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Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3032, 15 March 1881, Page 2

A correspondent, in another column, wants to know what has become of the Napier Liberal Reform Association, and he is not the only one who is in the dark as to the existence of that institution. Since the formation of the Association, we believe, there has been only one meeting called, and that fell through from the want of a quorum and the absence of the principal office-bearers. Putting entirely on one side the action taken by the promoters of the Association during the last general elections, we thoroughly sympathised with the movement for the formation ot an institution that under proper management might have made itselt extensively useful. We regard the Liberal Association as something more than a narrow-minded election committee ; but it is because, perhaps, we misjudged the intentions of tbe founders that we are disappointed with the barrenness of the results of its establishment. The articles of the Association embraced something more than a bond of union in general politics; they set forth that local affairs should form one of the chief subjects of concern. But neither in general nor in local affairs has the Association, as a body, given any sign of life. Numbering so many members as it doee, tbe institution might have been a powerful lever for good, and might have made itself felt in all those important questions that have arisen during the last twelve months with respect to harbor, municipal, and educational matters. It has, however, allowed itself to fall into insignificance, a position into which we do not think it would have subsided had the ruling members been as zealous as they appeared to be during the heat of the elections. There has beeo a want of backbone painfully apparent throughout, and also a want of cohesiveness as soon as ever the main object of the leaders had been served Tbey succeeded in getting elected to' what offices had to be filled in the Association, and they then apparently deserted the cause they had undertaken to uphold. Under these circumstances a general meeting of the members would not be out of place for tbe purpose of taking the conduct of the Association into consideration. We opine that the officebearers were not permanently elected to their positions, and that they are bound, at least by custom, to give an account of their stewardship. Considering how much could have been effected by united action, and how so little has even been attempted, we may be pardoned for thinking that a wrong selection was made in the election of officers.