COOK COUNTY LIBERAL ASSOCIATION.

Gisborne Times, Volume IX, Issue 915, 13 June 1903, Page 3

COOK COUNTY LIBERAL ASSOCIATION.

A general meeting of the above was held iast evening in Townley b Hall, there being a good attendance. Mr L. P. Joyce (president! was in tho chair. A number of workmen wrote as follows: —"Wo would submit to the Association the unfair treatment wo consider has been dealt to us in being knocked off (on toe Gisborne Karuka railway) and others kepi un We, as married men, complain that others arc kept on the works to our detriment, in violation of the rules which we worked under in good faith, relying on suc h rules that a ballot should be taken wl.cn hands were nut required. As no ballot has been taken wo naturally feci a'"'rievcd, and ask that the ballot be taken arul that we should have a chance of being as well treated.” , The Chairman said ho thought they should not interfere in the mattor. The difficulty was the question of tho ballot referred to.

The Secretary proposed thut a copy of the If rtf r be sent to the- Minister of Public Wuiks, with llie request of favorable con sideration. Ttiis was seconded by Mi Mm in-v. , . . T.io Chairman said he uiidnistooil that their services vvou'd not be ceqiliied lor three or four munti.s, in which case they couM not expect the construction of the Inin to make mucii pingress during that period, lie assumed other gangs would be tn a'cd similarly to tho men who had sent in the complaint. Mr Birrell considered that the Association should not inlet fere with tne railway works, as they had not lull information on tho subject. Mr Mooney said lie thuughb a ballot was only carried out when an application for men was received by their agent ; for instance, if there were 100 names on tho roll seeking for employment and only 20 required by the works, then a ballot was held. Mr Jones pointod out that they wero quite entitled to deal with the matter in sending it to tho Minister for Public Works. The Association had looked into cases of complaint, and thoy should continue to tuko the same interest in such mutters as they had dono in tho past. They wore the only non-official body that could approach Ministers with rogard to injustices dono. Alter further discussion the motion was carried. Mr Dickson proposed, and Mrs Scott seconded, that tho Association congratulate Mr It. N. Jones on his recent appointment as President of tho Maori Land Council.

This whs curried by acclamation. Mr R. N. Jones tendered his resignation from the Association. Ho referred to some of fcho political battles that bad takon place during his tirno with tho Association, and with tho courteous treatment he had received at tho hands of the members. Mr Mooney proposed, and Mr Scott secondod, that'tho resignation bo accoptod with regrot. Mr Harris considered that the hardest hit tho Association had yet received was the losing of such a cupablo oflicor. Mr Birroii highly eulogised the retiring secretary's many good qualities as an oflicor of tho Association and in his profession ub a lawyor, Ho dofined Mr Jones as “ Tho working man’s lawyer,” as ho was always ready to assist tho poorest as well as Ihoso of higher rank. Tho Chairman concurred with the previous speakers. Whilst regretting Mr Jones’s departure from amongst them he congratulated him on his appointment. Mr Jones was a sociable, moderate, and painstaking man, and took a considerable amount of interest in tho Association. He was also as a law giver a man of high esteem. Mr Jonos, in thanking members for their kind romarks, said that it was a great wrench for him to have to sever his connection, for ho loved his profession as well as tho political battles. It was proposed by Mr Dickson, and seconded by Mr Harris, “That the Premier bo writton to congratulating him and tho Cabinet on tho appointment of their secretary as President of tho Maori Council.” Tho election of secretary then took place, and resulted in Mr F. Harris boing appointed to till the vacancy. Mr Birrell proposed that “ Tho Association place on record its regret at the death of Mr A. Y. Ross and its doop sympathy with the relativos.” The motion was seconded by Mr Jones and carried in silenco. Mr Moonoy thought that tourists could be attracted this way, and be urged that thoy should back-up their member with a view of having soino money placod on tho Estimates for completing tho coach road to Waikaremoana via Hangaroa. The distanco from Gisborne to Waikaromoana was 69 miles, 60 of which was a good dray road, and the remainder was an Bft track. They would requiro £IO,OOO. He moved in accordance with his expression of opinion. The motion was secondod by Mr Harris, and

carried unanimously. Mr Cogar, in dealing with the preferential tariff, thought that Mr Soddon’s reprisals were too premature. Ho urgod that members should not express an opinion on tho matter until they had found out Mr Chamberlain’s conditions. The Chairman concurred with Mr Cocar’s remarks, and thought it would be injudicious for members to express an opinion on tho matter. It was a gigantic A. hoarty vote of thankß to the chair 1 terminated the mooting.