THE REFORM CONFERENCE.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume II, Issue 199, 6 August 1912, Page 5

THE REFORM CONFERENCE.

OBJECTS OF THE LEAGUE. [PER PRESS ASSOCIATION. I Wellington, Aug. 5. The National Conference of the New Zealand Political Reform League was continued this morning. There was a full attendance of delegates. Mr. E. H. M ilhams (Hawke's Bay) presided. A scheme of organisation for the Dominion was submitted by the committee on Saturday, and the details of its recommendation wue dis< a sed at considerable length. The subscription for members of the league was fixed at 2 6 per annum.

The objects of the league were stated as follows :—

(1) To secure prudent and honest administration of the public affairs of the Dominion according to sound economic principles. (2) To secure and maintain freedom of political conscience and opinion. (3) To support measures giving equality of opportunity to all. (4) to guai'd strictly the constitutional prerogatives of Parliament, particularly with regard to measures giving undue powers of patronage to Ministers. (5) To promote and encourage the candidature for Parliament of honourable, capable and representative men. (6) To take such measures as may commend themselves to the league for the furtherance of the foregoing objects? and such others as may from time to time be

adopted in addition thereto. The name of the league was reaffirmed, and the committee’s report was adopted.

The proposal by the Canterbury branch, that a Party Year Book should be published, was referred to the Dominion executive.

The committee reported that it had no recommendation to make regarding the proposed appointment of an official organiser of the party.

! It was resolved that the Dominion ! executive should consist of the lead!er of the party and eleven other members, arid an executive of this number, including two ladies, were constituted to act during the next twelve months. A clause was added to the constitution providing for the representation at the Dominion Conference f women's branches by one delegate from each electorate. Thanks were accorded to the ladies for their services in the past, the resolution being carried with cheers. The conference concluded at 3.50 p.m. THE REFORM CONFERENCE. GREAT MASS MEETING. PRESENTATION TO MR. F. M. B. FISHER. Wellington. Aug. 5. A huge meeting, attended by fully 300(» people, was hold in the Town Hall to-night as a wind up to the meeting of the Reform League delegates’ conference. When Mr. Masand the members of his Ministry ailived, thcie i»as a scene of the gieaicst enthusiasm, the gicat audience rising en masse and cheering enthusiastically. The Hon-'. Janies Allen, W. 11. Herries, A. L. Herdman and Mr. W. H. D. Bell spoke and were, all received with enthusiasm. During the evening a presentation was made to the Hon. F. M. B. Fisher, by bi-i constituents, in honour of his inclusion in the Cabinet. On the Premier rising to speak he was greeted.with a storm of loud and continued cheering, and the singing of xie’s a jolly good fellow.” Mr. Massey referred briefly to a few of the Government’s policy planks, his audience frequently breaking in with cheers.