HEATHCOTE RADICAL ASSOCIATION.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7068, 21 January 1891, Page 4

HEATHCOTE RADICAL ASSOCIATION.

PUBLIC MEETING. A public meeting was held in the Ashbourne schoolroom last evening for the purpose of considering the objects and platform of the newly-constituted Heathcote Radical Association, and of hearing addresses by Messrs Pinkerton, Earnshaw, Kelly and Tanner, the labour members for Duuedin, Invercargill and Heathcote. There was a large attendance. The chair was occupied by the Rev C. H. Bradbury, who, after stating the objects for which | the meeting had been convened, called upon Mr Pinkerton to address those present. Mr Pinkerton, who was warmly received, congratulated the electors of Heathcote upon the formation of a Radical Association, and pointed out that there was much work for such a body to do in the education of the people on political subjects, referring also to the beneficial results of an interchange of ideas among the members. He was pleased that Heathcote, in common with other constituencies, had returned a labour candidate pure and simple ; and he was likewise pleased that Christchurch had elected members who would work with the labour party. The return of working men representatives marked the beginning of a new era ; and he urged upon young men the study of politics, bo that when the pioneers dropped out of the ranks tbere would be found those who were competent to fill their places. He besought working men to keep together on broad lines, and not to allow themselves to be split up, as they had been in the past, into petty divisions upon such questions as temperance and the Bible in schools. He made reference to the unequal distribution of wealth, and proceeded to point out the means by which workers could be placed on a fairer footing. The land question was of all others the most important, and by a tax upon unimproved land the State should get back from the large landowners some of that profit they had gained by no exertions of their own. No man should hold more land than he could cultivate. If such a system were followed, the highest results would be obtained from the land, the best machinery and appliances would be used and production would be stimulated. The holding of land for speculative purposes should not be permitted. The perpetual leasing system was a good one, but the purchasing clause should be eliminated, and not another acre held by the State in New Zealand should be parted with. Sir Harry Atkinson faid that he could not tax absentee landlords, but he could have taxed the land if the landlords around him had not been too numerous to permit his doing it. It was not just that a landowner should have the sole claim to the unearned increment of his land. He was opposed to taxing a man's industry, being in favour of a tax on the unimproved value of land. By this means a larger revenue would be derived from the large estates, which now practically paid nothing, while the struggling farmer would not be mulcted for every improvement he placed on his land. The farmers were the wealth producers of the country, and it was monstrous tbat they should be treated as they were under the present Property tax. Another phaee of tho Property tax was that it was levied on goods which had paid Customs duties. Naturally the consumer had to pay this tax, yet they were told that the consumer paid no Property tax. He also instanced the working of the Property tax in regard to new industries. There were many political problems which tho Association might consider. The Railway Commissioners (the " wicked three ") were said to be a non-political Board, but he thought it would be conceded that no one was more under political influence than they; and he further thought that the principle of their appointment was bad. The Chairman referred to the necessity of Liberal electors combining, and taking up such questions as land, taxation, labour and education. They won a great victory on Dec. 5, and they should take care that they lost none of the ground they then gained. Mr Emson read the platform of the Heathcote Radical Association, the objects of which were to provide facilities, by discussion, lectures or otherwise, for the political education of the electors ; to purge the rolls ; to foster an interest in all public local governing bodies ; to assist in i selecting fit and proper persons to become members of such bodies; and to assist electors to fulfil their duty a& members of the New Zealand democracy. The platform comprised nationalisation of the land ; reformation of tbe Upper House ; and universal suffrage without property qualification, Mr Earnshaw, who was received with applause, congratulated the electors of ' Heathcote upon returning a working man as their representative. He referred to the value of an Association such as that they were forming, and spoke of the great step forward that had been made by tho return of working men to the House. There were some of the twenty-two members classed as labour candidates who were not really so, bat he felt sure that in the

time to come the number of constituencies which returned working men as r opresentativee would be largely increased. Speaking of the unemployed, he said thi it it was the duty of the State to find emp loyment for every man and woman able and I willing to work. It was a disgrace to Christianity and civilisation that people should be starving because they could not ' obtain work, and it was high time that representatives of labour should be returned to demand that such a iltate of affairs should be altered. He earnestly advocated the extension of the franchise to women. He regretted that there wore men in the Liberal ranks who were really Tories at heart ; and if the Labour' Party did not get what they wanted, they' must not be blamed by the electors, because their want of success would be due to their being in a minority. The time would come, however, when they would command a majority. They were a we:lge in the House, and he could promise them tbat if the party did not get what they wanted they would, at all events, prevent tbe Tories managing affairs for their own benefit. He referred to the desirableness of land nationalisation, and considered that there should be Ministers of Labour and of Agriculture. TheEe were matters of which this Parliament would not witness the accomplishment, but they would come in the course of time ; and he £elt sure that the Heatbcote Radical Association would do its part in impressing the people with a sense of their necessity. Mr Kelly congratulated the meeting on the formation of the Radical Association. He urged members to get the young men into their ranks, for he felt sure that the salvation of the Colony would be worked by the native-born population. He was in favour of the extension of the franchise to women, because he was satisfied that their vote would always be cast on the side of reform. The land question should L« made the principal plank in the Associar tion's platform ; for that question onc>? settled, all others would right themselves. Mr Tanner, who was loudly applauded, briefly expressed bis intention of working in unison with his follow labour members. At this Btago the members had to leave the meeting in order to catch the train to Lyttelton. The Chairman wished them god-speed, and at his invitation three hearty cheers for Messrs Tanner, Pinkerton, Earnshaw and Kelly were given by those present. This concluded the business of the meeting, but a large number stayed to enrol themselves as members of the Aescsociation.