the rats.") The Chairman directed the police constable to remove any person disturbing • the meeting. The irrepressible Irishman called for three cheers for the Chairman, and demanded order to be- kept. Sir George . Grey said he was. not accountable for the actions of other men* (Hear, hear.) - • v . Dr Hovell: Why did you not put down some of the abuses and impositions while you were in power. (Cries of " Dwrt answer him Mr Grey," "Clear out, doctor," &c, while the Doctor threatened Barry to put him out.) , , Sir George Grey explained (hat his party in Parliament was not , strong enough to carry measures for the removal of the abuses he complained of. : v Mr J. B. Steele asked if be was in favor of a Mining on-PrmrtwProperhr fixH, and would he consent to stand for Coromandel again. Sir G. Grey said at the present time he could not say whether he would again offer himself for the Thames electorate. He would, however, be in favour of a btiifa to enable mining on private property. He explained at length his views on the question, and the rights of the Crown to all minerals, as understood in Great Britain. t ; Mr Steele asked if Sir G. Grey would be in favor of a reduction of the charges to which miners were subjected. (Cheers. Hear, hear.) Sir G. Grey explained that if more extented forms of local self government were granted, this question, among others, would be settledbbey c the people of each district. He was :m' favour of a reduction. . ■ ■-■ A voice asked what had Sir George done for CorQman4eJ, another called out that the questioner was'a half-hreqt Irishman, and was not deserving of an answer. (Cheers and laughter.) Dr Hovell asked why Sir George Gney kept the Hinemoa for his own pleasure and for politicalpurposes. (Criesof "Put ouji II oveil. Don't answer him Mr f Grey, } At this time al§q one man, m order $ secure a hearing, walked up to the frons of the platform and had. a conversation with Sir George Grey. The uproar was. general. Many, in attempting to quiet the noisy ones, were making as much noisft themselves, the excited representative. of the Green Isle flourishing his arms and jumping about in a most excited manner*

Re waatod to bonnet every one tbatspok* whether it was «rhis friend, Dr Horell, Mr Glorer, or the half-bred oountryma of his. Sir George Grey, when a little qnietnes was restored, laid he considered it wa •W of the duties of tbe Premier of th •olony to Tisit every part of the country in order to mate himself acquainted witl its requirements. (Cheers —hear, bear. He only used the Gorernment steamer fo that purpose. Why Mr Hall did not d< so was best known to that gentleman. '" Mr Oibbs at thift stage proceeded t( move a TOte of confidence and thanks. -. . The excited Irishman at the appearance of Mr Gibbs became, if possible, ever more excited, calling out. " Sit dojvn, rac merchant; "We don't want you to pro pose that;" '• Three cheers for Sir GeoGrey,", "Why, who are you. Gibbs? i? and many other Unkind remarks, ending up by shouting out, " We don't went an.* •By man hero who can't sing 'Rory O'More.' " The laughter was general, and for some minutes the proposer of the »ote of confidence was unable to t)e heard. „ "-the motion was, howcrer. well re ceiTed.and sereril electors feoonded it. When it was put, erery ha«d t waf hel^ UP for it. The cheers_were both long and lotul for Sir George GreyAfter the cheerinf, Sir George Grey '.tested a rote of tfcaoks to the. chair, which was carried by acclamation, and so ended a night with the Coromandel boys.