INDIGNATION MEETING.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XII, Issue 3905, 5 September 1891, Page 2

INDIGNATION MEETING.

The Legislative Council and the Labour Sills.

In answer to an advertisement I about 2000 persons assembled on the reclaimed ground last night to protest against the action of the Legislative Council in dealing with the various Liberal measures introduced this session.

Mr Bigg, who presided, said he considered it was monstrous for the Legislative Council to throw out certain measures whioh had been agreed to by their representatives. In the days of old, he said, the Pagans had a maxim " That the voice of the people was the voice of God." Mr Rigg did not think that the " old gentlemen " in the Upper House had given any evidence of their fitness to review measures pertaining to the welfare of the working man. Mr McLean, the next Speaker, moved " Thot in the opinion of this meeting the prejudiced action of the Legislative Council in dealing with Bills that have passed through the House of Representatives this session (especially Sir George Orey's Friendly Societies Act Amendment Bill) is unjust and deserving censure and that in protesting against such actions this meeting also requests the Government to take steps as will give them fair representation in the Legislative Council next session to ensure the safe passage of their Bills."

Mr Thomas Carter seconded the motion but referred more to female franohise then to the resolution before the meeting. Mr Kelly, M.H.R., spoke strongly against the aotion of the Legislative Council.

Mr A. W. Hogg, the next speaker, said that for the last quarter of a century New Zealand, with few interruptions, had suffered from class government, but that now, thanks to Sir George Grey, they had in Parliament a band of patriots, who would look after the interests of the working class. Mr Hogg spoke very strongly against the actions of the members in the Upper House, whom he characterised as fossils, many, he thought, not being responsible for their actions. He trusted the Government would act at once in creating a number of peers so as to alter the arrangement of parties in power, so that the measures carried in the Lower House might receive due consideration in the Upper House.

The resolution was then carried unanimously admist cheers. Mr Millar then moved that a copy of the resolution be forwarded to the Government. This was agreed to unanimously. Mr Millar said he had received letters from Messrs Fisher and Fish, M.H.R.'s, explaining that they did not think it expedient for them to criticise one part of the Legislature while Parliament was sitting. Votes of thanks to the speakers, and three cheers for Sir GeorSe Grey terminated the proceedings.