POLITICAL NOTES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4761, 29 September 1893, Page 3

POLITICAL NOTES.

[P_EB PBESS ASSOCIATION.! AUCKLAND, Sept. 28. The annual meeting of the National Association was held to-night, and the report stated that during the year the membership had steadily increased, on the Auckland roll alone by 40 per cent, an din the other branches the rate was much greater. Thirty-two branches were now established. The credit balance was .£4O. The report stated that the female franchise could not fail to bave a beneficial result, provided women exercised the right of voting. The foUowing political programme was adopted and recommended to the electors as embodying the principles and reforms which should be urged upon candidates for the new Parliament: — The freehold tenure of land to be preserved and encouraged, and the procedure for acquiring ' land by intending settlers simplified ; the ! land laws to be improved bo as to lead to the Bpeedy utilisation of the land on conditions equitable to national members ; the Upper House to be elected by the people instead of being nominated by the Ministry of the day ; the franchise to be restricted to bond, fide colonists, criminals, lunatics and paupers to have no vote ; the principle of one-man-one-vote to be applied to city constituencies by dividing them into single member electorates; no important amendment in the constitution to take effect until after confirmation by 1 popular vote; the national debt of the 1 colony to be reduced by the operation 1 of a Binking fund; all future loan Bills ■ to specify the particular worka for L which they are intended to provide* • to assign particular revenues for paying * interest upon principal within a stated 1 period, and not to take effect until con* ' firmed by popular vote ; the authority now - vested in the Ministers to issue deficiency ■ bills to be materially curtailed, and the 3 limit to which they may pledge the public f credit to be fixed ac ,£500,000 ; taxation, tc 5 bs reduced and not to exceed the amoun. ■• required for administrative purposes and 3 the public debt; such Customs duties ai " retard the settlement of the conntry t< 1 be reduced or abolished ; State interference fc with industrial and commercial enterprise • to be limited to the prevention of abuses *> the system of local government to b * simplified; Government administration t< i be more economical; payment for publi service to be in keeping with the earning of non-official members of the community the Bystem of keeping the public account to be simplified, and a balance-Bhee to be annually presented to Parliament o: the lines shown in Mr Fitzgerald 1 " Balance-sheets of the Colony " ; reciprc cai trade relations with the Australia Colonies to be established ; the Imperii c connection to be maintained and cult: c vated. ° DUNEDIN, Sept. 28. n The Trades and Labour Council to-nigt a passed a resolution protesting against tl b j action of the Legislative Council in rejeo l. j ing Labour Bills which had the approvi g ! of a majority of the people. '° j [Special to the "Star." J i, j WELLINGTON, Sept. 29. ," j THE GOVERNMENT AKD THE RAILWAYS. ♦ Ministers considered in Cabinet to-cle

what course they should pursue with regard to the Government Eailwaya Bill, which has been entirely altered by the Council. Tbe result of -their deliberations t ia nofc yeb known, bub I believe it will be J found that Government will not accept the . Bill in its present shape, and will not pros pose a conference with the Council repre- ' sentativef , on the ground that such would , be simply wasting time. The upshot will, therefore, probably be that' the Bill will be dropped, and the control of the railways allowed to revert to the Miniatty when the Commissioners' term expiree in January