Manawatu Herald. FRIDAY, JULY 25, 1879. POLITICAL ORGANISATIONS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume I, Issue 94, 25 July 1879, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. FRIDAY, JULY 25, 1879. POLITICAL ORGANISATIONS.

Lasb evening, a monster meeting was to be held at Wellington, to take initiatory steps for the formation of a Colonial Liberal Association. The objects of this Association would be to educate the public mind in liberal principles, and to take such steps as might be deemed most expedient to secure the return of members pledged to support those principles. Should the Association loyally adhere to these objects, it will be the means of doing great and peimanent good, and will deserve the support of every wellwisher of the Oolony. In order to carry out iis work, the Association would have branches throughout the country, and at every geueral election, a strong and united effort »vould be made to secure the return to Parliament of men who belonged to the party of progress. A small annual payment would be required from each member^ to pay the working expenses, but the finance would be a very insignificant matter. We are pleased that the Liberals have determined to organise, for however numerous they may be, the lack of organisatioa would be in the future a powerful hindrance to complete success. The Colony is on the threshold of a mighty struggle, between Liberalism and Conservatism the trumpet peal "To Arms ! " is already heard ; and after the next genetal election takes place, the two parties, both in the House and the country, will be separated by a broader line of demarcation than ever existed before. The chief articles of the moderate Liberal Creed are as follows— The bursting up of large landed estates by the imposition of a graduated land tax ; the extension of the franchise, so that every man who is a resident in an electoral district for a year may have a vote in that district ; the abolition of the nominee system as regards the Upper House, so that members of that body may be elected by the people, instead of being " called " by the Government ; the reduction of the duration of Parliament from five years to three. There are of oourse other minor questions upon which the party hold pronounced views ; but the above are the walls of the Liberal structure, which has for its foundation the great and Divine principle of human liberty. We trust the people ot Manawatu will be alive to the necessity of forming in the district a branch of the Liberal Association. They of all others can see the great advantage to be gained from the principles of Liberalism,which aims at setting small holders upon, the land, instead of al/ lowing vast areas of country to be occupied by a few sheep farmers. Those parts of Manawatu which have progressed most rapidly, have done so because of the large number of small holdings which have been made in the subdivision of the land. Feilding would not have been in existence had thac tract of country been in possession of a few runholders, instead of the Emigrant and Colonists Aid Corporation, who wore bound by their agreement to plant people on the land;

whilst it may be safely said that if the country for 15 miles around Foxton had been cut up into 200-acre farms, both the town and distviot would have been five or even ten times more prosperous than at present. The land question will be a test subject at next election. We fear, however, that there will be little chonce of the issaa being fixed in Manawatu upon political principles. The pro babilities are, that owing to the fierce jealousy which exists between, the two ends of the County, the conflict will turn upon the railway question, unless, indeed, this is finally settled during the present session. It is possible that Parliament may deter* mino the point of junotion before the prorogation, and if this is done, then we have a strong hope that the election will be fought out upon the broad grounds of a Liberal policy versus a Conservative. The Colony is at present in a very singular position. A professedly- Liberal Ministry is on the eve (in all probability), of being ousted from office by a party who have at all times declared thornselves opposed to the Liberal policy ; yet this party now pronounco themselves favorable to the policy of the Liberals ! Sir William Fox, in mov ing the no-confidence motion, said in effect he would acceptthe policy of the Government, but would attack them upon the question of their aduiinis* tration. Yet it is stated Mr Walter Johnston is to be a member of tho new Ministry, who will accept the policy of the Grey Government ; whilst it is only a month or two since Mr Johnston took advantage of a public library meeting over which he presided, to make a violent attack upon Liberal principles. Ver.ly, we shall have Liberalism, if such are to be the men who leai in its legislation ! So far as this journal is concerned, whatever Ministry may be in office, our course will be the same as in the past. We shall adhere loyally to the principles of Liberalism, and will oontinue to advocate them, believing that if adopted they will lead to the advancement of the Colony. We shall give credit to the Government (of whatever party it may be) where credit is due, and will not withhold our censure where such is called forth by their action.