SIR GEORGE GREY REPLIES TO THE PREMIER.

Evening Star, Issue 7281, 4 August 1887, Page 3

SIR GEORGE GREY REPLIES TO THE PREMIER.

AUCKLAND, August 4. Sir G. Grey, addressing the Central electors last night, replied to Sir E. Stout’s recent address, and in particular dealt with the misrepresentations of the views of the Opposition made by Sir R. Stout, He showed that the Opposition were not adverse to settling the people on the land, but only to the illegal and extravagant way in which the matter was gone about by Mr Ballanco. They were not desirous of imposing further taxation upon the necessaries of life, but wished to enforce retrenchment, and thus render increased taxation unnecessary. In respect to education, the Opposition had no intentionof interferingwith its efficiency, but thought it might be less expensively worked. The Land Acquisition Bill and the Government treatment of his Bill on that question were noticed at length. The Premier’s statement at Dunedin that Otago would not suffer by retrenchment, though Auckland would, was scathingly criticised. Sir G. Grey declared himself in favor of an elective Governor. When the Constitution was drawn up by him he took care to retain power to the people of the Colony to elect their own Governor.—(Loud applause.) This had been questioned, but it had been decided that they had such a power, and the Queen would certainly sanction such an Act if the people of New Zealand insisted on it being passed. He advised them to open the highest prize in the State to their own men, and to let every woman know that she might be the mother of a future Governor.—(Cheers.) It was said that this was “cutting the painter” with Great Britain, but it was not really so. The East India Company had elected their own Governors, and the commissioners of South Australia had done the same for a time, but they had not “cut the painter” by so doing. He had determined to strive and struggle until this end was attained. At the close of the address, in reply to a question, Sir G. Grey said that reduction of expenditure was better than increased taxation. The public works should be completed, but further than that they should not go. L 5.000 a-year was too much for a Governor. The Native Department should be done away with, A vote of thanks and confidence was carried by acclamation.