POLITICAL REFORM ASSOCIATION MEETING AT HILTON.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1603, 5 July 1887, Page 2

POLITICAL REFORM ASSOCIATION MEETING AT HILTON.

A public meeting was held on Friday evening nt the schoolroom, Hilton, fm the''* purpose of discussing matters of interest* to the district, and Vo take steps for inaugurating a Society baving/similar objects to the Political Reform Association of Christchurch. There was a’ crowded at* tendance and great interest w,as displayed in the proceedings, Mr Robert Skinner was voted to the chair, and.'after briefly referring to the object for which they had met invited Mr W. ’ Postlethwalte to ad* dress the meet in r.* Mr Postieihwaite, in a speech of some duration, referred to the polit ; *al situation generally, «nd he expressed his conviction that in the inter sals of the country some sweeping changes would have to homade in the present system of administration. It would be well for electors to he careful to select fit and proper representative! who would carry out their views. He advocated retrenchment in all departmental bodies, and was of opinion that the salaries * of all officials, from tli« Governor and members of the Legislative Assembly downwards, should be reduced. Members of the Legislative Council should ba elected for a period of 9 years and sbonld retire by rotation. After briefly referring to the education question he proceeded to to explain the objects of the Politic* Reform Association of Christchurch, and read the list of objects which the Association we e desirous of advancing. They wore as follows : “ 1, To insist upon retrenchment in all Depart,men's of the pufc'ic ‘irrvicp, and to promote reform in tue finances of the Colony. "2. To reduce the.Legislative expenditure. “ 3. To obviate as far as possible any necessity for increased taxation. “ 4. To res : sti further borrowing. “ 5. To simplify the Land f awa of th« Colony Ba as to facilitate the settlement of the people upon the land. 6. To advocate thorough in the Department of Education, whiistA maintaining the existing National Free System. 7. To secure reform in |the administration of the railways. ; “8. To oppose any further increase in existing Customs Duties, except for revenue purposes, as the present tariff may be deemedw to afford ample aseiatanea for the of local industriesJ “9, To secure the return to Parliament of’ members who may be relied dpon to stedfastly and consistently give effect to these objects.’ Ho considered it a vory desirable thing that branches of the Association should ha started wherever possible, and moved—- “ That a Society be formed at Hilton for the purpose of advocating politic*! inform,

»nd that the list of objec's a mod «t by the Cbriatchnrch Association bo adopted.” The Rev. Q. Barclay, after briefly referring to the general object rf (he Aasocia ion, proceeded to discuss the education question. He was of opinion that groat chanties might be made in the present system to advantage, especially in the matter of higher education. He eonsidered that if the present endowments to High Schools were abolished and the funds vested in the hands of the L’.innlOf Education equally goed results could bo obtained at a saving of fully 25 per cent. Mr H. W. Moore went over similar ground to the previous speakers and in the msin sgre d with thorn. He thought, however, that members of the Legislative Council ware entitled to receive an allowance for expenses. After some discussion Mr Cochrane seconded Mr PostlethwniteV motion, and it was carried with the exception that clause 6 in the list of objects w«s curtailed to read—“To advocate thorough retrenchment in the Department ol Education.” The latter part of the clause was '1 i struck out. Mr W. L. Duncan opp 1 ■ this, and considered thu the clause BhunU be allowed to remain in Cull. A Committee consisting of Messrs R. Skinner, (). G. Bradley, L. H. Rooke, W. Hyde, B. Cochrane, and A. Tooruey was then formed to further the objects of the Association. Mr Skinner was elected Chairman. Some 30 persons gave in their names «s members, and the meeting terminated at a late hour with a vote of thanks to the ofcair.