LIBERAL ASSOCIATION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 5467, 27 August 1879, Page 3

LIBERAL ASSOCIATION.

The newly-formed -Liberal Aasociation met laat night inthe Provincial Hotel, in pursnanoej of an advertisement, which stated the purpose i of the meeting to be ths selection of candidate. There were about 20 persona present, and after some delay, ' VVV .; ; Mr Rossbothaji, vice-president of the Abbo* : ciation, took the chair,, and.said he thought the best plan, in order to carry out the pur' pose for which the meeting had been called, would be to appoint a deputation to wait on the various gentlemen in ths.field.;,. And.au there was so little time, he wonld farther suggest that euch deputation should be empowered, on'receiving a promise of support from any gentleman to the platform adopted by the Asior oiation, to pledge the support of the. Asiooia-: tion to each candidate in turn.

Mr Hakpeb waa proceeding to say that he had a few remarks to offer in continuation bf those he had made the previous Friday evening, when

Mr James Brown, the president of the Association, entered the room and assumed the chair. '~...'•.•

The Acting Siobetaby read the following letter, which he had received from Invercargill":-"*

Spsy street, Invercargill, August 23rd, 1879. To Secretary Liberal Association, Dunedin. Sir,—By virtue of resolution cirried oat at our last meeting, I have tho honour to Inform you tbat this Association Is pledged to support the Orey policy.— (Cheers) Requesting an Interchange ot action In ths comlorpolltlcal struggle,—t remtln, yours truly, . . / Wm. PaxsrOH, Sue. I. Jb. Reform Association.

In reply to Mr Braithwaite, The Sboeetabt read over the resolutions come to at last meeting aa constituting the platform of the Association. ' Mr Braithwaite : Then there is no question of Greyitaor anti-Greyite! That ia an open question 1 The Secretary : Yes.

Mr Braithwaite, then, had much pleasure in becoming a member. Mr Waikbk would move—" That one of the principles of the Association be protection; or (aa there waa a projudice againat the name) come form of encouragement to native industry." > Mr Braithwaite would subscribe to all that had gone before, but not to protection. _ There was no seconder to the proposition. After namea had been received of persons willing.to join the Association,: ■ , . *..'] Mr Sibbald said he presumed the "problems* of last meeting were before the preaent one. He waa emphatically against resolution No. 5 of tho platform adopted, which waß to the effect that Ministers before accepting offlce should return to their constituents for reI election. He spoke at length, urging that tbat 1 resolution should be expunged. A long and what once appeared likely to be an interminable discussion took place on this point. '•■''' V Mr A. Smith and others, if the expunging of this resolution were allowed, would move for the abolition of the secular education plank. Mr Wells moved that only three planks compose the platform—liberal land laws, extension of franchise, and triennial parliaments. Mr Walker moved that the minutes and resolutions of last meeting be confirmed in their entirety. Eventually the Chairman put to the meeting the motion of Mr Walker, which waa declared carried. !

Mr Bolt gave notice tbat at next meeting he would move that resolution No. 5 be expunged. , - ' Mr Harper now referred to the intention he had held of speaking in continuation of his remarks at the previous meeting, but as tho hour waa late would content bimse'f with moving—"Tbat thia meeting appoint a select committee to aid in returning members of the new House t f Pai*liament|who will act in concert with Sir George Giey in carrying ost the Liberal measures enunciated in the Governor's Speech of last session."—(Applause.) - Mr Braithwaite objected to individuals; the Association Bhould go in for the supportof principles. It was professedly neither Greyite nor anti-Greyite.' He moved an amendment to tbe effect that all the words from " act" to " carrying " inclusive be struck out, and that the motion read "aid in returning members who will carry out the liberal measures," &c. A show ol handa was taken, with the result that the motion: by Mr Harper was carried, with the substitution of the words " the preaent Ministry " for " Bir George Grey." On the motion of Mr Rossbotham, it wai resolved to write to the Inveroargill Associa-' tion, agreeing to act in uniseu with them. It waa agreed the fee of membership of the Association be 2s 6d; that Mr Atkinson aot as secretary, and Mr Sibbald ub treasurer. Mr Sibbald said Sir George Grey would arrive in the city next day-by train from Palmerston, and the following gentlemen were appointed a deputation to meet him on the platform :—The Preaident, ' Vice-Prsaident, Secretary, Treaaurer, Messrs Wells, and Walker.

Relative to the (flection of candidates, a good deal of discussion took place as to what course the Association should take.

Mr Sibbald suggested the Association should wait till after the nomination. He prophesied candidates would be put in nomination of whom the meeting at preaent knew nothing, > Some gentlemen thought something Bhould be done at once, and at 11 p.m. the meeting, then consisting o! about a dozen gentlemen, went into committee in order to consider what should be done. # t It was agreed to meet this evening again, when the deputation who are to meet Sir G*. Grey should report progress, and when possibly,