INDEPENDENT POLITICAL LABOUR LEAGUE.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 12867, 27 July 1907, Page 10

INDEPENDENT POLITICAL LABOUR LEAGUE.

The fortnightly meeting of the Christchurch branch of th© Independent Political Labour 1/eaguo was hold in the Trades Hall on 'Inursday evening. The president, Mr James Thorn, occupied the chair. .Mewre W. W. Tanner. C. M. Gray ami G. Laurenson, Al.ti.R.'s, wrote «- pressing their concurrence with tin Leagues views in reference to the Elective Executive, and tho prupos.il to denominate the chief magisuates of our cities Ix>rd Majors. It was decided to request Mr D. U. Sullivan, or tailing him, Mr James Thorn, to contest tho seat on the City Council vacated by Mr Hadfieid. The committee set up to deal with the question of tho establishment 01 State farms presented its report, wnich wee to/tihe following etiect:—(l) Tnat in view of the fact that a con&iderabJe number of our iellovv colonists are unable to obtain employ meat, the G<virnnient be urged to set apart blocks lends of suitable eize, position and area* for the purpceo of forming Estate fatuia and industrial settlements; (2) that the whole scheme be initiated and carried out by the Government; (3) that employees on th© farms receive the current rate of wages ruling for such work; (4) that woi kers be graded according to ability-, each grade carrying it» own rate of pay ; (6) that work shall be found for all applicants, be they young or old, skilled or unskilled ; (v) that provision be made for teaching the unskilled, and light work found lor the phybically unfit; (7) that all requisites required by its employees ~-e supplied by the Government at a small margin 'above, actual cost; (b) the scheme should be eventually »«lr-eup-porting. Speaking on the report, Mr D. G. Sullivan seid that he considered the subject of such far-reaching importance, in its bearing upon the economic conditions of tho workers, that he would fevour the I/eague's dropping the other items on ite platform for a time, and concentrating its energies upon the attainment of this great reform. They were not breaking new ground, cc a scheme of a.somewhat similar nature had been advocated for years by the Hon. W. M. Bolt; and some years previously a conference of Industrial Unions and various progressive organisations had been held In. Christchurch, at which suggestions similar to those drawn up by the committee had been approved. The chairman said that he would give tho proposnls his whole-hearted support. He believed that the policy of cutting up large estates was economically unsound, and would eventually land us in trouble. He believed not in the intense cultivation of small patches, but in the intense cultivation df large area?. He saw no reason why the Government should not work the land in the same manner as it worked its own coal mines. After a lengthy and interesting diectieeion. in which Messrs Peterson, Howard, Wilson, Bird, Ensom and Thorn took part, the proposals were approved of, and it was decided to discuss the best means of bringing the matter forward at the next meeting of the League.