POLITICAL REFORM.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIV, Issue 39, 9 October 1912, Page 5

POLITICAL REFORM.

A BRANCH OF LEAGUE FORMED IN STRATFORD.

The adjourned- meeting of supporters of the Reform Party was held in the Borough Council Chambers last night, when a branch of the New Zealand Political Reform League was July formed. Mr. G. Sangster was in cue chair, and presided over an attendance of twenty. . . Mr. C. I*. Lindegreen, Dominion Organiser, explained that he had la-loro uealt with oriefly the reasons why the League was a necessity, and chore was no need for him to enlarge upon tneiu that evening, ’there was, however, one tiling which he had omitted to mention, in order to show - the absolute need and necessity for a systematic organisation in connection with thenparty, and that was tiio certainty that at tne next pojl the system of election by proportional representation would oe introduced. Under that system the party that was host organised would win; if there was an election to-morrow Labour would come out on top, for Labour iiad the best organisation. The reason w'hy organisation would triumph lay in the fact _ that, with the great increase in the size of the electorates, the personal vote would bo eliminated. r l ney knew, already, how difficult it was for members to address meetings at all parts of their electorates, and would readily understand this increased necessity tor organisation. (Applause.) Mr. T. (J. Fookes tnen moved: “That a branch of the New Zealand Political Reform League ho formed in Stratford.” Mr. S. Clarke seconded the motion, wnich was carried unanimously. A motion was also passed making all those present members of the LeaOfficers tivere elected as follows: President, Mr. T. C. Fookes; vicepresidents, Messrs. G. Sangster, A. \V. Budge, S. Clarke, S. M. Porntt, W. A. Hewitt, W. H. H. Young, and J. Boon; treasurer, Mr. W. A. Hewitt; secretary, Mr. Goergo Bond; executive committee, Messrs. H. Kivell, H. Ashton, F. Dixon, W. R. Boon, T. Mercer, W. Abraham, G. Ferguson, R. McK. Morison, J. Paul, and Rev. B. Metson.