KNIGHTS OF LABOUR.

Auckland Star, Volume XX, Issue 289, 5 December 1889, Page 5

KNIGHTS OF LABOUR.

ORGANISATION OF BRANCHES,

STATE ISSUE OF MONEY,

Notwithstanding the inclemency of the weather, the meeting of the Knights of Labour last evening was well attended, Mr C. S. Wright, President of the organisation, occupying the chair. A letter was read from MroW. W. Lyght, the organising secretary of the Knights of Labour of America, who is at present in Austtalia, stating the terms on which he would come to New Zealand to organise branches of the Association in this colony. His terms wen&very liberal, but he said in the event of the Auckland Knights nob being financially strong enough j to invite him on his own terms, he would come without an invitation, in order to assist in putting the local branch on a proper basis. ; Some discussion ensued upon this letter, and subsequently the secretary was instructed to forward an invitation to Mr Lyght, and they would pay the expenses so far as their means woufd allow.

A discuesion then took place on an address recently delivered by Mr Harvie upon the advantages attending the State isiiue of money.

The Chairman opened the discussion in a, speech agreeing in the main with Mr Harvie's proposals. He pointed out that in the most perfect laws ever given to any nation, the laws given to the chosen people at Mount Sinai, that there were two very remarkable provisions, and which secured to the people who strictly followed them a perfect immunity from poverty and fair and honest dealing between each member of the community. One was ttie nationalisation of the land thoy were then going to occupy, where each family would enjoy its own piece of ground, which was absolutely inalienable, and the other was that no Israelite was allowed to lend money on interest to another. Under such laws it would be impo»sible that such scenes of fearful poverty ac were now witnessed in countries claiming to be highly civilised could ever be experienced. Mr Warburton followed in a eulogistic address, and pointed out that the question of exorbitant interest was a most serious one for agricultural interests and affected labour of all sorts.

Mr French pointed out that the people of New Zealand held all power in their own hands, and that it was their duty to intelligently exercise that power. Mr Harvie, in replying, said that he had anticipated some opposition, but instead he had to meet nothing but an endorsement of the views he placed before them. Hβ elucidated one or two points which had been raised. A cordial vote of thanke was passed to Mr Harvie for his address.