WORKERS' POLITICAL ASSOCIATION.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 12851, 9 July 1907, Page 2

WORKERS' POLITICAL ASSOCIATION.

At tho last meeting of the Christ church bran"h of the New Zoalaiv Workers' Political Association, Mr J Fisher occupied the chair. The ele< tion of officers, postponed from the ar nual meeting, resulted as follows :- President, the Hon. John Barr; vicr presidents, Messrs H. 11. Rusbrid-r and W. I. Ballinger; secretary, Mr '>J J. Fordo; treasurer, Mr F. C. Ger ard; committee, Mesdames Stace am Gunner, Dr. C. J. Russell, Messrs H G. Ell, M.H.R., E. Jones, N. Ortoi* Isaac Ward, J. Fisher, E. Cameron and A. Hart.

A lengthy discussion took place rr Earding the present political outlool Mr H. G. Ell, M.H.R., referred to th attitude of some country Members o Parliament, and stated that owinmainly to tho continued prosperity which had been to a large exten brought about by the beneficent legi' lation enacted during tho last sixtee years, the Conservative element wr being reinforced by many small fai mers, who failed to realise that it wo to their interests to support the pre gressive party. Mr F. (J. Gerard expressed th opinion that at no time more than th oresent wero efforts necessary to brin together the units of tho progressir oarty. The Congorvatire element the "ould effectively deal with, bnt it wr the element of discord that had unfotnnately crept into tho progressi' inrt.v itself that was most to be feared A number of others also spoko, an< it was decided that at the first oppoHinity the local Members should be irited to discuss the position with th Associntion. Mr W. W. Charters desired that ■ correction bo made of a report that hir ippoared in the newspapers, wherein i wa; stated that he had given his stirnort to the abolition of the ten shi' lines per annum chargo on bank ar "ounts and exchange on cheques. Hsupported the proposal only ns far as i iffected school committees, philnnthrr* nic and other similar bodies. In othe instances he recognised that thero wertwo sides to the question, and he wa not disposed to cavil at the charge which had been condemned. The in crease of bank clerks' salaries was i* much more important matter.