Two pamphlets:
No.1. An Interesting Correspondence. 21 pages, paper wrappers.
No.2. The Story of the Boers. Things Worth Knowing and Facts Hitherto Suppressed. 80 pages, spine reinforced.
A South African Bibliography, volume 2, page 442, 'Mr Grey disapproved of the sending of contingents from New Zealand to South Africa during The South African War. He wrote an article in the New York Times which led to the correspondence with the Premier.'
From the introduction to No.2. 'No better or more satisfactory proof could be afforded of the widespread interest which has been evoked with regard to the Transvaal War, and the cause of freedom of opinion in connection with that hideous tragedy than the rapid disposal and circulation of no less than three editions on No. 1 Pamphlet. This fact proves incontestably two things; first that the people of New Zealand have awakened from their wild delirium of Jingoism, and are now prepared to listen to the other side of the question; and secondly, that they will permit of on encroachment upon their liberties by any attempted muzzling of freedom of thought and speech....'
(https://www.aspg.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Cecilia-Edwards-Curating-the-record.pdf) ‘Chief Reporter Grattan Grey versus Premier Richard Seddon Premier Richard Seddon led a Liberal Government that introduced women’s suffrage and elements of the modern welfare state. He loomed large in the popular imagination, partly because he was Premier for 13 years and died in office, but also because he was a renowned orator, an astute politician, and a charismatic personality. To this day he is memorialised through countless statues, including one on Parliament’s front lawn, a small town named Seddon, another settlement called Seddonville, and lots of Seddon Streets scattered around New Zealand. The Chief Reporter was one James Grattan Grey. Originally from Ireland, he was a very experienced journalist who came to work in Hansard in the late 1870s. Grattan Grey, like other Hansard reporters at that time, worked only during the session. The rest of the time he worked as a freelance journalist. But in late 1899 he strayed into criticising the Liberal Government’s legislation in two stories that he sold to the New York Times under his own name. As luck would have it, the Times turned up in New Zealand a month or so later, and one eagle‐eyed newspaper editor republished extracts from it. Grey was called to the Reporting Debates and Printing select committee. The committee resolved that Grey and all Hansard reporters were not to “actively participate in New Zealand politics, by writing articles for publication or otherwise.” This was widely reported in the newspapers. A week later the war in South Africa broke out. Grey strongly disagreed with New Zealand’s intentions to support British forces alongside other countries in the Empire—Canada, India, and Australia. Also, his request for a substantial pay increase to compensate for loss of earnings was turned down. Just four days later he wrote another article for the New York Times criticising the Government’s decision to send troops to the Transvaal. He had a further article published, critiquing the British handover of Samoa to Germany. Once again, he was sprung when the New York Times reached New Zealand shores in late January 1900.’
Printed at the City Printing Coy (Wright & Greenside) FitzGerald's Avenue, Willis Street, Wellington, April 2, 1900.
- Overall Condition: Very good
- Size: 8vo (205 x 135 mm)
