CANTERBURY PROGRESSIVE LIBERAL ASSOCIATION.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXXII, Issue 10482, 20 October 1894, Page 6

CANTERBURY PROGRESSIVE LIBERAL ASSOCIATION.

The usual fortnightly meeting of the committee was held on Thursday evening. Mr W. I. Ballinger, president, occupied the chair. The committee appointed to deal with the charges against the Charitable Aid Board reported that a letter had been sent to tbe head of the department. The Rev J. O’Bryen Hoare and Mr H. L. Rogers wrote acceding to the request of the Association to address the meeting to bo held on Saturday night on tbe subject; of " Old Age Pensions.” Mr Hoare wrote regarding technical education, and the committee resolved to take the question in hand. The Premier wrote acknowledging the receipt of a letter containing a copy of the resolution passed at tbe open air meeting held in Cathedral Square, asking for the introduction of a measure providing for the election of Charitable Aid Boards on a popular basis. He stated that the matter was one for the Minister of Education, to whom the letter had been referred. It •■was' decided to submit tbe following resolutions at the meeting to be held in Cathedral Square to consider the old age pension scheme : this meeting condemn the action of the Government in not having introduced during the present session a scheme of old age pensions.” (2) “ That this meeting strongly urge upon the Cabinet tbe necessity of making provision for our aged colonists by taking such action during the recess as will ensure the placing upon our statute book such a measure early next session.” It was resolved that the subject for the next open air meeting should be the land question, and that tha members for Christchurch, Avon, Riccarton and Lyttelton should be asked to speak. It was decided to endorse the resolutions passed by the Dunedin Workers’ League, expressing sympathy with the workers of Queensland and the labour members of that colony who had been suspended; urging the Government to establish a State Bank ; soliciting the Government to institute a forty hours’ week iu connection with the labour it employs; protesting against the proposed abolition of elective licensing committees, and deprecating any invitation being given to members of the royal family to visit New Zealand, in consequence of the unnecessary exoenditure of public money that would faa entailed.