PROGRESSIVE LIBERAL ASSOCIATION.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5502, 29 February 1896, Page 6

PROGRESSIVE LIBERAL ASSOCIATION.

. The usual fortnightly meeting of the committee of the Progressive Liberal Association was held in the Temperance Hall, Gloucester Street, on Thursday night. The President (Mr T. J. Gledhill) occupied the chair.. The finances of tho Association were reported to be in a healthy condition, and thirty-four persons were admitted to membership. A letter was read from" the .Rev H. Williams, thanking the Association for its offer to organise a public meeting , on the text-book in schools question, and inviting the members to attend the -public meeting next week, to be . addressed by the Bishop of Wellington. The Canterbury Women's Institute wrote stating that it liad been ; dccided to ask the Association 'to ab-. pointamemberto read a paper Or give;an ad- '. dress on tke.3ubjeefcof " old-age pensions " '-. before a convention of women representatives of New. Zealand, which is to be held in Christchurch dming April. It was decided that the Old Age Pension Committee , and Mr T. E. Taylor should prepare a paper for the, purpose. The delegates acting .with the Trades Council on the Sweating Committee reported that in their opinion there was only one way to effectually deal with the evil, and that-was by legislation. An Eight Hours Bill and • a Masters and Apprentices Bill were advocated, and the committee proposed that a combined meeting of the Trades aud Labour Council and the committee of the , Progressive Liberal Association should be held, to which the local M.H.R.'s should be invited. The committee had decided to prepare evidence to-be placed before the meeting. . The report was adopted. The report on the annual statement of accounts furnished by the Canterbury. College Board of Governors was read and .approved, and. the secretary* was instructed to supply a copy to both the Times and Press, also to the members for the district. The President, with Mr Ensom; were deputed to wait upon Mr Charles Lewis, M.H.R,, with reference to the -re- l form of the constitution of Canterbury College. The fact of a number of persons having had their names placed oh the Christchurch electoral- roll in order to •record then- votes at the recent by-election was discussed, and tho following resolution earned unanimously :— " That, in the opinion of this committee, the time has anived when to have a truly democratic roll for parliamentary elections, the residential qualification should be the only one recognised, and that every endeavour be made to have an amendment of the Electoral Act passed this session, giving effect to such a change." The question of the second ballot was raised; and gave rise to a short discussion, and the following motion was passed-.— r "The committee of the Progressive Liberal Association considers that it is essential, in the interest of the representation of majorities in Parliament, that some form of second ballot should be instituted, and urges tho Premier to carry out his expressed determination in . that direction during tbe coming session of Parliament." It was determined to give notice at the next general meeting of members to alter the -rplatt'orm of the Association by the insertion of planks dealing with an "Elective Ministry,'" " State Fire Insurance," " Periodical Revaluation," "State Coal Mines," "Eight Hours Bill" and " Minimum Wage." .