Mr. Connell Party.

With regard to politics, I am a loyal adherent to the principles of the good old Liberal party of England. You know that the extreme Radicals or Visionaries, as I have called them, always try to get those on the opposite side of the House from them made out to be Tories, and they attempt to attach this word to them in the hope and with the object of doing them harm. Now I say emphatically that I am the natural opponent of the extreme Radical, because, in my opinion, he is not a practical common sense man, but I say that I am not a greater opponent of the extreme Radical than I am of the Tory. The principles of my life, derived from close study and observation, are the principles of the great historic Liberal party of England and which the Radicals have been utterly false to. Those principles are the preservation and extension of the liberties of the people with a jealous watchfulness over the exercise of the executive power or of the prerogatives of the Crown: not the passing of laws to charge so much for labour, or to hinder any mans freedom of action so long as he does nothing that is injurious to his neighbour. These are the true principles of Liberalism, and to these I shall ever adhere. The party to which I belong is a distinct party in New Zealand. We call ourselves the Commonsense Colonial Party. We embrace within our ranks the real colonials of New Zealand. All the real agriculturists of the country belong to our party. They do not belong to the newspaper editor or lawyer party. I need not say, therefore, that I am a determined opponent of the present Government. If there is any strength in this hand of mine I intend to clap it on the throat of the present Government and assist to cast them out of office.

Mr. Connell resumed his seat amidst great applause.