THE LIBERAL ASSOCIATION.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4543, 14 January 1893, Page 4

THE LIBERAL ASSOCIATION.

MEETING AT PKEBBLETON. A meeting organised by the Canterbury Liberal Association was held last night in the Oddfellows' Hall, Frebbleton. There was a moderate attendance at first, but it was considerably increased during the evening. Mr Thomas AUsop was voted to the chair, and briefly introduced the representatives of the Liberal Association. Mr W. W. Tanner, M.H.R., spoke briefly on the broad subject of Socialism and its effect on the politics of the day. All social reforms for the advancement of the community, and for generally bettering the conditions of the people, were always slow in gaining ground, but were none the lees sure. He instanced the absorption by the postal department of all the many branches of banking, insurance, &c, which had formerly been to a large extent carried out by private enterprise. It naturally followed that any Government that had the courage to adopt this policy of reform came in for a great deal of abuse and harsh criticism from those whose interests were to a certain extent affected by the reform, but these men after a few years looked back at what had been done and wondered at their opposition He instanced the factory legislation, and asked who would now complain- of the legislation that had reformed the business of the manufacturing interests. Yet those men who now most applauded it were the most ardent opponents of the measure when it was introduced. Many other olasses of social reform by the State were referred to, particular notice being taken of the educational system. Many men were very timid at any great reforms that the advanced Liberal Party advocated. Persons who had expressed themselves as highly favourable to the project for bridging Cook Strait were termed advanced Socialists, but he asked them would it be desirable that, when the railway aervice was complete throughout both islands, the ; Government should allow a private Company to monopolise the carriage of goods and passengers to connect the two lines. Therefore, such men were justified ! in advancing progressive theories. The | representatives of the various Agricultural 1 Societies in the Colony had, at a conference in Christchuroh last year, asked the Government to legislate in many directions j for the apeoial benefit of the farming and; pastoral community. Yet those very men would be found among the ranks of those who would oppose legislation for the benefit of other sections of the community. He asked if it was right that these men should 1 refuse what was wanted for the general benefit of the men of the Colony. He, therefore, said, that the so-called Socialists were men who obnld see before them objects which must sooner or later be dealt with for the absolute necessity of the people, and he contended that what the people wanted that the people would have. (Cheers.) Mr G. W. Bußsell congratulated Mr Tanner on his practical and temperate way of dealing with the subject of socialistic legislation. The Canterbury Liberal Association, whose views and objects they had attended to explain, was not /as was alleged by one section of the Christchurch newspapers) composed of a set of men holding revolutionary views, who talked as the Anarchists of London or the Socialists of Paxis. He would devote his remarks to the land question, which, in his opinion, was the question before the world at the present day, and was at the root of every question affecting the social and political success of the Colony. (Cheers.) It certainly affected poverty, want of employment, "sweating" and provision for old age. The solution of the problems of the day lay in the administration of the land. The Liberal Association made the question of the land for the people one of the leading planks of its platform. It rejoiced at the advance that had been made in the direction of no more land being sold, but wished it clearly understood that the Liberal Association was absolutely opposed to the doctrine of confiscation. The Liberals did not, as was continually being heralded forth by the Conservative press in all directions, entertain any saoh doctrine, nor would they accept as a representative any man who would wish to invade one single right in any land that had been justly and honourably purchased from the Government and paid for. The cry of the Conservative Party was that the Liberal Association consisted of persons who were m favour of repudiation and confiscation, and that cry had been repeated until it became nauseous. He would say for himself and colleagues that they did not advocate any such measures, but they were in favour of no more Crown lands being sold. They had another plank in their platform, which was that opportunities should be afforded for the resumption, at a fair valuation, of such lands as might be required from time to time (or the' purposes of settlement. (Hear, hear.) This resumption of private lands ■for settlement must, however, be carefully carried out, and with justice to all. In this direction a very, good start had been made by the purchase' of the Cheviot estate. This was the boldest, most vigorous, and most statesmanlike action that had been recorded in the annals of New Zealand history~(cheers)— and one that marked- the era of ' land reßuinption, which would jjie a great feature in future legislation. He inferred- to the: Land for Settlements- Bill of 1891 a 8 compared with the Act of the • same name which -. had passed into law in 1892. The former Bill had 'contained provisions for compulsory resumption of the land for settlement, whereas the Act that became law last year only provided for buying back the land when offered to the Government. Sir John Hall, when speaking on " The Land for Settlements Bill, 1891," which enabled the Government compukorily to resume lands, said: "I am one of those who for many years have asserted the right of the State to resume land when necessary for the purposes of settlement. On many occasions I have stated that a 9 my opinion. * * * lam not going to object to this Bill. * * * I think the Government are right in bringing it forward, and taking power to acquire land for settlement." Mr Bolleston, on the same Bill, said : "I do not think that any reasonable man will dispute for a moment that the State has a perfect right to resume these large estates. * • * * I agree with the hon gentleman in believing that in; some portions of the country very strong necessity does exist. * * * It was laid down by Mr Gladstone that there could be no doubt that the State had a perfect right to resume land for any adequate purpose on the payment of fair compensation ; and that the settlement of the country is an adequate purpose, I do not think anyone who knows the circumstances of ihe Colony can for a moment doubt." In the same debate Mr Bolleston, referring to the land 3 between the Hurunui and Blenheim, claimed credit for having in 1884 beetf a member of a Government which introduced a measure affirming that those lands " ought to be taken on fair terms, at a cost calculated before the increased value was given by the making of the railway " from Blenheim to the Huruflui. He affirmed the right of the State to the increase of value. Was that repudiation ? Was that confiscation ? He also Baid— " I ask hon gentlemen to consider that proposal." It was based, not upon the principle of this Bill — that of obtaining applications from persons who wish to sell land— but upon the principle that where the Government determined that land should be taken in the publio interest, there it should be taken, or payment of fair compensation for it. 'There was here the moat uncompromising expression of the right to resume estates. They learned from the report of the Chief Commissioner of Crown Landß, in his report upon the village settlements, that he had recently searched this ! provincial district for land to meet the demands made for village settlements. He reported that he could not find any that would be suitable. What he had seen was inferior or second-class land, while all the flat land, and such as would be suitable for such settlements, was absorbed in the freeholds: That being, the position in Canterbury, the Liberal Association was justified in making the

resumption- of lands for settlement so important a feature in its programme. He concluded by asking his audience not to- accept the theory that the party of progress had been returned l>y a large majority at the last election owing to any excitement that had arisen over the strike. The election had been won because the wave of progress, which wbb now passing over the world, had made the people sympathise with the progressive movement. He .therefore asked them to go with the improvement in land laws and other social conditions, and when the time came, as it would do at the end of the present year, he asked them to accord their votes to such representatives only as were pledged to support the party of progress. By doing so they would be assisting to advance their own condition, and refusing any more to be bound down by those whose sole interests were those of self. (Cheers). The Eev C. H. -.Bradbury followed with an address, in which he urged all persons to throw a measure of enthusiasm into the study of the social and political questions of the day. He advanced the claims of the Liberal Association, which were to stimulate this . enthusiasm, and, the members hoped, would lead to discussion which would result in the people becoming better acquainted with the true principles of Liberalism. (Hear, hear). Mr Duke moved — " That a nearly vote of. thanks be accorded to the representatives of the Liberal Association who had attended to explain the objects of the. Association." Mr Cox seconded the motion, which was carried. After the meeting had closed, Mr J. Haydon, who was present, criticised the remarks of some cf the speakers, and offered to debate the land question with Mr Russell. Mr Bnssell accepted the offer, but as the majority of the audience had gone and moßt of the lights were out the debate was not held.