George Reid

22nd July 1891

If you pay some regard to those vast commercial and industrial interests of this country, subject so often to the mania of speculation, abused so often by unprincipled swindlers, do you see any of those wise modern provisions of legislation intended to shield those who have too much confidence from those who have too little honesty? If you pay any regard to these natural treasures which are hidden in the soil, what do you see? You see that, whilst the struggling, honest miner works year after year, perhaps in vain, you have your priceless deposits of wealth made the sport of hordes of gambling speculators throughout Australia, and you see wealth which belongs to the people of the country going out of the country, never to return.