AUCKLAND POLITICAL FINA-CIAL REFORM ASSOCIATION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIV, Issue 8926, 15 December 1887, Page 6

AUCKLAND POLITICAL FINACIAL REFORM ASSOCIATION.

The following is the report of the oommitteq to the members of the Association, presented at the monthly meeting held on last Monday evening:—

I.' Your commute* deem it Advisable—this being the ilxth monthly report they hive had the honour of presenting—to recall the attention of mamb«rs ami the public to the fact that this Association originated at. a public meeting, held at Kob«on's Rooms, on 2nd June last. 2. At that meeting Mr. 0, E. Button wan chairman, when it was moved by Mr Alfred Boardman, seconded by Mr. H. Oreeu, ami carried unanimously, " That, In rlew of the present position of I the colony, It was desirable that a Politlctl financial Association be formed in Auckland." A committee was subsequently elected by the members, together with a chairman, a rice-chairman, a id honorary treasurer. 3. " The objects of the Association were declared to be, to endeavour to secure a substantial reduction iu the taxation of the oolony, and a v«iiry large reduction in the expanses of the Goverumt nt." Your committee considered at the very outset it to be their duly to concentrate and dlreot spwlal attention to the latter point, as one they were more likely to accomplish with some Immediate practical effect than the former, owing to members of this Association holding conflicting: opinions as to the bent course to obtain a reduction of taxation, or to determine in which branch it was desirable to se«k for a reduction. Notice was given at required to alter rule 2, and this was agreed to at the general meeting h»ld In October last, and the rale now, therefore, reads, "That the object of this Association shall he to secure a large reduction In the publio.expenditure.'* 4 In attempting to carry out the objects the members had In establishing the Association, your committee hare Held no less than 42 meetings ( xclusire of those held by sub-committaesj, hare published monthly report! of their proceedings, have originated, and continue to maintalu correspondence with Individuals and societies having a common object in other places in New Zealand; also, with the ■ •overnment for the time bein., and with members of Parliament. Before the departure of the members elected to represent this provincial district, they deemed 13 expedient to invite these gentlemen to a Conference, so ap to place them in poisesxioa of the view* held by the Association. The committee finding it absolutely necessary to secure an office to hold meetings in, and to carry on correspondence. Ac., ronted No. 316, Victoria Arcade, fur the last five months. This office is open daily, and here, Parliamentary papers, copies of all bills introduced into either House of the Legislature, Hansard, can be Invested during busine-s noun, and which has been largely made use of One of the members of the committee was appointed acting secretary. The expenses for printing, advertising, stationery, postage and telegrams have been, during the session, necessarily rather large, but up V, the present moment, those have not exceeded 46s a w»ek, and include rent of office, hire of rooms for public meetings, indeed every other expenditure whatever. These expenses have hitherto been cover# i by subscriptions of the members-one shilling a-year— and by voluntary donations from others tr.klng an inteiest in enforcing a purer and more economical management of public business than has characterised the government of Mew Zealaud for some years past. 5. Your committee desire to take this opportunity to record it« gratitude to the distinguished gentlemen, who, while it would be Invidious to name, may be excused for referring specially to Sir William Fox and the majority of the members at the House of tlepre»eutallves for this Provincial i-istrict, as well as others of the more distinguished members of the House. Toe Association cannot forget the debt of

;r»tltude It owu to those gentlemen, one and all, at »uli Its to thy pablic-spirited portion of the public press, who hare to generously supported the work of [his Association. Tour ootamlttae are convinced that cona.derabio success has attended iho efforts the Association bare hitherto made, and desire to congratulate the members and the public generally on the intelligent criticism that has been evoked by the invoitiga.iuus that have been made, and the action taken Uf several mewlxr* of the new House of Representatives In the stem but necessary duty of retrenchment in the Uriah public expenditure sanctioned by former Parliaments.

0. At the name time, however encouraging and gratifying these reflections may be, your committee are fully alive to the (act that still larger savings are Imperatively required than can bo made this session, lid ureal abuses to the administration of public affairs still call aloud t.r reform. The commutes cmiiut help depl ring the great loss of time that has arisen, and the consequent expenditure of the taxpayers' money at ihe delay In passing through the House of Mepiesantatlves th» various Aota required to five practical effect to the proposed reductions. Whilst »o far gratified with what hat been accomplished, your committee loot forward to still greater reductions, by the re-orgiiiisation of the Civil &er»lce and still further economies whluu may be effected. 7. lu the las', monthly report laid before you, the coramilt' o commented at considerable length upon the chief proposals for curtailing the public expenditure coutalued in the Colonial Treasurer. financial Statement. It is unnecessary to repeat wnat was then stated, or to burden thU report with an array of figures. Soma of the Ministry's recommendations hare received the sanction of tho House o( Kepresentativer, and others have ret to be considered. Until all the uieas res have been passed and assented to by the Governor, It seems useless aud a waste of time to discuss or dilate further on the items of retrenchment, so far effected, or those still to be proposed. Abundant reason and the fullest justification have been shown for the agitatlO'i th*t existed and remains in full force. From the disclosures in the publication of official document*, and the discussions that have taken place iu Parliament, an imperative necessity exists for public attention being kept directed to the mode iu which the public funds are spent in futnr . d. in couclutloa, the committee regret, notwithstanding the strongest protests on the pail o( the public throughout the colony, that the system of indiscriminately granting pensions, or compassionate allowances, continues to be rife in a time of deep depression, aud It is to be hoped that the abuses un diubtedly existing under this head of Government expenditure may be the subject i.f careful and earnest examination by the present administration, or will engage the attention of the tiouie of Representatives during the next session of Parliament, flagrant and indefensible case* are constantly brought under the attention of the public, and some amelioration, if not re lof, will ere long be insisted upon.—On behalf of the committee, John Nucha-an, chairman.

The following ate the offics-beaiert of the Association :0- airman, Mr. John Buchanan ; vice-chairman, Mr. D. Qoldie, M.H.K.; hon. treasurer, Mr. John UcLachlan. Committee: Messrs. Edmund nell, E. W. Burton, P. Cherry, Theo. Cooper, W. Crowther, W. Duncan, J.P., It. J. Duncan, Henry Groan, Joseph Greenwood, J. 11. field, Ji. Hamilton, W. Hodge, F. Jauoe, Joseph Newman, J.P., X. W. Proudfoot, J. M. Shera, Hamusl Vaile, W. It. Waddel, J.P., Edward Withy, M H. it.