Chapter 112 Meeting with the Alliance Party (Please Subscribe!)

On April 11, 1902, after basically understanding the situation in New Zealand, Arthur finally made the next decision, which was to meet with the largest party in New Zealand, the Alliance Party.

Among the two major parties in New Zealand, the Alliance Party was actually established relatively recently.

However, since its establishment, this party has been the most influential and powerful party in New Zealand.

Fortunately, due to the background of New Zealand's autonomous colony, the Alliance Party has also obtained certain positions in New Zealand. For example, the current leader of the Alliance Party, Grant Wilson, is a typical representative.

Grant Wilson, born in Wellington, New Zealand in 1853, is one of the representatives of New Zealand's local officials.

Grant's early political career was not successful. The highest official he ever served was just a small commissioner of the Wellington City Government, and his only responsibility was to visit and investigate the people's sentiments in Wellington.

Although the commissioner sounds very high-sounding, in fact, it is a very common position in New Zealand. To put it bluntly, it is just an ordinary small official.

But Grant Wilson is not a person who is willing to be ordinary. Through contact with the Labor Party, Grant Wilson was very interested in political parties, but he looked down on the Labor Party composed of workers.

So, with the opportunity of Australia's independence as a duchy, Grant Wilson joined his friends to establish the Alliance Party, promoting his purpose of "uniting Australia and building a new New Zealand", and soon gained the support of some small officials and retired soldiers.

With the gradual development of Australia, New Zealanders gradually changed their views and impressions of Australia, and no longer refuted the idea of ​​uniting or joining Australia.

The opportunity for the Alliance Party to become the largest party in New Zealand was Queen Victoria's appointment of Arthur as the Governor of New Zealand.

From that moment on, the people of New Zealand saw the hope of uniting Australia, and Grant Wilson also saw the hope of the rise of the Alliance Party, so he launched a large-scale propaganda, successfully attracted some people to join the Alliance Party, and won the election and won the position of Mayor of Wellington.

Yes, because New Zealand is a self-governing colony, although its electoral system has not been fully developed, it can be regarded as having its own system.

Except for officials of the colonial government who need to be appointed by the governor, political parties cannot intervene for the time being, and other positions, including the city government, are appointed through elections.

After becoming the mayor of Wellington, Grant Wilson could no longer conceal his political intentions, began to vigorously incite New Zealand independence, and became one of the advocates and leaders of the New Zealand independence movement.

The place where Arthur chose to meet Grant Wilson was the former Governor's House of New Zealand, which had been vacant and uninhabited since the last Governor of New Zealand left.

However, the sanitation of the Governor's House is still often cleaned. Although it cannot be guaranteed to be spotless, it can still be used after a simple tidying up.

In the conference hall of the Governor's House, Arthur met Grant Wilson, the leader of the Alliance Party and the mayor of Wellington.

At this time, Grant Wilson was over 50 years old. In this era when the average life expectancy in the world is only 40 years old and the average life expectancy in Western Europe is only 46 years old, he is indeed considered old.

It can be seen that Grant Wilson made full preparations before meeting Arthur.

Not only did he wear a very formal outfit, but he also dressed up and walked in respectfully.

"Dear Governor General of New Zealand, His Royal Highness the Duke of Australia, on behalf of all members of the Alliance Party, I express my sincere greetings to His Royal Highness." Grant Wilson said respectfully.

Arthur nodded and said with a slight smile: "Please sit down, Mayor Grant."

Grant Wilson sat down carefully after hearing this, and tentatively observed Arthur's face.

After waiting for several minutes, Arthur had no intention of speaking. Grant Wilson couldn't sit still, and asked with a little restraint: "Your Highness summoned me here, is there anything?"

After hearing this, Arthur stopped flipping through the information in his hand, raised his head and looked at Grant Wilson with a slight smile.

Being stared at by Arthur, Grant Wilson was a little flustered. He twisted his body, adjusted his posture, and lowered his head, not daring to look Arthur in the eye again.

"The Alliance Party is now the largest party in New Zealand, right? Mayor Grant has done a good job. New Zealand's electoral system seems to be more advanced than Australia's." Arthur finally spoke, but he said something that Grant Wilson didn't quite understand.

"This also depends on the support of the New Zealand people and the good relationship between New Zealand and Australia since their establishment." Grant Wilson replied.

Before he figured out Arthur's true intentions, answering the questions honestly was the only way Mayor Grant could think of.

After all, in addition to being the Duke of Australia, Arthur was also the Governor-General of New Zealand.

It was very easy for Arthur to understand something, and it was definitely not something Grant Wilson was qualified to deceive.

"What does Mayor Grant think of Australia?" Arthur asked with a smile.

Grant Wilson sat up again, staring at the floor. After thinking for a while, he said solemnly: "Australia has a vast land area. After opening up the immigration policy, the population will also increase rapidly. In addition, Australia has rich mineral resources, which can smoothly build a large number of factories and industrial systems."

"More importantly, Australia has shown great potential under your leadership. I believe that given Australia some time, its development speed and results will definitely not be inferior to European countries, and can even be on par with the great powers." When Grant said the last sentence, he also looked at Arthur's face.

Although he was flattered, Arthur did not change his expression, but just nodded calmly.

Just when Grant Wilson was thinking about whether he had said anything wrong, Arthur continued to ask: "Mayor Grant, how do you think the relationship between Australia and New Zealand will develop?"

This question is not simple. Grant Wilson knows that this question is what Arthur really wants to ask, so he did not dare to answer immediately, but carefully organized his words before slowly speaking.

"I think the best outcome for Australia and New Zealand is to move towards unity. Whether from the historical or ethnic composition of the two regions, I think unity is the best outcome for New Zealand and Australia."

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