POLITICAL.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIII, Issue 118, 19 May 1892, Page 5

POLITICAL.

Mr Hugh Pollen has beon formally gazetted Under-Secrotary for tho colony from May let. Mr It. H. Govotb succoeds him as chief clerk.

Tho new Railway Servants' Insurance Bill provides for twenty years as tho maximum period of service, and for five per cent to bo paid by the omployoofor half pay and retiring allowance

Mr McGuiro nddrossod his constituents at Hawcra on Monday ovoning, May 2nd, and strongly supported tho present taxation and land policy, and while indicating thafa he would continue to give tho Government general support, he reserved to himself freedom to vote as he pleased on moasurow brought before the House. An amondmont of thanks was passed by tho mooting, as against a voto of confidence and thanks proposed.

At a meoting of women hold ab Dunedin on April 23 a resolution wa* carriod to establish a Women's Franchifo League to obtain Parliamontpry enfranchisement of women in Now Zealand, with its headquarters in Dunedin, and power to bo taken to opon branches in all centres of population, the Council to consist of women of IS years and upwards. Tho subscription was fixed nt £1. Men may bo honorary mombci'3 on payment of lCs per annum. Tho League having been formed, Lady Stout was appointed president, and a number of vicepresidents and v committee of 12 were appointed.

Tho iarge native political meeting at Waitnngi, liiiy of Islands, was brought to a closo on April 27. Tlio lion. J. Carroll, member for tho Eastern Maori Electorate, mado an important speech. In addrosaing tho natives assembled, ho said that the result of their largo mcetins proved conclusively that they wcro unable of themselves to "carve out indopendent lines of action calculated to enablo them to achiovo what n largo section of them wore striving to attain, nainoly, local solf-go-verninent, nnd it proved tlia t they would havo to adopt Europoan ideas and generally nssimilato their customs with tho progrossivo action of tho white men. Ho was pleaeod to recogniso that they were going in this dcsirablo direction when they resolved to hold a convention, and to hold it in o central position acceseiblo to tho Foab of Government. Then, if they carried out their prosonb intention to send o:io or two delegates from cvory contro of tho tiativo population throuL'houb tho colony, this Mould onsuro tlio representation of evory'grlffv'ance, nnd bring beforo tho convention in a tangible form ovcry shado of political opinion. Ho to!d them that they must practise thrift, and industry, and endeavour to rid themselves of tho ancient lethargy, if they really wished to become a prosperous people. It ha 9 been decided by tho natives to hold a representative convention of tho Maori tribes of New Zealand, commencing on tho 14th of Juno next, ub Hastings, HawUo's Bay, that place being tho most contrul. Each tribe is to bo invited to sond a delegation of chiefs' to consider political matters ellecting tho Maori race.

Mr W. L. Buick, Organising Secretary of tho National Liberal Association, nncl M.H.R. for Wnirnu, addressed a public meeting at the Academy of Music, Lornestroefc, on April 22. Tliero was a large attendance, including a number of ladies. Tho chair was occupied by Mr ,7. M. Shora, M.11.X. Mr Buick explained the objects of tlio Association, viz., (1) To gecuro thorough and completo organisation in tho Liberal party ; (^)to .securo fairropresentation of the party in the press, in FarHamor.b and oi\ the platform ; and (3), most importanfc, to secure tho establishment of a fightinc fund which can bo applied to assist candidates to contost elections, to dofend their seats against .'capitalists, and in generally assisting tho cause of Liberalism, whenever and whorover money could bo legitimately used to do so. (Applause.) Tho Liberals of New Zealand must be ready to fight, nob only men with men, but money with money. (Applause.) When a candidate was taken from the ranks of labour, though he was possessed of brains, he was aba serious disadvantage in contesting a scab against a nian with money. Ab the present time the Federation would havo no distinctive policy apart from the policy of the Liberal Government, .as that policy was regarded as tho policy of the Liberal party. Such bodies as the Knights of Labour, Trades Council!?, etc., were regarded as valuable helps to the Association. The Federation would not seb itself up' as an arbitrary body to dictate what candidates should be elected to Parliament; bhab would belefb to tho local bodies, and the Federation wduld assist tho candidato who was prepared to support their cause. Mr W. J. Napier moved, and ifc was resolved, " That for bho preservation of equal justice to all classes, as v guiding principle in our legislation, it is desirable that tho National Federation should receive the support of the people of Auckland."

The Hon. A. J. Cad man had a meeting with tho natives of the Ngatimaniapoto tribo at Otorohanga on Way 3, about 100 Maoris boing presenb. Ho advised them CO form a Committee in order to arrive at some agreement as to the blocks of land they would like to sell to the Government, and agreed to allow the Government restrictions as to sale to lie on tho land until tho natives asked to have them removed from tho portions not required by the Government. A meeting wag held nexb day, Mr Edwards acting as spokesman. He informed the Minister that the Committee, found it impossible to promise to sot aside blocks of land for sale at once, the desire of tho natives to deal as they pleased with their individual shares precluding this arrangement. He could say, however, that many were prepared to sell their shares, and that blocks would be cut off i'or survey expenses and cold to the Government. He thought the desire of the Maniapoto, that th 9 Government should maintain restrictions ovor their land, would be pleasing to the Minister, as it ensured natives wishing; to sell dealing direct with the Government, Mv Edwards expressed tho full concurrence of natives as to dealing with tho proposals as a whole, and assured the Minister of their full intention not to be idlo in. trying to settle matters to the satisfaction of the Government. No impediment would be placed in the way of natives wishing to sell their land. Wahanui then expressed his intention now, as in the past, to further the sale of iand, and the Minister was thanked for his visits, and the desire he had ohown

in promoting the native interests, and he was urged to continuo to hold the portfolio of native affairs. Tho question of sub-divisional surveys of Hauturu Block was then introduced by Wahanui, who urged tho Governmenb nob to go on with these until the boundary surveys had bean paid for. The Minister Raid the survey had already been delayed 18 months ab the request of certain natives, and that otherb who wished surveys to continue had, during this period, mado several repeated applications in this direction. Ho did not therefore boo how ho could hold back the survey* as desired by Wahanui. Fair play must be given to both aides.