LIBERAL ASSOCIATION.

Thames Advertiser, Volume XIII, Issue 3571, 25 March 1880, Page 3

LIBERAL ASSOCIATION.

The adjourned quarterly meeting of the Association was held last evening, Mr Carpenter (President) being in tho chair. There was a very limited attendance.

The minutes of tho previous meeting were read and confirmed, after which Mr Denby spoke on the question of tho acquisition of lands for the people under ♦he Homestead and deferred payment systems. He read extracts from Brett's Almanac bearing on the subject at issue. Mr Denby said that Mr E. M. Hawkes, lapn, was the accredited agent for Government for tho Waikawau block, and to lum all applications for sections in that block would havo to be made. With regard to land over which timber leases existed, the President and himself bad gone to Auckland to see how far Mr 0. J. Stone's right related to tho land in the Kauaennga Valley, and found that nearly 40 years would have to elapse before Mr Stone's right over the most suitable block —the Maungakiriltiri—would lapse; but he believed that as the lland in question was in the goldfleld, and Mr Stone bad only permission to cut the timber on it, that there was nothing to prevent any persons taking up farms in that district, As it was necessary that every person who contemplated going into farming pursuits should know the cpnstituents of tho soil, he offered to analyso any samples that might be sent to him.

Mr Wii, Wood asked a number of questions relating to the land. The lirst was, " What is tho foundation of tho prosperity of a colony ?—ls it her gold or her lands ?'' After Messrs Mo Andrew, O'Bbikn, Hokn, Jiubley, and McGowan had given their views on the subject, it was resolved to confine the remarks of future speakers to the question of the acquisition of lands, aud not to discuss Mr Wood's questions to the neglect of the matter the meeting had been called to discuss. Mr McGowan thought it would be advisable if a clause were inserted in the Act relating to land on deferred payment, making it legal to sell out before all the stipulations relating thereto were fulfilled. With regard to one of Mr Wood's ques< tions asking how it was that so many had left the place, he believed they had done so for various reasons, but lie did not think it was chiefly because they could not obtain lands on which to settle. The speaker then dealt with the remainder of the questions, which lie considered were ot little prac'ical good. He disagreed with some of Mr Denby's remarks and said he consid red the clause in the deferred payment system anent residence on the land was very good, and prevented people of small means from jobbing in land. Mr Pattebson' also spoke, his remarks being to the effect that good times appeared to be coming for the working men, in regard to obtaining land at a clieapor rate, so that the local storekeepers might not have occasion to send outside the place for produce to supply the people of the Thames with.

Mr Dekble also made a few remarks, in which he said that he approved of the residential olause, but thought the price charged for the lands was far too high. Ho was of opinion that the vacant land surrouuding the goldfield would be taken up before that at Te Aroha, and far from home, as the people could, when living near the field, combine mining with farming.

Mr Denby here replied to the com' mgnts that had been made on his remarks, -

'J he President then spoke on the question of the validity of the Christchurch election. He considered that it was a gross act on the part of the Parliamentary Committee to unseat Sir George.Gray, as, by tlieir action, the constitutional rights of the people had beenfinvaded. The speaker then read extracts from the Act relating to such elections, and stated the circumstances of tho case they were about to discuss, after which he said he disagreed with the action of the Speaker of the House of Eepresentatives in ordering Mr Kichardson's name to bo inserted in the writ in place of that of Sir George Grey, and maintained that, the decisioa of the committee was in direct contravention to all laws, customs, and precedents. The constitution had been invaded, and ho thought it would be a great and crying shame if nothing were done in the matter during the next session of Parliament, as, irrespective of the disfranchisement of those who had voted for Sir George Grey, with which, however, the Association had nothing to do, the constitutional rights of the people had been directly invaded. The speaker thon cited several precedents, and said that it was the duty of tho Association to take an active part in any steps that might bo taken in the patter. Mr Cabpenieb then moved a resolution in accordance with his remarks, which was seconded by Mr Macandbbw,

At this stage the discussion was ad* journed till Wednesday week, on aoeount of the lateness of tho hour..