THE NOMINATIONS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVI, Issue 4422, 16 July 1884, Page 2

THE NOMINATIONS.

CITY EAST.-SIR GEORGE GREY ELECTED UNOPPOSED. The nomination mooting for this eloctorato took place in the R.M. Court at noon to-day. Mr Thomas Cotter, Returning Oliiccr, presided, and there was a fair attendance of the general public. Proceeding., opened by Mr Cotter reading the writ, advertisement of the meeting, and tho clauses of the Act bearing upon the nomination of candidates. Mr 11. Keksisu proposed Sir George Groy as a lit and proper person to represent this constituency in the House of Representatives. In doing so, ho said that their late member stood so far above all others, that he was likely to bo the only candidate for City East. He hoped, however, that Sir George would not be sent down without friends to support him in his actions. Electors should not forget that tho power of wealth was arrayed against Sir George Groy, and this was a power which was not to be lightly esteemed. Men might have thoir own convictions, but in many cases they did not like to vote in opposition to the views of their employer or manager. (Cries of "No.") Ho congratulated tho electors that they had still the services of Sir George Grey placed at their disposal. Mr Thomas Gke seconded the motion. He eulogised Mr J. M. Clark as a publicspirited, and worthy citizen, and cotnmonded him for his action in standing aside to allow Sir Goorge Grey to bo re-elected for this constituency. At the samo time, the candidate whose nomination ho now supported was second to none in his qualities as a public man, and in his honesty, ability, and disinterested desiro to furthor the interests of the people at large. No othor candidate being proposed, Mr Cotteh declared Sir Georgo Grey duly elected as Membor of tho Ilotiue of Representatives for Auckland East. Tho announcement was' received with loud applause. Sir George Grey expressed his gratitude to the electors for again placing him in the position of their representative, and his acknowledgments to Mr J. M. Clark for his courteous treatment of him at the present timo. He would like to say a few words on the land question, which was a burning one just'now in all the civilised countries of the world. The Land Tax Bill prepared by himself and his colleagues was a complete solution of tho difficulties which surround this question, its proposal being to tax what was known, as " the unoarned increment." In speaking on this subject at Otahuhu tho ether night, ho had been misunderstood, because ho hadnotfully onteredintothoquestion as ho had done on othor occasions. In contrasting the taxation of tho large land owner with that of tho labouring man, ho ought to have added, and intended to have added, that the former would pay about L 2.400 a your in tho shape of property tax, But he would also have said that such an annual payment was a small return for a man to make who had got a present of LSO.OOO from tho people of Now Zealand, against their will and without thoir knowledge, As to the operation of the land tax in tho case of owners who had paid the full enhanced value of city and other lots, he advocated the appointment of a commission to inquire - into tho facts of such purchases, so that no hardship should occur in individual cases. Ho concluded by declaring that it was his ambition to assist in founding a new and groat Anglo-Saxon nation in this part of the world ; no higher aim could animate any man than this ; and he thanked the electors of Auckland East for once m,ore enabling him to take part in such a great task. (Applause.) The proceedings closed with three cheers for Sir Georgo Grey, and with cheers for Mr Cotter for hi? ponduct of the meeting.