LIBERAL REFORM ASSOCIATION.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 6, Issue 1770, 25 August 1884, Page 2

LIBERAL REFORM ASSOCIATION.

After the presentation to Mr McCardle on Saturday night at the Theatre Royal, the question of forming a Liberal Political Association was brougnt forward, The weather was intensely cold, and the audience thinned considerably before foe meeting concluded,. Mr Bpny occupied the Chajr, and called upon the promoters to explain the object of the Society.

Mr Hogg stated % formation of the Society was not entirely of his own volition, but during the election he had been repeatedly asked to promote a society of this character. Many years ago in Victoria a. large amount of work, had been done by the Loyal Liberal Association of Working Men, Under the continuous Ministry of Sir JJ, McOulloch the trade of the country had become completely paralysed. Thousands of men could be seen daily looking for work and unable to obtain it, The Government tempted, to put on a Property Tax, and the moment they did so the Loyal Liberal AssociaI tion started into life, Men assembled, and the leading speakers pointed out the danger of allowing the imposition of a Property Tax, It was shewn to the working men that if the tax was imposed on the landlord it would fall on the tenant to pay. The result was the formation of the Berry Ministry, and they *?em allowed to take their qwn means to restore the country'to its former prosperity, The first thing the Berry Government did was to employ the surplus, labor in reclaiming swamp land and filling up gullies, and that land when afterwards sold brqught an immense profit They also introduced a heavy protective duty, which kept the money in the country, and gave employment to all. Government also, instead of importing machinery from England, were determined to have it made in the colony no matter at what cost, The consequence was that this assistance given to looal enterprise in its infancy had enabled Victoria to make' and oxport machinery. It was such a policy as this that was wanted in the Wairarapa. Berry forsaw' that in the course of time customs would cease to, be a sufficient source of revenue, as local manufactures increased in competition with.

imports, he therefore fixed upon a land Tax-not a Property Tax-and people who held blocks of land in twenty, thirty and forty thousand acres paffia progressive acreage rate, which soon equalised the burden of taxation.) The prosperity of the country continued, and through the Liberal Association the working men had kept the Berry Government in power and still did so. —(Cheers.)—The position.,, of the House at the present time had been ably placed before .them- that evening by Mr McCardle. He was surprised to find men in whom he had had the most • explicit confidence rounding on a. Ministry formed of men as.- Stout Macandrew, Ballance, Kichardson'jflfr aud Montgomery. When he saw men as Grey, Thompson, and Smith, of Waipawa, combining to vote with the sworn enemies of liberalism it tended to destroy confidence, and he could seo their actions' required watching. ; (Cheers). They might have motives not yet disclosed and in a period like the present it became incumbent upon them to form a liberal association. They should endeavor to make an isfofl Wairarapa. He did not care whUr they were represented by two or three, but he wanted the electorate increased that their representative might be something more than an ordinary Road Board or County Council representa- Y hve. (Hear, hear). Jf a few.names were enrolled that evening it would be the grain of. mustard , seed whose brandies would extend over the whole of New Zealand. ' (Cheers). . The members having been enrolled and a • secretary appointed, they might endeavor to form branches in the other centres of the Wairarapa, Carterton, Greytown, and Featherston, each branch to bo considered an important branch of the whole, Masterton for the North and Featherston for the South. This would prevent any petty jealousy arising. The subscription might be fixed at 2s 6d per annum. A committee could be formed to meet monthly and a general meeting could be held quarterly or half-yearly, that was simply a matter of detail. The next thing would be at a general'elecgjgfc haqing the candidates before theirWo A take a ballot amongst themselves as to T who should have their heartv support (cheers). He trusted. Mr Redman who had been bo efficient during the election would kindly consent to act as Seoretary and Treasurer and take tho names of those willing to form the Association. Afterwards a meeting could be held to appoint a President and visit and form branches in other townships. He would aiove that a Liberal Association be formed, and as many as ohose should come forward and enrol themselves.

Mr J, Vile seconded the motion, saying in unity there was strength, and if they united there was no doubt of their ability to put in any man they thought proper.—(Cheers).' _ Mr McCardle supported the formation of the Assooiatibii,

■ The Chairman said if an Association was formed to educate the. people politically and arrive at the best means of governing the considered it would be good, ; would support such a movement; but he could not support it on the lines laid down by Mr Hogg. He considered the points should be open for discussion by the Association, but Mr Hogg laid down views for the follow. He considered the Property Tax fair and just, and that a Land Tax was a class taxation, He did not see why capital should go untouched. ' The property Tax had not driven wealth from the country as predicted. If the Society was formed as a substitute for the North Wairarapa Association, only on a more popular basis, it would have his support. He merely stated his views chat it should not go forllrthat because he happened to be the Chairman of this meeting his views agreed with those put forth by Mr Hogg. Mr Hogg, in explanation, said he did not wish to put his own views Award as the views of the Associaff. He was glad to hear Mr Bunny ex-jfe; press a difference; the Association would be free. He concluded his remarks by advocating a Land Tax. The motion was put and carried, and several nanus were enrolled as merahers.

Mr Hogg proposed a hearty vote of thanks to Mr Bunny for the fair and impartial way in which he had acted as chairman, that night, and also at the election, which was in marked contrast to another gentleman, to whom he would not allude by name; and he trusted that this Association would not become like the one of which that said gentleman was president.—(Cheers.)