POLITICAL REFORM ASSOCIATION.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1609, 19 July 1887, Page 3

POLITICAL REFORM ASSOCIATION.

■ A public meeting for the purpose of considering the advisability of establishing '.a'-.branch of the Political Reform Association in Geraldine was held in the Town Board office on Saturday evening. The meeting was a very large and representative one, the Board’s office being well filled.

Mr R. H. Pearpoint, Chairman of the Town Board, occupied the chair, and read the advertisement calling the meeting. •He said they were all aware that Political Reform Associations had been established in Christchurch and Tinjaru, and certain lines had been laid down during the coming election. He then read over the objects of the Association just alluded to as follows;

1. To insist upon retrenchment in all ...departments of the Public Service, and to . /promote reform' in the finances of the Colony. 8. To reduce the Legislative expenditure. 8, ,To, obyiate .as far as possible any necessity for increased taxation, 4. To resist further borrowing. 5. To simplify the Land Laws of the Colony so as to facilitate the settlement of the people upon the land. 6. To advocate thorough retrenchment in (be Department of Education, whilst maintain- - ing the existing National Free System.

9. To secure .reform in the administration of railways.

8. To oppose any further increase in existing Customs duties, except for revenue pur- ~ J poses, as the present tariff may be deemed to afford ample assistance fisr the development of Local Industries. 9. To secure the return to Parliament of members who may be relied upon to ebsdfaatly and consistently give effect to these objects. He desired those who> wished to speak to coniine themselves to the object for which the meeting was called, viz., to Iknaider if it was advisable to form a jßmch of the Association. Of course Cat branch would be under the head Association in Timaru. A Sub-Committee «f the head Association would be appointed to draw out certain questions to be submitted to the candidates. These questions would be submitted to the branch Committee, and any suggestions they had to make would be considered by the head Association. He would ask , Mr W. Postleth waite, who had been : elected Chairman of the Timaru Association, to tell them what had been done. Mr Poitleth waite, who was received with cheers, said he had much pleasure in saying a few words upon the subject. They had all seen in the papers what had been done in Timaru on tho previous Saturday. At a large meeting held then it had been unanimously decided that it was desirable in the present state of the Colony that such Associations should be formed not not only in that but in every district. A similar one had been formed in Christchurch, and a great amount of discussion, had taken place upon it. By the alteration of the districts Geraldine had been swept away, and part of it was now given to Kangitata and part to Gladstone; There seemed to be some doubt as to whether the new rolls would be made up from those how existing, or whether each elector would have to make a claim to have his name placed upon the roll. He bad been asked to telegraph io Wellington about this question, and would do so first thing on Monday morning. Whichever way the question was answerad it was, of cour»o, #ne of the primary objects of the

Association that each elector should have

his name upon the roll. (Hear, hear)., f' Then in dealing with tin# candidates that come before them. At present they found one person getting up at one corner of the room and another person at another and asking questions, and the result was the candidate had very little chance of replying to them all. Now it was suggested that the Association should frame questions of an established character, so that the candidate could have a clear question, and the electors obtain a clear answer. A discussion had taken place at the meeting held in Timaru that day as to whether the questions should be arranged or formed by the local Committee or a Sttb-Committee of the General Committee. It was decided that the questions should emanate in the first place from the subcommittee, and then be forwarded to the Committees for their consideration atid'-suggestions; As to the candidates, ■ be thought U improper that they should * - advocate any candidate till they had all ,been heard and answered the Association’s 'questions. (Hear, hear). In Timaru, 'immediately the Association started, a candidate bad been brought forward, and it bad been said the Association ware going to run him in at the top of the poll. He (the speaker) could tell them distinctly that not a single candidate had got the preference of the Assciation’a support, 4 .and not one would get it until they had beard his views, he had answered their questions, and they were quite satisfied ' -they had got the right man. (Hear, hear). Mr Postlethwaite then went on to speak of the nine objects of the Association as , ; abpve. He dwelt at considerable length • ;s;iifepn each, and raviewed the present ’ position of the colony and the attitude of the rarioas Governments in the past wfth regard to the questions of such vital importance as those contained in the platform of the Association. Ho more

i. especially reviewed the action of the late Government upon these questions. With . . regard to the National system ofeducfr . tion, they heard a great many complaints of the large sums spent annually on National educntion, He was as anxious as any man that every child should be educated, but he did not see the necessity i of the colony spending large suras Iff' annually iu the higher branches of education, such sums h.ving to coma out of the pockets of the ratepayers. They ad knew that a, great deal was spent>n secondary nr university education, nnd that there were viiry large reserves rft apart in Connection wbh th« higher branches of education in the colony. Now he thought if they thought propel to have a national

I eystem of education let them use these reserves for th# purpose. (Hear, hear). 1 He did not see why the people in towns who could afford to pay for their children should ask the ratepayers to bring them up. (Hear, hear). Then, too, with regard to tho number of schools. At present the radius wilhin which schools could be built was three miles. That radius allowed of them having a great number of schools built for the sake of the children around them To secure a school they had to have 25 children, and to secure that 25 within that radius they very often had to send child ten of 3f or 4 years old. Wow / he would like to ask if the country was in a position to koep State nurseries ? The standard was known to be five, and yet some children were sent at 3£ in order to be out of their parents’ way. If the" were to make the radius larger, and rais the school age to seven years, it woul make an enormous difference in th finances of the oolony. It would make difference of £90,000, Mr Postlethwail having revieved the several objects of th Assaciation, invited questions from thos persons who desired information. Mr J. Aitken asked if he nnderstooi |Mr Postlethwaite to saj that one of tin i planks of the Association’s platform wai the raising of the school age from five t< •even years ?—Mr Postlethwaite said no, He had given his own opinion on tin subject. Mr A. Sherratt aekod if the local Com. mittees would have a voice in arranging with the Bub-Committees what questions should be asked of candidates t He presumed the questions would vary for the purpose of meeting the requirements of the different districts.—Mr Postlethwaite said the questions would be sent down to the local Committees for any suggestions they might make, as explained before.

Mr G. Taylor asked i» the event of the Association passing a resolution to support a candidate, would such a resolution be binding upon every member of the Association ?- Mr JPoslleth waite said yes. The candidate would only be supported after he was found to be the man that ■would endeavor to secure the objects of the Association.

Mr Gallagher asked if the Association would support tha Resumption of Lands Bill as at present in trod need.—The Chairman said they must coufioe themselves to the business of the meeting, namely, the discussing the desirability cf forming the Association.

Mr Quinn asked, in the event of two candidates coming forward, would the Association decide who its members should vote for ?—The Chairmun said it was generally thought that such would be the plan of the Association. The local Committee could make what suggestions they liked, and then whatever man would carry out their views would be supported. Mr Mundell said he had much pleasure in proposing—“ That a branch of Ihe Political Reform Association be formed io Geraldine.” Mr A. Sherratt seconded the motion. He thought whatever was to ba done should be done at once.

The proposition being put was carried unanimously. Mr Aitken said he was not quite clear as to where the retrenchment in the education system was to come in. Mr Poatlethwaile had said that the raising (he school age was not a plank of the Association’s platform. Had they made up their minds where it was to come in J The Chairman said the local Committees would have a voice in carrying these objects out. The following Committee were then elected Dr Fish, Messrs i. Sherratt, H. W. Moore, J. Mundell, W. Postlethwaito, J. Huffey, W. Shiers, H. B. Webster, E. H. Pearpoint, J. Aitken, G. Taylor, J. Quinn, R. Taylor, W. S. Masliu, N, Dunlop, R. Flatman, W. U. Slack, —Templar, A. H. Brisoo, G. Stereo, and Rev, G. Barclay, with power to add to their number. Mr Pearpoint was elected Chairman. It was decided to hold a Committee meeting as soon as any information of importance was obtained for them to discuss.

A hearty vote of thanks was passed to Mr Postlethwaite for the trouble he had tak«n.

Mr Postlethwaite said he looked upon this as a colonial work, and was always willing to do his best for the colony. The meeting then adjourned sine die.