PROGRESSIVE LIBERAL ASSOCIATION.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XCIII, Issue 10651, 11 May 1895, Page 2

PROGRESSIVE LIBERAL ASSOCIATION.

At the usual fortnightly meeting cf the I committee of the Canterbury Progressive | Liberal Association, held on Thursday j evening, there was a good attendance. Mr W, I. Ballinger (president) occupied tbo chair. ] A considerable amount of routine bus* I ness was disposed of, and revera! persons were admitted to membership. A deputation of unemployed, headed by Mp W." H. Dacombc, waited on tho committee, and ashed that the Association should do something to secure tho provision of work. The deputation were asked to supply, as Boon as possible, the committee with a list showing the names, addresses, occupations and ages of the men out of wort, and to state whether they were married or single, and the number dependent upon the bread-winner. A sub-com-mittee was appointed to deal with the matter, and was asked to take action aa ■goon as possible. IS was also resolved that the Secretary and President ehouid pay a visit to some Government proparty at Addington to ascertain whether something could not be done with it. Correspondence was read : —Prom the Premier, acknowledging the receipt of a resolution expressing approval of the Goverament’a scheme to cope with the unemployed difficulty. Me Seddon expressed his pleasure that the new departure met with tho approval of the Association. From the East Christchurch School Committee stating that tho ebraraitteo could not, qro its way to vote oa vis resolutions submitted with reference to Canterbury College. From the Liawood Borough Council declining to express an opinion, and from the St Albans Borough Council aoknowlegiag receipt of circular. The following wrote covering their vote on the resolutions submitted: — Bootmakers’ Union, Canterbury Liberal Asßociation, Tailors’ Union, Railway 9ervaata’ Society, the School Committees of Hampstead, Lincoln, Lyttelton, Sheffield, Glenavsy, West Lyttelton, North Loburn and Southbrook. Lengthy communications on the question cf old age pensions were received from the Pioneer Assembly Knights of Labour, Auckland, Eifcham Assembly Knights of Labour and tho Ground Boat Eevonua League, Auckland. Ou account of presBuro’of business, consideration was deferred until next meeting. The Ormondvillo Knights of Labour, Anuat Women's Institute, and tho Kalkoura branch of the Workers’ Union, wrote heartily approving of the scheme. Tho Gisborne Women’s Political Association forwarded tho following raoolntioa ou the scheme That this Association heartily sympathises with the Canterbury Progressive Liberal Association in its desire to secure old age pension!?, but it is not prepared to pledge itself to the financial proposals. This Association would suggest that probably a very good way of financing the sohomo would be for the State to do_ its own banking business, issuing its own Treasury notes aa legal tender agaiasb security and apply the profits towarde payment of old age pensions.” The Otago Typographical AaGociatioa wrote approving the principle, but ■ deemed it unadvisabls to express an opinion at present. The Tailorssses’ Union, Christchurch, wrote approving the scheme with the exception of the age at which the pension should be receivable, it thinking sixty quite old enough. The Trades and Labour Council of Otago forwarded the following resolutions—- “ That this Council thanks the Canterbury Progressive liberal Association for the activity displayed in drawing up aa old ago pension scheme, but would prefer a scheme that would provide for national insurance andhid age pensions combined; and that, while believing in the principle, cannot pledge itself to support any particular scheme at present.” Several other communications were read and dealt with. The following resolution was carried unanimously:—“That this Association is of. opinion that the system of granting pennons to the Judges of the Supreme Court is wrong in principle, and would urge upon the Government to introduce legislation at an early date abolishing the practice.” The Secretary was instructed to write to the Gisborne Knights of Labour, thanking them for a pamphlet on the State bank question.