"LIBERAL" AND THE "LIBERAL ASSOCIATION."

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3138, 19 July 1881, Page 2

"LIBERAL" AND THE "LIBERAL ASSOCIATION."

[To the Editor op the Daily Tblegeaph.] "ib, —Tbe letter which appeared in your issue of yesterday, criticising the action of the committee of the Liberal * -, tion, and signed "Liberal," contained rather profusely set forth, a charge—a question — and an insinuation. charge was that the proceedings of the committee are not made public; the question was as to the powers and fitness of the the inarauation was tbat the committee might be misappropriating money. I will answer them shortly in the order set forth. •' The committee meet in secret." If by this is meant that the committee are pledged to, or use, absolute secrecy, the charge is unfounded. The secrecy observed by members of the committee is the secrecy of discretion. That is to cay, a member of the committee will not impart political or electioneering information to a man whom be suspects of a desire to use that information .in Blipport of Tory effort; the known true man gets every item of news or intelligence possessed by the committee. The Association was formed for the advancement of certain political ends—for helping to fight the battle of Liberalism ia ■ politics against Toryism ; and the aims of a combatant in any sphere are rarely furthered by giving to an opponent the scheme of the campagn. Probably, when Conservative committees are a little less chary of affording information to the opposite party, the committee of tbe Liberal Association will hire a crier to spread abroad a knowlege of its plans and movements. Concerning the power and fitness of the Committee I have this to say:—Their powers are defined in the printed rules of the Association ; a copy of which •• Liberal" possesses, if he is, as he states, a member of the Association ; their fitness is a subject that reflects upon those who elected them. If fit, well and good ;if unfit, the members should have elected others. The proper place and time for tbe consideration of this question will be at the next annual meeting—"Liberal" can get tbe date from his book of rules. The very gentlemanly insinuation as to " what bas become of the money ?" requires very little comment. If " Liberal" is a member of the Association, and is anxious for a financial statement before the time provided in the rules for making such statement, he may send a request for the same, accompanied by his name and number on the books, and I will try to gratify him. Otherwise he must wait till the annual meeting. I am, &c, John W. McDougall, Hon. Sec. Liberal Association. July 19, 1881.