CAPTAIN MORRIS, M.H.R., AND THE TRADES AND LABOUR COUNCIL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 7007, 2 May 1884, Page 5

CAPTAIN MORRIS, M.H.R., AND THE TRADES AND LABOUR COUNCIL.

Some time ago, we mentioned that the Auckland Trades and Labour Council had sent a circular to the members of the House of Representatives. We now give the circular, and the reply of Captain Morris, M. H.K. for Tauranga. Dear Sir,—l am iiutructed by tUo Council to forward, for your serious comideration, the following resolutions, which were unanimously adopted, having ante. In both of these, the Auckland Council is acting on the aarue linos »s those now being followed by the Tia<!c<and Larjcur Council of Otago and the Working .U.on'« Political A.sociatlon of Chrisuhurch. It is hspeit you will talin such steps during the present to jivu ctlect to tim wishes of the representative bodies. -1 have, Kc., H. iXnvrßß., Secretiry. Q. B. Morris, Ksq, .M.H.K., Taurans*. Single Electorate: Revolved— •' Niat in the opinion of this Council, the uf-Aucklind would be better served bjr forming the city into a single elector*!* in place of being divided iuti four, hh .it ureseiiL " Immigration: .Resolved — tocu of •M.iistnd and uomluated Immigration should be discontinued in the uresuxi state of trade depression, and th.it thu unexpended balance of the immigration vote sh uld bo devoted to :omo other more necessary purpose." Tauranga, April £9, 18S4.—Mr. H. Cowpor, Secretiry Auckland Trades and Labour Counoil, Auckland. Di!*r Sir,—l havo to ucknoirlerjge your letter (circnUr) if March 3rd last, lie Hist resolution that you forward me - single electorate for Auckland city in lion of four—you oo net give me your reasons fer wuhlug this. It is not clear that your Council represents a majority of Auckland citizens, nml even If it did that lact sUrmid nol V>o decisive, but would no flouht carry great weight. A» at pre-ent informed, 1 shall not vote for ■* single electorate. It appears to me that a block of lour might b» roturned all of one way of thinking. The people generally, I think, would be belter represented by a mixture, which thoy ari more lliteiy to get from fnur constituencies than one. 1 don't wish to see tlm House divided into town members and country menibors. With regard to the second resolution — immigration—you go outside onr own province, I think, when you speak of •• present trade depression." There is :t theory that borrowing and ImmignUon thould to hand in baud, and it certainly aesnu to me that when the million for connecting Auckland and Wellington is in course of expenditure, that employment will be plentiful enousb, and that nothing is to be fearad nowexcapt of quite a temporary kind. I am inclined, however, to go a considerable length with yon in this resolution, and atn decidedly averse to Introducing peonlo for whom no profitable employment can be found. I have never been able to worK up auy emotion at the thought of the " teeming million* that eomo people seem so anxious to see iu Ni» Zealand. I tan't help thinking that we are so generally «:orofortab!e oecausn we arc thin on the ground. I trust you will excuse mr delay in answering your, letter.— 1 »m. ic, G. B. Morris. P Si—l think I will send 'copy of till* and circular to N.Z. Hchald, and people will ace whet is going on.—Q.B.M.