PATRIOTIC POLITICAL ASSOCIATION.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 305, 18 September 1908, Page 4

PATRIOTIC POLITICAL ASSOCIATION.

* SMOKE CONCERT. About fifty people attended a smoke concert held in Godber's Booms last night by the New Zealand Patriotic Political Association. Mr. Joseph Lewis was chairman,' and supporting him wore the Hon. John Barr, M.L.C., Messrs. A. AY, Hogg, M.P., George Winder, Jas. Toomath (treasurer), C.'do C. Williams (secretary), and F. T. Moore. Mr. Jas. Toomath, in proposing " Success to the Progress of the Dominion," said that tho Dominion'was all right if it was run on the right lines. But it was not, or tilings would not be so dear as they were. What had brought about tho present state of affairs was the monopoly system. After giving examples of the way in which large owners of land were blocking settlement and stopping industry, Mr. Toomath went on to refor to tlio "gag" Bill. He wondered how, if Dr. Findlay got the Bill through, he would mako tho people and the press obey the law. Tho press'would not, and if there were many of his mind the people would not. The speaker also referred to the part tho association was taking in regard to the Wellington Town Belt Reserves Leasing Bill. Mr. F. T. Moore also spoke to the toast. What Mr. Toomath had said in regard to the monopolies was, he thought, perfectly correct. The evil must be. remedied, and his plan was for tho Dominion to havo a currency of its own, so that the people might have tho whole, of the profits derived from banking, etc. This plan, ho insisted, could be carried out, and if it were, instead of one-tenth, the whole of tho productiveness of the country would he availed of. Mr. Moore also referred to tho work of tho association in connection with tho town belt.

Mr. Hogg, in proposing tho toast of "The Association," congratulated that body on its name." "Patriotic" ivas a title of which every mail and woman should be proud. Ono of the greatest evils in tho country was what was termed monopoly. It permeated Now Zealand, and was making it so that soon very fow would care to enter it. In regard to Parliament: Ho had been in tho House for 20 years, and could say that lie was no richer now than when he entered it, nor had ho endeavoured to enrich his friends. (Hear, hear.) He had opposed tho freehold, though ho represented • a farming community, because ho _ knew that if tho people got tho freehold it would, in tho end, go to the moneylender. The worst criminal in gaol, said thespeakor, was white besido tho landmonopolist. (Hear, hear, and applause.) In 'election timo; they had to look for their, representatives to tho men who had endeavoured to stop tho monopolist, 'flip removal of duties would introduce competition, and would soon cheapen tho various articles. He, too, thought the price of money should be roduccd. Mr. Hogg concluded his speech with references to the importance of education in tho programme of any country. Mr. Winder proposed the toast of "Our Guests." In connection with bis resignation from tho Liberal and Labour League, ho said .that ho merely took that step to give his opponents a clear field. Ho was still oil tlio best of terms with all tho members of that body. Tho Hon. , John Bnrr, M.L.C., replied to the toast He did not know of anyone in tho House who had gono there to mako money. If any did, they made a grievous mistake. The question of the land was at the root of the difficulties they had to face but it was not all. Thoy had to consider tlio problems of tho city and labour. Tho labour problem was the one they had most to do with, and it was one to which they should devoto _ all their energies. A step in tlio right direction would bo the giving of preference of employment to married workers. They could not ospect private, employers to do it, but tho Govornment should. They should nationalise all works of public utiiity, and thus bo enabled to give employment to those who most nooded it. Mr. C. do C. Williams ■ proposed "Tho Press." During tho ovouing an excellent programme of musical and vocal items was gone through. The following contributed Mrs. Joseph Lewis (song), Master Conway Williams (speech on "friendship"), Miss Olive Fieldhouse (song), Mr. Kerr (humorous songs), Mrs. Joseph Lewis and Mr. J. Lynex (duet), Mi. J. Lyuox (song). Miss Bessie George was tho accompanist.