DEMOCRATIC LEAGUE.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 754, 1 March 1910, Page 4

DEMOCRATIC LEAGUE.

NAPIER- BRANCH " MEETING.

.A meeting of the Napier-branch of. the': ilawtos Bay Democratic League was held on Saturday evening, Mr. BlackbuTn.pre-

."•i I ' , .'.'?-;?. Brans snumitted a motion 'amrmuig that all the unemployment/past i^and-present, resulted from withholding town lands from ose, and declaring that to Government which permitted this was ■unworthy of the workers' confidence. He advocated a large increase-in the'tax on land values, and a corresponding decrease of indirect taxation. ■ . -■■-■'-. ; . :. ■ : In the discussion which followed it was remarked that the Government had not touched the great town land question, and had added to the workers' financial bur-■oen--'Ut was useless • looking to the nre--sent Government to deal in a hold'and Btetesmanliko manner with the economic - problems whica,faced them. Yet,there.; -could,not bo social peace,and national I .'P ros Pf nt T until these prcblems were ,?O v —•<- 9?\ S ?? ak 2 «P«'ssed his' astonnshment that the trades unionists' had never thought of uniting in a campaign:ior the nationalisation of.the unearned' ..increment. The motion' was carried unanimously. ■'.-'. .Another resolution- was adopted, ■ call;pg on-the workers 'in' town and country" -to form branches of the Democratic league, and make such their only "political lie mover stated that as the object,of the leagne'was to-break up land monopoly, remove . oppressive ■ taxation, and double the purchasing power pf wages, it was manifestly to the interest of the malo and female workers for Tragoe to join tho league, and' show the Govornment that they did not intend to oebejuiled any...longer. . Another speaker stated, that the trades unions of the.country had wasted many years on pe labour legislation-which they had obtained. This legislation had been mere tinkering. What .was wanted was measures which would remove the,causes of labour troubles. When this was dono itney tarald not need an Arbitration Court ; ootv a; Labour Department, and it would bo done as booh as there was a sufficient nnmberof Democratic Leaguers in Parliament., The trades unions had ample • funds : or could soon get ample funds, to inaugurate and maintain a campaign in every, constituency in the country, and if they did not do it, it would bo greatly to theiTjaiecredit. .", The.chairman said he hoped that thev Tv to secure the services of Mi. A. W. Hoga.Mr. D. WLaren, and other members of Parliament to assist them in the tasi of extending tho leacun > throughout the Hawke's Bay district.