WORKERS' POLITICAL ASSOCIATION.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVII, Issue 149, 23 June 1906, Page 7

WORKERS' POLITICAL ASSOCIATION.

1 ! tßy TeJPsrraph. -Press AieoclaOon.) j i CKRISTCHUKCH. Friday. At n meeting held some little time ago of Jjtubour Iciiders in the different centres, it was unanimously resolved to form an association, broad enough in i its constitution and platform to meet ! ! the requirements of ail classes of wot— i kers. It was decided to call the proi posed body the New Koniind Workers' Political Association, and :i sub-corn-■mittee was set up to draft a constitution and platform, which in due course were submitted to representative work- | ers in the various centres, and I approved of 'by them. These steps have ' sines b'xin ratified at a local meeting, and ILr. Johu Barr (president of the Canterbury Trades oaii loa-bour Council) was elected president. The objects of the association arc stated to be to J advance the social, economic, suid poli- | tieal interests of the workers of New Zealand. The pla-tfona ijieludes cou- \ stitutional reform — (a) Refcrenduin and initiative, (b) election ni the uu'.mbera ■of the Legislative t'ouncil, (c) elective ; tixeciitive: land laws reform, including the immediate stoppage of the sale of Crown lands and jnnru vigorous appli- \ cation of the lands lor settlement policy and the acquisition "f lands for closer settlcuieut: the eourcraion of the liank of New Zealand into a fcitate bank, with sole of note i:ssu(;; State sttw-mills und smelting works, ammunition works, flourrnills; extenEWii of uld age penI sions. the acquisition, by the State of all private-owned railway lines, the «•»- ta blishnieiit of a State ferry service between the North and South Islands, and between Onchunga and New Plymouth ; also a State river and lake steamboat service.