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Observer, Volume 2, Issue 34, 7 May 1881, Page 364

Sir George Grey gathered the people under his Aving. He formed for them a rallying point and gave eloquent expression to thoughts that had long been brooding Avithin them. The era of Liberalism in its true sense then began. The privileges claimed by Parliament and asserted in the abolition of Legislatures co-eval .vith itself, were assailed and curtailed. Its duration was reduced and it Avas thereby placed more directly under the control of the people. Payment of members Avas made a cardinal point and the suffrage became a personal privilege and not a mere appange of landed property. Education Avas established as a national basis. The efforts to monopolise the lands of the Colony by dishonest abuses of position and of power, Avere denounced. The incidence of taxation Avas altered and the determination enforced that the struggling masses should not pay more than their fair share. The mode in Avhich the public money had been expended to enhance the value of great private estates Avas denounced. Jobs like that of the purchase of the private railways in Southland and many others of a similar kind were nipped in the bud. Fair play for all and undue advantage to none Avas the principle for which real Liberals fought and which they managed so to impress upon the policy of the Go\ r ernment that hoAvever the party may be temporarily clouded, their principles must ultimately prevail.