ELECTORAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 11110, 8 July 1899, Page 5

ELECTORAL NEWS.

[BY TELEGRAPH.—OTO CORRESPONDENT.] Dargaville, Friday. Mr. McLeod addressed a meeting of over 200 electors at Dargaville last night. The meeting was enthusiastic. After speaking for two and a-half hours, a vote of confidence in Mr. McLeod was passed unanimously. [by telegraph.— ASSOCIATION.] Stratford, Friday. Mr. Monkhouse is announced as a candidate at the general election. He gives an independent support to the present Opposition. Wellington. Friday. The Liberal and Labour Federation League has decided' Dot to take any part in the forthcoming by-election. Dun'edix, Friday. At a special meeting of the Workers' Political Committee the nominations of J. A. Millar, D. Thomson, and J. P. Arnold, were accepted for the city. These names will be sent to the unions to ballot for the selections of two candidates. The third will be selected by the Liberal and Labour Association. A. Morrison was finally selected as the committee's candidate for Caversliam. O. Samson, chairman 01 the Taieri County Council, will contest the Taieri seat at the general election. Mr. J. J, Ramsay lias definitely decided that he will r.ot be a candidate for Tuapeka at the general election.

LIVELY LIBERALS. ORGANISING THE FORCES IN AUCKLAND. A meeting called by Mr. Arthur Edwards, secretary of the Liberal and Labour Federation of New Zealand, for tlio purposo of considering what stops were advisable for 1 organising the Liberals of the Auckland : Electoral District, was held last night at the j Wesley Hall. Air. S. I. Clarke was voted to the chair. The attendance was very fair. In oponing tho meeting tho Chairman said that judging from tho trend of affairs just at present, tho Liberal party would not be any tho worse for organisation. Mr. Edwards explained that his mission was to organise the different Liberal bodies into one body, to consist of from 1500 to 2000 porsons, to represent all tho classes of residents, In Auckland there were the Liberal Association and the Trades and Labour Council. Little differences had in the past taken place, and it was to remove any chanoe of a recurrence of a similar state of affairs that it was intended to form a political organisation that would embrace both. He would suggest that at first a General Provisional Committee should be formed, Tho federation was divided into electoral district branches and ward district branches. Tho objects of federation were to organise and solidify tho Liberal party in New Zealand; to promote Liberal legislation, and to assist the general progress of the Liberal cause; to draw up a platform; | when necessary, to provide funds to assist | tho Liberal cause; to arrange for tho delivery of addresses and lectures; to assist tho formation of clubs; to afford information to members, and to assist them in any way in its power; to supply members with literature supporting tho objects of tho federation. Tho electoral district branches woro to generally supervise the electorate. I Each electorate would be divided into wards, j with a ward branch and tho members of the I federation most conveniently resident to a I polling place should belong to that branch, I The objects of a ward distriot branch were: : To enrol as many persons as possible as '■ members of the Liberal Federation of New i Zealand; to sco that every person eligible I as a member is on the register of electors; 1 to promoto social intercourse between members and their political friends by means of . entertainments, etc.; to promoto tho interest i of and to support the recognised candidate; i to equip the polling place on the day of elec- ! tion with the staff necessary to conserve the ' interest of the candidate; to support tho , noarest recognised Liberal newspaper; to • establish a club or clubs in tho district. The . business of tho federation was managed by a | Council consisting of the Liberal candidates i at each last election, and of a delogate from ' each electoral district branch. The selection of candidates was loft to tho electoral branch. It was to the interest of tho people of Auckland to know that tho people in the other end of tiio colony woro organised, and to onable tho head office to carry out its colonial work it was expected , that it should receive sixpence for every male member 111 the branches. Ladies were freo. The subscription for branch members was one shilling. Mr. Edwards mentioned that he had been all over the colony organising tho forces, and Auckland was tho last place. Mr. McClusky: I would like to ask Mr. Edwards who he is employed by, and who ho is paid by, for stumping tho oountry and ! acting this part. I think it is a shame that ! the Auckland Liberal Association and the Liberal members connocted with the same cannot formulate their own procedure, without an outsido man coming here. Mr. Gordon considered that the quostion was not pertinent. Mr. Weston: I don't think it is right for j anyone to divulge his private business, for I consider that this is private business. There was Borne confusion, and soveral voices advised that the question be not answered. Mr. Hugh Mcllhono said ho would liko to know whero the Liberal Federation came from. Ho never heard of it before. Thore had been Liberal bodies in Auckland for a considerable time, and now here, at the ond of half-a-century, ho might say, Mr. Edwards, a gentleman for whom ho (Mr. Mtinhorn'.) had every respect, came and told the Liberal Associations that ho came as an " organisator" (Mr. Mcllhono's word). He would liko to ask Mr. Edwards what his mission was, and by whom ho was appointed. After somo littlo disturbance, Mr, Edwards got a hearing, and said he would first toll them who ho was employed by in Taranaki.

! Mr. McClusky: In the colony. Take the colony. Mr. Edwards suggested that lie should go I through ono association at a time. He tlion read out a number of names of people in the Taranaki district, and said they were his employers in that electorate. They paid him by subscriptions. They were his agonts in that district, and they sent him sums of money. They were his paymasters, and he looked upon his employers as the Liberals of Now Zealand. Ho had credontialr from tho Liberal party saying that ho was recognised as an organiser of that party. (Hear, hear.) Mr. Mollhone: Is it true that Mr. Ed wards is paid by the Government of New Zealand ? Mr. McClusky: Yes. Mr. Edwards: No! I have nothing to do with the Civil Service. I get not a penny out of the consolidated fund or any other fund. This money that is subscribed by people all over Now Zealand, is subscribed to a fund, and out of that I am paid. Mr. Mcllhone: That is no answer, You say you don't belong to the Civil Service, but you don't say you are not paid by the Government. From the back of the hall: Who paid you to come in Mao? The meeting resumed, and on the motion of Mr. Dickson, seconded by Mr. John Shaw, it was unanimously agreed that ft branch of tho federation should be formed in Auckland. Mr. McClusky: What is the definition of a Liberal?

Mr. Edwards (to the chairman): Havo you a dictionary? The Chairman: I should suggest that the gentleman should go homo and look at a dictionary. r? r ' n S: I think I can give itOne who believes in equal rights for all, and special privileges for none." (Hear, hear.) On the motion of Mr. Geo. Fowlds, it was agreed to form a Provisional Committee of 20 men and five women, and the following were elected, with power to add to their number:— McArthur, Messrs. J. S. Dixon, Geo. Fowlds, W. J. Napier, Malcolm Niccol, T. L. Stevens, J. Patterson, J. M. Shorn, F. M. lung, J. Gordon, Smerdon, Gerald Peacocke, S. I. Clarke, P. E. Cheal, R. Fawcett, H. Stevenson, Young, Ross, Thomas, J. Shaw, Powell,' Beehan, Mrs. Hanloy, Mrs. Jordan, Mrs. Gibson, and Mrs. Tilly. The public meeting then broke up. At a meeting of the committee, held immediately afterwards, Mr. Malcolm Niccol. was elected chairman, and Mr. Edwards was asked to act. as secretary pro. tern. ■' "