The Taranaki Herald. PUBLISHED DAILY. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 1, 1891.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XL, Issue 9253, 1 December 1891, Page 2

The Taranaki Herald. PUBLISHED DAILY. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 1, 1891.

Since writing last week about the " National Liberal Federation" we have learnt further particulars of that organisation. Although in the Laws as printed the " objects" of the Association are j merely stated to be " all such Reforms of | a Liberal character as may be resolved upon at any general meeting," the Federation is evidently a direct outcome of the " National Liberal Association," which was inaugurated some time since in Dunedin, the printed declaration of which Society was aa followe :—(1): — (1) Securing voting power to every adult, and the abolition of all property qualification. (2) That the Government undertake, as a State function, the employment of all needing work. (3) The State 'ownership of land, mine", railways, and coastal marine service. (4) The statutory limitation of legal rent and interest. (5) The sole tenure of land to be a lease from the State. (6) Nationalisation of the land. (7) A legal periodic adjustment of rents. (8) Statutory limitation of the maximum amount of recoverable interest. (9) A Stale bank of issue. (10) An elective revising committee with limited powers instead of a Legislative Council. (11) An elective Governor. The objects of the " National Liberal Federation" are, therefore, of a very revolutionary character, and if any Government had the power to carry out the objects of such an Association, and tried to do so, they would very quickly clear the country of everyone who had money and was industriously inclined. From the prospectus of tbe "National Liberal Federation," we see that there are three Cabinet Ministers on the Council, besides several members of the House representing various parts of tbo colony. It is to consist of ordinary members, life members, honorary members, private members, and Federated Societies. The annual subscription is to be £1 for ordinary arid private members, and 108 for the wage-earning members — to be paid in advance. The money is to go towards a " fighting fund," to be expended at the discretion of the Council in assisting candidates to contest elections; in defending seats against petitions; and in advancing the cause of the party.

This Socialistic Federation has been taken in band by the head of the present Government — the Hon. John Ballance — for in forwarding a copy of the laws to Mr Jackson-Palmer, the Premier thus writes : — " I have ventured to put your name in the list of Council, hoping that you will consent to take an active part in the management. The lawß to a large extent explain themselves. The Federation has been called into existence really for the purpose of providing funds to assist our people in fighting elections, otc, etc., without which I have seen great difficulty in keeping tho party together, more especially in presence "of the fact that the other side are vigorously organising and contributing liberally to a fund for the purpose of securing a Tory majority at the next elections. We propose to engage an organising secretary at an adequate salary, say £250 a-year, with travelling expense?. We have not yet been able to find a likely person for the work, but hope to find a suitable person before leng. The success of the organisation will depend to some extent upon the activity of the local committees, and the assistance >vbich they might be able to give to the secretary when he visits the district. I would suggest that yoa should call round you a number of gentlemen of Liberal views and ascertain the strength of the .party in Auckland and surrounding districts, as measured by the number who would become ordinary members. The Federation is not intended to, and does not, conflict with any local organisation, but I hope will include them all through the principle of affiliation. The principle on which candidates might be selected and assisted are : The local organisation or the party would select the candidate ; then the Federation would call on all the different members belonging to it by circular to combine for his support, assisting him out of the fighting fund to the extent of his necessities ana the capacity of the fund." Since that letter was written, the Premier, we learn, has offered Mr Buick, M.H.R. for Wairau, the position of organisingsecretary, at a salary of £250 a year and travelling expenses. Mr Buick, we learn, is a very fluent, pleasant speaker, but that he is a convincing one we hear he is not. He can tell his tale in a becoming manner, and please his audience whilst delivering a set speech; he is, however, but a poor debater, and with an antagonistic audience would be worsted in all his arguments. Anyhow, he has been selected to stump the country in the interests of the present Government, which since last session has been getting very unpopu'ar, and Mr Buick will have a very difficult task to stem the strong tide of public feeling which haß of late ho strongly sot in against tho present Ministry.