FINANCIAL REFORM LEAGUE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume V, Issue 1344, 7 March 1868, Page 3

FINANCIAL REFORM LEAGUE.

A public meeting of this body was held last evening, in tho hall of the Mechanics' Institute, for the nurpose of electing office-bearers and enrolling members. Mr. Archibald Olarlt in the chair. The Chaibman said that it was suggosted that the present should be a continuation of the last meeting, and therefore he took the chair without the formality of being moved tbereta. If any purson dissented he would vacate ths chair. (No, no, no.) It was intended tout the meeting should be rather for action than speechifying. He was sorry to say that there did not appear to bo the enthusiasm which he had expected after the last meoting. Individual action was worth nothing in influencing the Government at Wellington. "Unless there was a. general unity and co-operation nothing would be done. Thero was the Civil Service Act, which, if the hande of members throughout the colony w tre not strengthened to modify or repeal the the Act.it would become a vested right, and their children's children would have reason to regret it. He could not understand why so little enthusiasm had been manifested. The press had not been exactly opposed, but it had damned the movement with faint praise. He could not understand why a qestion which came so near to every man's door should not have commanded a greater amonnt of attention. Mr. Mathews suggested that the advertisement convening tho menting should be read. The i haibman read the advertisement. Mr. Matthews suggested that according to the advertisement, the office bearers should be first elected. Mr. H. LuBK said he had a substantive resolution to move, and his position as interim secretary might entitle him to Bay a few words to tha meeting. It was not because little enthusiasm was manifested— that was not a reason why there might not be a very great interest taken in the meeting. There was no enthusiasm manifested in the first meetings of the Corn Law League, nor at the first introduction of the Reform Bill, 1865, to the House of Commons ; but a year later there was very considerable enthusiasm. He moved, " That before electing officebearers of the League, every gentleman present should be invited to sign the roll of the Financial Beform League." He was sure there was no intention either to humbug or to trick the community as had been Bsid by some. Mr. Eastwood seconded the motion. Ho thoi'ght the tariff misrht he reduced with the greatest advantage. The tariff pressed heavi y upon the industry of the country. Tne object of the movement was to get rid of undue taxation.

Mr. B. Mathews moved, " That the election of office bearers, and the enrolment of members should be postponed for six months. He believed the League a mockery. [The speaker was frequently interrupted, Mr. Eastwood, amidst great laughter, and in the most solemn manner approached the speaker and tendered him his shilling back.] Mr. Matthews said that if the three Fa were all powerful in Wellington, that was no reaeon why the three L's should be all powerful in Auckland. Mr. Crbighton thought if the meeting was a continuation of proceedings in the Brunswick Hall it should commence where they left off, and not be a continuation of proceedings in Chambers in Short-land-street. Hβ would not call the present meeting a humbug or a trick, but it was a transparent proceeding. Mr. Creighton said the advertisement convened the meeting to elect office-bearers and give an opportunity to the public to enroll their namee. Financial Reform must be carried in the House of Representatives. Where were the Auckland members when the Estimates were being considered ? They might have saved the Colony £280,000, but instead of that they saved a largo sum to a local institution.. Mr. AmioTr said he would bombard the tariff as long as he was able. Hβ believed the League was in embryo, but he was afraid it would be a still-born child. Ho believed that every member that went down to Wellington was capable of being bought over. If they would cease to do evil and learn to do wo'.l they would be more manly. Major Heaphx said he was sorry that Mr. Creighton had left the room. He repudiated the assertion that any such opportuniry as that referred to of saving £280,000 w.is afforded to the Auckland members. There might have been a plan by which those capitalists who had lent money to the provinces would have been greatly injured. That would have been a lasting shame. Something was said about gathering grapes from thorns, or figs from thistles. It was the first time he had heard of an Irishman being called a thistle, but whatever might proceed from him he would not be a thistle for the donkey of the Cross to browze on. (Laughter and loud cheers.) Mr. Abbott: The Salary. Major HbaphY said that several of the Provincial ofEcors had gone to Wellington and continued to receive their Bilary as Mr. Oarleton and Mr. O'Borke. He had himself done a portion of the work of the Orown Lands Commissioner when that officer was in Wellington. He (Major Heaphy) had forfeited half hia salary, and he hoped his duties had not been neglected. He appeared to have been the only one who had inourred the enmity of a certain newspaper. That paper belonged to a firm which had not done much good in the land matters of the Province. t Mr. Ellis regretted the position in which he found himself. He thought the public and the workingcommittee should bo in unison. The people of the province ehouW be chary of their political confidence. They muet endeavour to learn both sides of the question, to acquire a knowledge of the details of the department. If they did not speak with authority, to the satisfaction of all reasonable men, that less money would do for the carrying on the Government, their efforts would be unavailing. Accurate and exhaustive information should be obtained until the abuses became a conviction in the public tnicd._ It would then be with the members to give effect in-doore to the public voice. It was said the Auokland vote would command money ; they might console themselves for there would be money bid for them again lo tranifer their allegianoe from one leader to another. It was said they should co-operate with the South, but would the South co-operate with the North ; were they not true to themselves and their Cook Straits policy. ~ ~ , Mr. Mactarlanb said an attempt had been made to throw a red herring across the path of the meeting. The position of the meeting was very simple. Public meetings had been held, members had been enrolled an interim committee meeting had been held, and the object of that meeting was to elect a permanent oommittee. Mr. W. Bucklahd inquired whether the meeting was a public one; it was so advertised. The Chaibman said he h&d regarded it as a public meeting all along. . . Mr. Osbobne Lbwib protested against it being regarded as a public meeting. He had not understood it. Mr. W. ISucKLAND thougnt if there was any public sympathy with the projectors of the meeting, an assemblage of a different kind would have come together. Was that a representation of public opinion? It' the proposers of movements of the kind had any light they should enlighten the public, and not bring together such a "thing" as that. (Laughter.) The fault was with the system of Government. A kind of oligarchy, which maintained log-rolling, and robbed the public to aggrandize themeelves. He wished to see information dieseminated through the whole country. If they hoped to reduce taxation and yet pay the public creditor, they would find themselves mistaken. A Spbakbe explained that the general public felt great interest in the meeting, but their enthusiasm was somewhat damped by the proceedings of the meetings held. Mr O McCobh Clark, was sorry to hear what had fallen from Mr. Bucklani. He was absent from town when the large meeting in the Brunswick Hall was held. Being, therefore, ignorant of what had been done, he had fallen into mere clap-trap. The whole objects were Government reform and lessening expenditure - Mr. Matthews withdrew_ his amendment, and the original resolution was carried. The following were elected the office bearers of the Auckland Financial Beform League:—President, Archibald Obrk, Esq. ; Vice President, Major Heaubv • Treasurer, J. MoCosh Clark, Esq.; Secrete™ Mr' Hugh Lusk. Oommittee, Messrs. Upton, E Carr T. Macfarlane, B. Lusk, Ellis, Eastwood, Abbott, R. Wood, Harris, Wrigley, Hurst, Batger, and Chamberlain. The Chairman said that the Auckland members had been referred to in no measured terms. Such terms had been used as "bought everyone robbing the people to benefit themselves. Hβ repudiated the assertions. He (Mr. Clark) had only two qualifications, namely, that Providence had endowed him with an ordinary share of common sense, and that he" was unpurohasable. (Cheers.) The Chairman explained his policy in the Assembly. This ooncluded the business of the meeting, and the proceedings terminated.