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Waikato Times, Volume XIII, Issue 1047, 11 March 1879, Page 4

never thelrssj failed to fulfil any of the lavish promises li 3 hud made \vhilo stumping the country, and preaching of how such men as himSc >li (An- Kolleaton) lind passed away, i o Kaf as political pwwer was cotiwn\i. d, while hn (Sir Ueovge) wouldj m i ho future, bring about a vastly imp nvcl staitu of a flairs. Tlio con* duct of tho Government m havingtaken £100,000 of tho Customs duip>. on tue "fad" of a working man V 1 free Ln onkfnst table," was m tlm p'osont state of affairs of a most inisshicvous character. The public indebtedness of the colony was 20 millions, and tho private liabilities were as much. The amount of the ordinary revenue was £2,000,000 ; the ordinary expenditure, £3,197,1)00, leaving a d/n'cit of £597,000 which h«d to be made up out of the land fund, which, m the present state of nftairs, was very unstable. 'I he Government had received the support of many members of tho House last uession, who did not agreiv with their measures, but who had promised their constituents to support Bir George Grey's policy for that session. For that reasou there was no organised Opposition, but a very different st'i to of tliirgj. would pro vail next session. Iv refreerice to thH conduct of .Sir George. Grey m his treatment of tho Marquis of JMormanby and t*sir John Jervois, and m the matter of the Paris Exhibition, Mr Kollestoii was very severe, and m these remarks appeared io have the audience entirely with him. x\J£XT SESSION, He ihon proceeded to speak m detail it the various measures introduced last session, commenting on each at considerable length. Me concluded as follows : 1 am pleased that men who were pledged to the Government last session are no'v free men, &nd that we shall all meet as free men, and that there will be plainer spenking. 1 trust-that the people generally will be more nwakoned to the position of the colony, which, 1 am very much afraid is a dangerous one. We have had many polic.es before, but 1 say this that we have never had such a policy of a Ministry as this so-called policy of regeneration of the present Ministry has turned out to be. Gentlemen, to a looker-on, ifc would bo a comedy, but to those who, like ourselves, have made this their Lome it is faz worse. It is no comedy gentlemen ; it comes veiy near being a tragedy. The trouble is now impending; and it will require the greatest care and statesmanship to steer through, and it is no time for those "who have the guidance of the colony to he as tho Government have bien with the people. T.t grieves me to sco the people matin a stalking horse. This patronising air which has been adopted with regard to the people of the colony has been something contemptible. I don't think it has i-n---posed on the thinking portion of the people. They are aware of what is going o , atiU will not be imposed on. I don't think for a momeni that they are, and lam quiie content to take their verdict, on what properly should be tho policy of the country. It seems to me that tin policy of regeneration means simply a little more climbing ou the shoulders of tho "simple villagers," as Sir Geo. Grey calls them. It means a few more morning papers chanting their morning hymn of praiye, instructed by special wires from WellingU n. "We are told such rubbish as tb^ >Su George Grey' will retire, 1" • the world better than *•* .. " tl 1 .^ and so on. l am -' .•? . oan< * lfc ; plea.es the - ,^ of * f f lfc lue i.n«l r people it won't please £„>" .i am quite prepared to leave .m return to my farm until a better state of things comes about. 1 have to thank the electors for the con sideratiou and courtesy which they have always bestowed on me. It is always a pleasure to meet you, and will always bo so as long as I retain your confidence. (Cheer.) I shall be glad to answer any questions or givo any explanations you way require. Gentlemen, I have to thank you very heartily for the patient manner m which you have listened to my long address— fur longer than I intended when I began to speak. (Loud cheers.) At the close of the address a vote of confidence was unanimously passed.