A PROPOSED POLITICAL ASSOCIATION.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 5, Issue 1534, 14 November 1883, Page 2

A PROPOSED POLITICAL ASSOCIATION.

The Hon W. H. Reynolds writes to the "Daily Tirags," as follows: "Some twoor threeyears ago, in conversation with some of our leading men here, I pointed out the best means of securing proper administration of the affairs of the colony would be to put oui'handa, into, our pootita and subscribe liberally for the formation of an association to be ; over by an elected committee of, say a ; dozen good business men-taken from various classes of the community, -tq- secure an offico, engage an able man'as secretary at a good salary, jay SOO or £.BOO per annum. ■ His duties' should be to make himself- thoroughly,' acquainted with every event, even minute, in conntction with the policy or administration of our public affairs, to • lay all information? acquired before the Committee at stated and 'speoiar meotings, take instractions, and carry them. out. He should be a man capable of addressing publio meetings j and .'on important questions ■ arising he should, under directions from' the. Committee, make arrangements; for- and convene publio .. meetings,' seoure! speakers to take part in same, and thuß. educate the public on' all subjects political. Suoh an association 'should havo branches in every electoral district in the province, and its chief object should be to watch over the general interests of the colony and province, and not local affairs, Special associations'lmiglit be formed in each or any district desiring the same to attend to local ■'matters. J have no doubt that if. such atfjuMaV' tioh'wereformodin Otago, othwprovincial districts would follow/in our wake, and by eorrespondonwe and co-operation the whote.tolonf might be made to work more, |flrmoniously together for the; ; general good. In order to carry out effi-. oiently the objects of such an/associatien.an annual sum of £2500 would be required; such a sum ought not to prove a barrier to its formation, Ifeel convinced that thoro aro some two dozen firms and persons in the province who, if they were to contribute £2OO a year each—say for three yearswould, in tho general prosperity, be recouped to the extent of four or fivefold, but to be more moderate, say that ten could be got to guarantee £IOO a year, 20 £SO and 20 £25, -tho association would thus consist of 50 members. But my limit would not end hero: I would take guarantees for lesser amonuts than £25, and. would allow anyone to become, a member on payment of, Bay 10a or, 20s annual subscription. I would fix the guarantee for three years; so as to secure stability to tho Association and the prospect of permanent employment to the Secretary. Before the expiry of the three years I would have no fear but that aniplo funds would be willingly subscribed for its continuance." mo———j—^m—