THE ABOLITION BILL.

Globe, Volume IV, Issue 376, 26 August 1875, Page 4

THE ABOLITION BILL.

MEETING AT LEITHFIELD. Last evening a public meeting, convened in compliance with a requisition handed to him from influential residents in the district by Mr W. M. Maskell, Provincial Secretary, and one of the M.P.O.’s for the Sefton district, was held in the hall of the Public Library. Between eighty and ninety persons were present. On the motion of Mr 0. J. Harper, seconded by Mr C. G. King, Mr H. J. Moore was voted to the chair. The chairman explained how the meeting had Ipeen railed, and its object. As a returning officer he considered a chairman ought to be neutral, and therefore he would do no more than ask them to keep order, and to maintain order himself, and call on Mr Maskell. * Mr Maskell moved “ That in the opinion of this meeting the provisions of the Abolition of Provinces Bill, now before the Assembly, are unsatisfactory, and calculated to damage the public interests; and that, moreover, this meeting is of opinion that before any radical change is made in the constitution, the decision of the people should be given at a general election ” Mr W. A. Benn seconded the motion. Mr 8. f’cleman proposed the following amendment, which he handed to the chairman in writing:— “ That this meeting entirely agrees with the action of the present Government proposals, and hopes that all their exertions will be used to carry out their present policy of at once abolishing the provinces.” [Cheers,] Mr George Collier briefly seconded the amendment. The meeting was addressed by Messrs C J. Harper, J. Barclay, W. 0. Fendall, J. S. 'Woodhouse and Moore, and the chairman put the amendment, for the amen'’ment went to the right, those against to the left of the room, Messrs Harper and Woodhouse acted as tellers. The numbers were— For 49 Against 37 Majority for abolition ... 12 A vote of thanks to the chairman termi Dated the meeting at 9 p.m.