PROGRESSIVE LIBERAL ASSOCIATION.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CV, Issue 12533, 21 June 1901, Page 2

PROGRESSIVE LIBERAL ASSOCIATION.

The quarterly meeting of the Progressive Liberal Association Was held en June 17. The quarterly report regretted th-3 continued apathy of tho general public in connection with New Zealand politics, and also that the work of the quarter had nob bciaa as 1 extensive as usual. The association, in- conjunction with other organisations, had endeavoured to rouse the burgesses of Christchuroh and suburbs to a sense of duty at the last municipal elections.' The results were disappointing, ami it must be confessed! !rhat tM burgesses are not " progressive " in the usual acceptation of the word,while comparison with the muncipal policy of other cities and towns in New Zealand and Great" Britain will in nearly every instance p'rovs unfavourable to ourselves. During- the quarter the annual convention, of the National Council of Women was held at Wanganui, at which 't&e association was represented- by Mrs L. Blake. Tho Minister for Railways, h-avang reported a satisfactory' year's work of the department, was. written to respecting the establishment' of a system of excursion trains within the suburban radius, and a reply had been received that the question will receive consideration. In view of the large amount of overtime worked by many female faotory-workers, the Minister for Labour was written to, and asked to strictly enforce the provisions of the Factories Act. The ruleg of the association had been revised, and would be submitted for approval. The corresponding members department was reported as being a reflex of tho existing apathy. Regret was expressed that the public meeting, at which the Land and Education questions, Elective Executive, Initiative and Referendum were to have been dealt with, by special speakers had, owing to adverse circumstances, to be postponed. Reference was. also made to the death of the late Mr T. Clarkson, sen., one of the association's oldest end most energetic workers. TRe report concluded with a reference to the present unsatisfactory administra.tion of the Education Department, while the Lands Department continued to be adversely critasised by the progressive section of the press l . But there was.a corrupting influence, to which public attention is not sufficiently directed, namely, the present system of making appointments to the publo service. When the number of mew departments created by the present administration was contemplated, that all apoointments to the service are in the power of Ministers, and that Ministers buy .political support by'offering to members o£ Parliament the privilege of recommending applicants to fill up vacancies, it was easily seen that the public may eventually become as corrupt as the system, and thereby destroy that healthy publilc opinion trpom which the welfare of the colony depends. Messrs S. Billcliff, G. E. Franklin and J. Stirling were elected members of the committee. Th© Lands' committee presented a report on tho betterment principle, which was approved, and a cop'v ordered to be sent to the Premier. Mr H. G. Ell, M.R.R., delivered a brief address on the initiative and referendum, and urged: the association to make Ike question, better known by ail means in its power.