CANTERBURI FEDERATED 'LIBERAL COUNCIL.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 9288, 13 December 1895, Page 3

CANTERBURI FEDERATED 'LIBERAL COUNCIL.

A meeting of the Counoil was held on. Tuesday evening, All the affiliated Associations were represented. A Constitution was adopted and other business transacted. The following declaration was drawn up :— That all Associations affiliating with this Council shall retain their own rules, platforms and Constitution, and the complete management of their own affairs, but shall agree to submit all tho mo3t important public matters to.the Council as provided by the Constitution. The Constitution was as follows:—The name shall be " The Cauterbury Federated Liberal Council." 1. The Council shall consist of a President, two Vice-Presidents, Secretary and Treasurer, two representatives from eaoh ol the various Liberal Political Associations in Cauterbury, two representatives from the Knights of Labour, four representatives from the Canterbury Trades and Labout Council (as representing the affiliated Trades Unions), aud one representative eaoh from the Trade and Labour Unions not affiliated with the Trades and Laboui Council.

2. The objects of the Council shall be to obtain a consensus of opinion from the whole of the Liberal and labour organise* tions, and to give practical expression t« the opinion of a majority of such organisations, and to generally act as a medium through whioh the whole of those organisations may work, in deliberating and deciding upon legislative enactments, in selecting Liberal candidates for parliamentary representation, and in watching over and furthering the general interest of th* Liberal aud labour party. 3. The Council shall meet once every month, or oftener, if required by aa exigency of the political situation, at suoh a place and at such a time as may be decided upon from time to time by a majority of tho representatives. 4. Each organisation federated under the Council, shall contribute an amount in proportion to its representation towards the expenses of management, the pro rata amount to be decided upon from time to time by the representatives, acoording to tbe financial requirements of the Council. 5. In discussing any proposed legislative measures, or any Bills under parliamentary consideration, each representative shall state and advocate the opinion of the organisations he or she represents : altera* tions aud amendments shall be made in accordance with the wishes and desires of the representatives present, and the final decision upon any such proposed measure or Bill before Parliament shall be sent by the Secretary to the Government for the time being, as representing the wishes and desires of the whole of the organisationfederated under the Couuoil. 6. At any election for parliamentary representation the various organisational federated shall each select the candidate or." candidates whom they approve of, and instruct their representatives to vote accordingly. The whole of the Liberal candidates shall then be put to the ballot at a meeting of the Council, and the candidate, if a bye-election, or the candidates;, if a general election, who poll the highest number of votes shall be deemed the candidate or candidates chosen by the whole of the federated organisations, and it shall be the duty of every individual member of eaoh federated organisation to vote for snob candidate or candidates, and none other. 7. It shall be the duty of the Council to generally watch over and guard the best interests of the great Liberal and Labour Party; to extend and conserve a bond of union between tbe various federated organisations; to advise the said organisations from time to time upon all matters political or sooial, and to constantly keep the members of for Canterbury in touch with their constituents. 8. The Council shall be a purely representative body, and no honorary members shall ba admitted. Donations, however, may be received to assist in the more complete and effective performance of its functions. 9. The President and Vice-Presidents shall be elected annually, and the Seoretary and Treasurer shall hold office during tbe the pleasure of the representatives. 10. Two Auditors shall be appointed annually, who shall audit the accounts of the Council once every half-year, and m copy of the balance-sheet and Auditors' report shall be supplied to eaoh organisation federated. 11. The annual meeting of the Counoil shall be the ordinary meeting in December, and the half-yearly meeting the ordinary meeting in June. 12. Any proposed alteration or amendment in the constitution of the Council must be forwarded to the Secretary at least one month prior to the yearly or halfyearly meeting, who shall forward copiee of same to each organisation federated and place all such alterations or amendmente upon the business-sheet for consideration at the yearly or half-yearly meeting, as the case may- be. No alterations or amend* ments in the constitution of the GonnoU shall be considered at any other meeting, 13. The Secretary and Treasurer shall each receive such remuneration for thaiservices as may from time to ifona _c deoided upon by the representative- at a yearly or half-yearly meeting. < 14. Any representative becoming e» can« didate for Parliamentary representation, shall at once resign his seat on the ConmJfl. 15. 16 and 17 refer to the order of business at Council meetings. The delegates reported the result of 4.9 first conference held under the auspices of the Trades Counoil, and the resolution carried inviting the Sooieties represent—l to join tbe Canterbury Federated Liberal CounoiL The aotion of the delegates w__ approved, and it was decided to forward _ circular letter to all Liberal and liabout organisations, enclosing a copy of the 1 constitution, cordially and earnestly invsting them to affiliate with the CounoiL and thereby effect a complete federation of the Liberal-Labour party. V The Secretary waa instructed to write tto the second Conference called by the Trad** Council, urging the delegates present to joi_ this Council, and pointing out to them that any attempt to establish another oentral body (after this general invitation) must be regarded as a deliberate attempt to split up the party. It was decided to ask all affiliated societies and other bodies in sympathy to take no part in the second Conference. She meeting then closed.