RADICAL LEAGUE AND TRADES COUNCIL.

Auckland Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 54, 2 July 1887, Page 5

RADICAL LEAGUE AND TRADES COUNCIL.

Last evening an adjourned meeting of the Trades Council was held at Robson's Rooms for the purpose of arriving at a common platform with the Radical League on which to contest the forthcoming elections. Messrs H. Holloway and W. Duncan n_re present on behalf of the League, ~ In the absence of the President, Mr Hannigan was voted to the chair. A long and exhaustive discussion arose on the proposals of the Radical League, and resulted in the following planks being unanimously adopted :— (1) Substitution of a Land Tax and Income Tax for the Property Tax. Land to be assessed on its unimproved value. (2) Abolition of plural voting. (3) Sweeping, retrenchment in the public expenditure. (4) Increased duty on all articles that can be advantageously manufactured in the colony, and a decrease in the duty on those that cannnot be, more especially the necessaries of life, also protection of New Zealand shipping against foreign vessels in the coastal trade. (5) The settlement of the land should be vigorously prosecuted on the principle of the existing Village Settlement Scheme. The only alterations from the original platform were the addition of clause 5, and the addendum to clause 4, in reference to the protection of the New Zealand coastal trade. The shipping question was introduced by Mr Ellison, the Secretary of the Seamen's Union, in a clear and cowrw speech, and his proposal was adopted after a short discussion. The same member also brought before the notice of the meeting the " Seamen's Representation Bill and the question of employing Kanakas in. New Zealand vessels whilst hundreds of white men were standing idle, The speaker had tho sympathy: of the meeting, but did not ask that either of his proposals should be included in the platform. The Council meets again on Friday next, when a date will be fixed and arrangements made for the holding of a public meeting, in order to explain to the public the different planks in the platform, and point out the probable results from their adoption as a political creed by i the coming members. .7, 7 . 7