NATIONAL ASSOCIATION.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5955, 21 August 1897, Page 7

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION.

* The usual mopttoy'iib[(Betitg'bif-''th& ; itt9mbers of the National' Association was held at the rooms, Gloucester Street;.. on .Wednesday £&v%ingv' The' 'President (Mr A. E. G. Rhodes)'; 1 occupied the chair, and there was a fair attendance of members. A letter -was received from the Under-Secre-tary for Lands, "with reference to the recommendations made by the Association in regard to the Wharenui Hamlet, stating that they will receive due .consideration, and that no , doubt the subject -will be brought 'up in Parliament. The business of the evening was. the reading of a paper by Mr C. Percy Cox on ''The Abolition of' Party Government." In the discussion that ensued most -of the speakers disagreed with Mr Cox's view of the matter, and pointed out that the. remedy lay with the people themselves. When electing representatives they should be careful to return men who were capable and honourable. It was generally admittedthat grave errors existed at present, but the schenfe proposed would not improve matters. A hearty vote of thanks was passed to Mr Cox, who replied briefly to the remarks- of- the different speakers. Attention was drawn to' a paragraph in the Star newspaper^ which stated that the National Association was going to nominate a candidate for each vacancy in the City Council at the forthcoming election and also for the mayoralty. It was pointed out that this statement had not the slightest foundation, as the Association had not taken any steps whatever to run condidates for the Council or the mayoralty.