The Knights of Labor.

Hastings Standard, Issue 79, 28 July 1896, Page 2

The Knights of Labor.

The twelfth annual meeting of the Knights of Labor, which has just concluded in Wellington, will no doubt be provocate of much good to the toilers. The following assemblies were represented at it:—Pahiatua, Hastings, Palmerston North, Oiaki, Wellington, Napier, Greymouth, Waipawa, Danevirke, Westport, Eltham, Mokihinui, Stratford, Ormondville, Peatherston, Woodville, Inglewood, Levin, Wanganui, Eketahuna, Midhirst, Mangaweka, Auckland, Christchurch, and Dunadin. Resolutions dealing with a very large number of subjects were carried, and a deputation that waited on the Premier was well received. After putting the resolutions passed before Mr Seddon, the Premier said he concurred with the general principle of direct taxation on land values, but did not think the present time opportune for giving effect to the proposal. He agreed that it was a proper thing to strike off the electoral rolls the names of persons who did not vota at previous elections, and that no other names should be struck off unless asked by the owner. The co-operative works system, he felt, had not had a fair trial; they were trying to work Liberal proposals with Conservative machinery. He agreed that inquiry should be made with a view to remedying the abuses. The proposal to prevent any person who takes up Crown land from disposing of it except jjjjtp surrender to the Crown he would before the Ministers for Lands as a matter of policy. He agreed with tb® principle that children should not go to High Schools till they had passed through the primary schools of the colony. The suggestion of adopting a uniform system of books in public schools of the colony he did not altogether agree with. It was pointed, out in regard to this that persons moving about from one district to another were put to considerable expense in getting new school boobs for their children. Mr Seddon suggested in regard to this that the system of interchanging books could be adopted. The Referendum Bill will be brought in ttoder the Couetitutwn Mi.