CITIZENS' LEAGUE.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1386, 12 March 1912, Page 6

CITIZENS' LEAGUE.

ANNUAL MEETING. PRECIS OF AIMS AND OBJECTS. References to tho recent tram' trouble, and other civic matters of interest wero mado at tho annual meeting of tho Citizens' League which was held last evening. Mr. T. Dallinger was voted to tho chair, and about thirty members of the lcaguo wero present. The annual report (already published) was moved for adoption by the chairman. Councillor Frost referred to statements in tho annual report concerning meetings which had been held when tho tramways striko was in progress. He wanted to know when the meetings wero held, and by whom the purport of them was conveyed to tho City Council. Tho chairman explained that tho meetings had been meetings of the executive merely, and that tho resolutions passed had, ho understood; been conveyed personally to the City Council which was sitting at the time. Councillor Frost: First I have heard of it. Reflections on the Tram Upheaval, No discussion on tho report was offering and the chairmau made a few remurks on it, having merely moved it formally without comment at tho outset. Hi) deplored tho weakness shown by tho City Council at the time of tho tram trouble, but he was glad to see that, snicks then, tho council had .appointed a lionnl of threo strong men. If these men vera, left alono they would run the trams nil right, but the misfortune had been that hitherto, Mayors of tho city had interfered too much aiid too often with (he executive officers. If a man were discharged from any Department he would go to the Mayor about it, and ho would bo taken on again. Now that there was a board ho hoped that there would be less of this interference. Tho recent trouble about Inspector Fuller should never have been brought beforo the council at all, but should have been left to tho officers to deal with. Tho council had made the mistake first of nil of publishing a confidential report by an officer, and then had made tho further mistake of allowing a striko committee, to come in and interfere in a matter which concerned only tho City Council and the tramway emplo'veos. lie then alluded, in rather "uncomplimentary terms,,to ono of the leaders. Tho report was adopted without further discussion. Objects and Rules. The objects and rules of the league were discussed at length and finally adopted. The expressed objects of the league arc:— To secure the advancement of tho city of Wellington. \ To educate public opinion regarding all matters of interest to the city. To secure clean administration of (Lβ city's affairs. To influence tho action of all city n-.uni-cipal and local bodies in the directijns calculated to be in the city's best interests. To seenre the return of candidates for municipal honours who will, in tho opinion of tho league, givo the best services to tho city. The membership shall consist of electors of tho city of Wellington, and persons, firms of companies carrying on business in the city of Wellington, who shall be elected by a vote of tho majority of members of executive attending any meeting' of the executive. Tho executive may arrange to co-operate with similar organisations operating within the city boundaries on such . terms as may bo arranged by tho executive. Election of Officers. Tho election of officers was next proceeded with. The resignation of Mr. H. C. Tewsley, who had left New Zealand for a term, was accepted with regret. Mr. T. Ballinger was elected unopposed to the position of president in his stead. Other officers wero elected as follow:—Vice-pre-sidents, Messrs. G. Townsend and A. Leigh Hunt; executive committee, Messrs. W. Pryor, W. Allen, 11. Seaton, D. J. Nathan, I). C. Jack, J. Macintosh, W. J. Thompson. v Politicians Not Wanted, Mr. D. Sievwright moved: "That, in the opinion of this meeting, it is desirable that no mayor or city councillor while in office shall bo eligible as candidutcs for Parliament." The mover suggested that it was inconsistent with good citizenship that a man should hold office as the trustee of tho citizens' interests while he was appealing to the Parliamentary electors, who constituted a wider body than tho ratepayers. There was a danger of the citizens' interests being sacrificed to please the larger body. Tlie chairman approved tho motion. Ho believed that a man should not bo eligible for the Houso of Representatives unless ho had ceased to be a mayor or councillor for two years. Tho motion was adopted. Penalties for Strikes. Mr. A. Leigh Hunt moved: "That this meeting hereby instructs the incoming executive to actively endeavour to give effect to tho resolution carried at tho mooting held on I'ebrunry 8 last, dealing with an amendment) to tho law with referonco to strikes in tho public service." In submitting hie motion, he said that tho league ought to set itsJace against strikes in the public service uader any circumstances whatever. Tho penalties for strikes in public or municipal services should be made much -more severe than at present, and to that end he moved: "That tho previous resolution urging that in tho event of a strike, all strikers should he compelled to forfeit all benefits, such as superannuation' sliould be again affirmed." Usually, local authorities I would be willing to grant tlio privileges back again on the resumption of work, but the power to do, so sliould bo taken out of their hands. The penalty of forfeiture of superannuation would also have a good effect in preventing strikes. It would divide a body of employees' contemplating a striko into two factions— on the one hand the old employees, with yeai'3'of seniority behind them and considerable benefits in prospect, and, on the other hand, tho young men, with nothing to lose. The motion found support from Fevera) speakers, and it was carried. Mr. E. Gallichan, however, thouglit it went a great deal too far, and Mr. W. Pryor stated that ho could not support it. General, The executive was authorised to appoint an organiser. A vote of thanks was accorded to Mr. H. C. Tewsley, the retiring president, for the services ho had rendered to the league.