FAIR PLAY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XII, Issue 4300, 25 August 1875, Page 3

FAIR PLAY.

To tlie Editor of the Herald. Sir,— As a resident in the Eden district, I attended the political meeting at the Whau last night. A. K. Taylor was voted to the chair. After his brief remarks, some time elapsed, and, no oneapparently being disposed to address the meeting, I rose .and made the following remarks "That, : however I admired the talents and political abilities possessed by Sir George Grey, I considered that the people of Auckland and the province were worshipping a golden : image which, centuries past, Nebuchadnezzar had set up." Then I was shut up on the plea that I was not an elector. Freedom of speech or writing in public journals is, I believe, the acme of British liberty ! I was prepared to prove that, twelve months back, the cry here was abolition! abolition ! provided the Southern Provinces were included. I would then have stated that Ministers had accepted the negative, and on what grounds, after an allowance of twelve months' digestion, .they should now require another twelve months to deliberate upon what is a foregone conclusion ? To my mind (and I care not to state it) the Auckland people have been ever lethargic ; they allow other provinces to lead them by the nose. They look through a glass darkly. If they studied their own interests, the} - would see, as I can see, that Government legislation is entirely in favour of Auckland. The Province of Auckland :s, however, a bone otcontention, —it may be a ISte noil—and it is quite clear that Ministers have to play their cards, and if the voice of Auckland is deceived or deceiving itself, it may have, for a turn-up card, the knave of clubs. With these few remarks,---I am, &c., Jouk Mason. August 24, 1875. .