TEMPERANCE POLITICAL . COMMITTBBi-

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10598, 16 September 1896, Page 4

TEMPERANCE POLITICAL . COMMITTBBi-

A meeting of Uris committee was held on Saturday evening in lua Clior»l Hull, wben there was a large attenaanca oi delagatcs, the Rsv. C. H. Bradbury beiog in the chair.

Correspondence was received from Messrs Millar, Hutchison, and Morrison, M.H.R's., promising to do »1I in their power to get the Alcoholic Liquors Sale Control Act Amendment Bill passed this session, »nd from the Workers' Political Committee declining to proceed any farther in the conference with the Temperance Political Committee. The executive's report on the method of selecting candidates to represent the party at the general election was. received, and consideration lrft over until next meeting. Mr A. Thomson reported that steps wers being 'taken to form a branch of this committee in the Chalmers District. The secretary was instructed to acknowledge receipt of the letter from the Workers' Politic*). Committee, and it was resolved tbat the correspondence between that body and the Temperance Political Committse re the conference be handed to the press for publication. The letters, explain themselves: —

Temperance Political Committee, . ' -«-.-. Dunedin, June 30,1896. ' Mr D. H. Foreman, secretary W.P.C. Sir —At a meeting of this committee, held on Saturday evening, it was resolved to invite the Workers' Political Committse to appoint eight (8) delegates to meet an equal number from this committee in conference to consider matters of importance to both bodies.-I am, &a. . . . , .11. C. AVilson, Hon.-Sec.

Workers' Political Committee. July 8,1896.

MrR.C. Wilson, secretary T.P.C. Sir —I am instructed by this committee to inform you that it was resolved that we should appoint eight (8) delegates to meet a like number from your body, as requested by your letter, and also-that it U desirable that this conference should be held as soon as possible. If you will kindly name place and timi of meeting I will notify our delegates.-I am. &c, D. H. Foreman, Secretary.

Minutes of: Conference of Delegates from Workers' Political Committee and Temperance t-olitical Committee, held in the Choral Hall on Saturday evenißg, July 18, 1890: —Mr A. S. Adams was voted to the chair, and there were present Messrs Slater, Farrant,''Judge, M'Kenzie, Warren, Thompson, Colelough, and Holland (Workers' Political Committee), and Rev. R. Taylor, Messrs Hattoo, Burns, Adams, AVilson, amt Musdames Trainoi and Clark (Temperance Political Committee). An apolngy was received for the abosnee of the Rev. C. 11. Bradbury. R. Wilson was appointed secretary. The chairman read the platform of the Temperance Political Committee aud the Workers' Political Committee's plank in reference to the liquor traffic. A general discussion then took place as to liow beat to bring about a union of ihe two parties, and uventually the Ray. Mr Taylor moved and Mr Warren seconded — " Tbas ihis conference recommend tbat the bodies affiliated with the Worksrs'. Political Committee and the bodies affiliated with the Tsmperanc? Political Committee should bave equal voting power in the selection of candidates at the coming election," and this was carried unanimously. Resolved-" That the conference now adjourn until 7.45 p.m. on Saturday, the Bth August." On the motion of Mr Thompson, seconded by Mr M'Ksnzie, a vote of thanks was accorded to the chairman, Mr Adams.

Workers' Political Committee, August 3,1596.

Secretary T. P.O. Sir,—l am instructed by this committee to forward you a, copy of the following resolution which was passed at our last meeting—viz, " That having regard to the report given by our delegates re the conference between this committee and the Temperance Political Committee, we are of opinion that the possibilities of amalgamation are not to be attaiued on the basis suggested by the delegates of the T.P.C., and that we regret our inability to continue further negotiations with them."—l am, &c, D. He.nhv Forejun, Secretary.

Temperance Political Committee, Duuedin, September 4,1596. Mr D. H. Foreman, secretary W.P.C.

Sir,—l am instructed to acknowledge receipt of your letter of the 3rd ult., which was read at the meeting of our committee on Saturday evening last, when considerable surprise and regret was expressed at the withdrawal of your committee from the couference without making any propolis.

Your <ltloga,ti>s no doubt reported to you that the ODly resolution ii.i-.'Spll by the conference was a unanimous vote, and was as follows:—" That this conference recommend that the bodies affiliated with the Workers' Political Committee and the Temperance Political Committee should have equal voting power in the selection of candidates ac the coming election." And it was certainly, in our opinion, a most reasonable one. But the couference had not completed its deliberations, aod at its next meeting it would have been quite open for your delegates to have proposed any basis of : union which your, committee approved. Had any fresh proposals been made by you and our committee rejected thtm, there might have been reason for your action in withdrawing. JJut it seems strange that you Bhould first consent to, a conference and then, after the passing of a resolution supported by all your own members, withdraw without any explanation or attempt to make other proposals. My committee are fully conscious of the importance of union, and, believing that your committee ought to have a further opportunity of considering the matter before it is finally settled, they decided to adjourn for a fortnight, and instructed me to write you on the subject suggesting that your committee should reconsider the position and communicate with us before nur next meeting on Saturday, the 12th inst. Trusting that your committee will see their way to withdraw the letter now under reply and continue the conference,—l am, i'c,

Roet. C. Wilson, Hon. Sec. T.P.C.

Workers' Political Committee, September 11, .1896. Mr R. C. Wilsor,, secretary T.I.C. Sir,—ln reply to yours of the 4th inst, lam instructed by this committee, to forward you a copy or'the following resolution, which was carried at our last mectiSK: —" That we decline to proceed any further iv connection with the conference with the Temperance Political Committee." This coniinitcee is also of the opinion that your committen wiah to absorb the functions of the W.P.C. altogether, as there is no doubt that if we agreed to those proposals we would not be adhering to our constitution. I might also say that according to the report given by our delegates there was i\o hops of uh conkiDg to an amicable settlement. I am sure that it is not the fault of the W.1'.0. that wo cannot- agree, as plank No. 7 'on our platform ought to suit any organisation that is working for the general welfare. We are working in the labour interest, aud we could not place t«raperance before labour under any consUleratioii.—l am, Ac. D. H. Foreman, Sec. W.P.C.