FIFTY YEARS AGO

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 24, 27 July 1929, Page 17

FIFTY YEARS AGO

SIR G. GREY'S DEFEAT

IJPEOAEIOUS MEETING

A FIGHTING SPEECH

Just prior to the defeat of the Government of Sir George Grey on 30th July, 1879, and while a no-confidence motion was being debated in tho House, one of the most uproarious meetings held in Wellington up to that date took place in the old Arcade building, Manners street. Tho.advertisement in "The Post" stated that ths meeting was called "for tho purpose of forming the New Zealand Liberal Association, tho object of which ■will be the promotion of Liberal principles in the Government of the country, and the political education of the people.'' The "Evening Post" of that day said there were between 1500 and 2000 people present, and when Sir George Grey, Mr. Roes, and Mr. Fcldwick made their appearance they were greeted with a deafening uproar of groans, hisses, and catcalls, which completely drowned the cheers which were also raised. The tumult was renewed when Sir George mounted the platform, and broke out with three-fold violence when Mr. Bees endeavoured to address the meeting. Time after time did 'the speaker begin by saying, very impressively, "Gentlemen," but he was not allowed to go any further. The speaker, who had his hat in. his hand, waved it first in a mollifying manner towards the audience, then in a deprecating manner, and finally shook it at them in a way that savoured of the aggressive. Even this • proved ineffectual, however, and Mr. Eees eventually had to resume liis seat. Meanwhile an excited scene was occurring near the platform. An elderly gentleman, with grey hair, a highly respected townsman, was observed amidst tho uproar shaking his fist at Mr. Kees, and addressing him in disjointed scraps of Maori. The object of this extraordinary proceeding was not very apparent, but it was conjectured that as the gentleman in question is an elder of his church, he was taking this method of expressing himself, in sufficiently forcible language, without running the risk of injuring his reputation. Another gentleman in the gallery wearing a white hat, about this timo made himself conspicuous by his interruptions, and became an object of tender 'solicitude to the crowd. A cry arose of "Put out the ■white bell-topper!" and tho gentleman in question received a push which sent his hat flying over tho gallery into the crowd below. There was a yell of delight at this, and for a short time it seemed doubtful whether the unfortunate man would not follow his hat. Then there were symptoms of a freefight in tho body of the hall. SIR GEOKGE GREY'S SPEECH. At half-past 8 the Premier, Sir George Grey, caino forward for the purpose of speaking. He was received with mingled cheers and hooting, the former predominating, and for the first fivo minutes spoko amid some interruption. He observed that this was not a question which was within tho'province of Parliament, but it was a question which was in tho province of the people of New Zealand. They had no chance for themselves in the future unless they had a fair representation of tho people. Mr. M'Kenzie: "Why didn't you give it to us?" (Interruption.) Sir George Grey: "I did give it to you. Look at the Constitution Act." Mr. M'Kenzie: "When you wero forced to do it, after four years' struggle." Sir George Grey: "History speaks as to that." A scene of considerable confusion here ensued. Several of the audience advocated putting Mr. M'Kenzio out, and for a few minutes it seemed as if personal violence would be done to that gentleman. He stood his ground pluckily, and was not molested. Sir George Grey, being allowed to proceed, said the}' required fair representation, fair administration of the lands, and equal land laws. If they went in for this, they would have many enemies. They might rely upon, it that there were people present there, or were represented by their agents, who were trying to buy hundreds of thousands of acres for themselves for grog, with the intent of making tho pcoplo pay enormous sums for a small portion of the land. They were thero that night, and, if they could prevent it, they would not hear him. (Cheers and interruption.) Ho cared nothing for their noise; nothing for their turbulence; nothing for their attacks continued against him over long years. (Cheers.) He held that New Zealand should be a nation of equal rights, possessed by all, and free from the curse they. had suffered under in the Old Country. (Cheers and groans.) It was for them to choose whether they would be a nation of serfs. (Cries of "That's all bunkum"; "That's an old tale," etc., and interruption.) It was an old tale, and it was a true tale. (Cheers and uproar.) The Chairman: "There's an old blackguard in the gallery;, turn him out." (Laughter and confusion.) .After advocating manhood suffrage and the other objects of the proposed Liberal Association, Sir George Grey concluded amid loud cheers with one of his eloquent pverorations, in which he pictured the 65,000 men who at present had no vote, but who, ho contended, should receive the franchise, filling the islands of the Pacific with rulers, with law-givers, sprung from their loins, and making tho inhabitants of Now Zealand a nation worthy of the magnificent soil and climate which God had given her. The meeting broke up with hearty cheers for Sir George Grey. Tlio. meeting ended without any resolutions being put, and "The Post," in a leading article, said: "Tho way is therefore left open for the inauguration of a Liberal Association, which is urgently needed, at tire proper time during tho recess. Such a movement will have our hearty support, but it must be ■ started in a proper and constitutional way, and not by so-called 'Liberals' of the Grey type, else it would certainly contain within itself the seeds of prematuro and inevitable collapse." Several days later, the fate of the Grey Government was sealed by a noconfidence motion being carried against it in the House by a majority of 14 votes. Sir George Grey claimed a dissolution of Parliament. The Governor (Sir Hercules Robinson) granted a dissolution provisionally on the Premier reading a statement to the House in which the Governor said: "I have carefully considered the position in which Ministers are placed. . . A majority of the House has declared that Ministers have so neglected and mismanaged the administrative business of the country that they no longer possess the confidence of Parliament. It is indispensable in such circumstances, if Ministers do not at once resign, that Parliament be dissolved with tho least possible delay. If Ministers accept a dissolution upon this understanding, I beg that in any explanation which the Premier may think proper to mako to Parliament, tho answer which I have given to his tendered advice may Jje-atated in mjr orca wpids>^