PATRIOTIC ASSOCIATION.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 340, 29 October 1908, Page 2

PATRIOTIC ASSOCIATION.

A SMOKE CONCERT. About 60. men attended a smoko concert held last evening on the occasion of the official opening of the headquarters" of' the V nen ly-formed New Zealand Patriotic Political ' Association, in fiowen Street. The president (Mr Joseph Lewis) occupied the chair. The rooms were declared open by Mr. 0 H. Izard, M.P., who .declared that the association had been formed to watch the political position, and to see that, whatever party ' was in poiver, the welfare of tho Dominion should he tho first' consideration. He believed that the- association stood for all that was best in the country.' Tho objects of, tho associathn were tho early reconciliation of all party factions'; permanent progress in ' production (pastoral, agricultural, and -industrial); increase-of population on all country areas ; security 'to capital productively imestod; sefrrity .of employment to all. classes of workers; the most progressive Government administration at tho least possible cost; and classical, scientific, professional, agiicultural ant' technical education-of \tho best obtainable free. Mr. Izard appealed\to ■' New Zealanders to do their' best to make 'this country an example to tho world. Mr. F. T. Moore, in proposing jtho toast.of ' success to tho association, commbnced ' bjC; making a short election address. The association had adopted the chief plank in his political platform, tho-establishment, .of"'.a State bank. This would prevent the'-borrow-ing of furth-T money! Already the nationaldebt was hanging round this country's neck like a millstone, which".would, drown .tho' country if something were not done:-.'. Mr. Moore then spoke at some length on- tlio benefits wlih'.i lie claimed would follow from tho establishment of a State bank. . '' Tho president, in replying, admitted that tlw associathn had n very uphill fight, and ; without tho support of tho masses would bo powerless. The present housing conditions in Wellington should not be allowed to exist in New Zealand, which to-day.was rather tho devil's our. country than God's. There . were thousands in New Zealand w'.io woUl(j

gladly shako its dust. off. their feet, just now,.'-; •if they wens able. He■'appealed'/to tliose v ' present to vote at the coming elections for men who would bring about a better state" : of Ho believed that (the .financial stringency would last far longer than tho ' l'reinior expected.

Mr. W. Tustin also spoke'to. the toast. Oilier healths wore drunk, and :a pleasant musical programme was provided.'