WORKING MEN’S POLITICAL ASSOCIATION.

Poverty Bay Independent, Volume I, Issue 16, 20 June 1885, Page 4

WORKING MEN’S POLITICAL ASSOCIATION.

A meeting of the above Association was held on Tuesday evening in the Good Templars’ Hall. Present: Messrs. Johnson (in the chair), Somervell, Matthewson, Tharratt, Griffin, Smith, Hansen, Bruce, Fryer, Thompson, Partington, Attwood, and Ballantyne. Owing to a neglect of duty on the part of the late secretary (Mr. Whitcombe) in not furnishing the halfyearly statement of accounts and minutes of previous meeting, both matters had to stand over to a future date. Election of Officers. The following officers were then elected for the ensuing term :—President —Mr. Tharratt; proposed by Mr. Thompson, seconded by Mr. Matthewson. At this stage of the proceedings Mr. Fryer thought there were not sufficient members present to fill the various offices. Mr. Tharratt did not wish it to be thought that he had been elected in a hole-and-corner manner. He thought it best to put it to those present whether the meeting should be continued or not.

Mr. Fryer thought that all the business should be postponed Mr. Matthewson was of opinion that they might as*well postpone the Association altogether. If the officers were elected they would have something to work on. Mr. Tharratt was then declared duly elected.

Vice-President —Mr. Johnson; proposed by Mr. Bruce, seconded by Mr. Fryer. Secretary —Mr. Partington ; proposed by Mr. Tharratt, seconded by Mr. Bruce. Mr. MattWwson moved “That the Treasurer and Committee remain in office for tie next six months.”

Seconded by Mr. Tharratt and carried. Me. Locke and Plural Voting.

Mr. Griffin called attention to the fact that Mr. Locke had promised, some months back, to bring in a bill to abolish plural voting. Sir George Grey was now about to introduce one, and Mr. Locke was under a pledge to support it. He thought our member should be written to.

Mr Matthewson thought it vtould be as well to wait and see if Mr. Locke supported the second reading of Sir George Grey’s bill. Mr. Griffin said if they waited for the result of the second reading it would be too late to make any representation. He moved “ That Mr. Locke be reminded by the Association of his promi°e to bring in a bill to abolish plural voting.” Mr. Fryer seconded, and it was carried. Mr. Tharratt undertook to write to Mr. Locke, requesting him to forward to the Association copies of all bills as soon as they were laid upon the table of the House.

Mr. Matthewson hoped the members would see that their names were on the electoral roll, and endeavor to catch as many new comers as possible. Mr. Tharratt said the sole power of the working man lay in his power to vote. They should do their best to get the working men into the Association. Sunday Labor. Mr. Thompson referred to a recent case heard in the R.M. Court, in which he and a fellow workman had been fined for doing a necessary work on the Sabbath. He did not see why they should have been made an example of, while others, in a different position, was allowed to work. He thought a letter should be sent to Mr. Locke, requesting him to lay the case before the Government, with a view of getting the fine remitted. Mr. Tharratt said it all depended on the position a man occupied in the place. If a man was well off he was all right. He knew of a person who was in the habit of working in his garden while people were passing on their way to church, «t as the man occupied a pretty good position in the town he supposed it was a work of necessity. It was simply a case of making fish of one and flesh of another. He thought Mr. Thompson had better grin and bear it. Mr. Johnson thought they should agitate in the matter.

Mr. Matthewson thought it was more a question for a Trades’ Union, and had nothing to do with the Association.

Mr. Somervell could not see what connection the case had with the Association. The command “remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy” had been given in a country where there were no ships. The law had been broken broadcast. On Sundays the front doors of hotels were shut while the back ones were wide open. The Magistrate, no doubt, had decided on the evidence before him, but he thought there had been a miscarriage of justice, and Mr. Locke should be written to.

Mr. Matthewson, while sympathising with Mr. Thompson, thought they should confine themselves to political questions. If Mr. Thompson wished to petition he should do so in his own name.

Mr. Thompson did not care about the fine, but he did not like being trampled on. Work was always being done on Sunday, both by large steamboat companies and private individuals. If this matter was not brought under the notice of the Government the principles of the Association would be trampled into the mire. Mr. Griffin thought Mr. Thompson should appeal to Sir George Grey. Mr. Johnson thought their representative, Mr. Locke, was the proper person to appeal to. Mr. Griffin looked upon Sir George Grey as their representative. He (Sir George) represented the whole of New Zealand. He would help any man through a difficulty. It was a case of poverty v. wealth. Why should Mr. Thompson be made a victim ? He moved “ That Mr. Locke be written to on the subject.” Mr. Matthewson having again objected to any action being taken, the motion was carried.