Active Liberalism.

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 34, 9 February 1901, Page 3

Active Liberalism.

IMPORTANT PROPOSAL BY MR ROSS.

At the meeting of the Liberal Association last night Mr A. Y. Ross gave notice of a motion that in future the Association take an active part in all local government elections by nominatiug candidates for seats on local bodies. In explanation of the motion he said:—

“ In proposing this motion I am well aware that this is not the proper time to make a speech on the question, but if the meeting will allow me I will explain the reason why I propose the motion just mentioned. Seeing from time to time our meetings so sparsely attended, I have looked about to find the cause, and I have come to the conclusion that we—the handful who meet here—who call ourselves captains and leaders in the glorious Liberal Cause are solely to blame. We have failed to make onr meetings attractive, instructive, or profitable. The rank and file look upon our Society as a mere parliamentary election committee, a machine which requires to be put in motion once in three years, and its captains and officers are looked upon as cleaners and caretakers. Our Society can only be compared to a ship that supplied nothing but coffee to its customers ; to this I propose to add tea and sugar on condition that we do not mix them, for if we do both will be spoilt. Although primarily we are parliamentary coffee dealers, let us not forget that many of our people require by way of a change some local government tea and sugar—in other words, let us increase the sphere of our usefulness by taking a hand in the election of members of our local governing bodies. When we oonsider there are four Liberals to every Conservative in this district and find that the Liberal members of our Municipal and County Councils, Harbor Boards, Boad Boards, Hospital, Charitable, and Domain Boards, School Committees, etc., are in inverse ratio; in other words there are four Conservatives to every Liberal on those bodies. This proves that we are wholly unrepresented on those bodies, and that we have failed in our mission by allowing the spoils to the vanquished. Under these circumstances we cannot expect working men who work for these bodies to attend our in

eetings to find themselves marked men. Let no one think I have brought this matter on in view of the Harbor Board election, for which I am a candidate, as the election will be over before this motion is discussed here. Since writing my motion I am extremely pleased to see that the Auckland Liberal Association has adopted a similaj motion.” Several members said they fearer! that what Mr. Boss proposed would lead to a very undesirable state of things—a Tammany Hall style—but fnrther discussion Was deferred until the motioa came up in due course,