PROGRESSIVE LIBERAL ASSOCIATION.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6125, 11 March 1898, Page 4

PROGRESSIVE LIBERAL ASSOCIATION.

* The fourteenth quarterly meeting of this Association was held in the Women's Christian Temperance Union Rooms, Gloucester Street, last night, when the President, Mr H. G. Ell, occupied the chair. The quarterly report was presented and adopted as follows : — In presenting the fourteenth quarterly report, the committee is pleased to be able to announce to the Association that it has continued^ its work steadily with good results, and that the membership ' has increased by nine during the quarter. The secretaryship of the Association, which was vacant at the presentation of tho last' quarterly report, has been filled by the appointment of Miss Stella M. Henderson, M.A. The Association was represented by the President and Secretary on the ' committee convened by the local branch of the Amalgamated Society of Engineers to arrange for a farewell " social " to Ben Tillett, and to collect funds for the assistance of the locked-out engineers in the old country. The " social," despite very unfavourable weather, was well attended by an enthusiastic audience, and realised a little over .£2O for the fund, whilst the total amount collected by the committee now amounts to something over -.50. Your committee, vinder instructions from the last quarterly meeting, invited Messrs Pirani, Kelly and Montgomery to address a public meeting in Christchurch, under the auspices of the Association, but those gentlemen found themselves unable to comply with the request, and the committee were therefore compelled to abandon the idea. A general meeting of the Association was held on Jan. 27, when Mrs Blake read a paper on the "Economic Equality of Women/' A liveiy discussion followed, and resolutions were passed supporting the principle. The meeting was only fairly attended, and your committee desires to emphasise the importance and interest of these meetings, and to request that members will endeavour to attend as frequently as possible. Tour committee would also regretfully point out that few members avail themselves of the privilege of attending committee meetings. Were the members generally to take a more active interest in the work of the Association the reforms we desire would, .by reason of the greater enthusiasm, be much nearer attainment. , In order to increase your sphere of operation, and to give greater effectiveness to your work, your committee has decided to appoint corresponding members of the Association throughout the colony, whose duty it shall be to promote the reforms demanded by the Association in every possible way, under the direction of your committee, and to report quarterly upon the work done by them. The first of these members is already appointed, Mr Gibson, of Cheviot, having consented to act in that district. Your committee has been in correspondence with the Board of Governors of Canterbury College on the subject of the accommodation at the reading - room of the Public Library, and is pleased to report that there is every prospect of increased space being speedily made available. Your committee has appointed Miss Stella M. Henderson to act as the Association's delegate to the annual convention of the National Council of the Women of New Zealand, to be held in Wellington in the end of April. Miss Henderson will read a paper on "Local Government Reform" at the convention; and your committee has given notice that; your delegate will move as many of the following motions as time will permit: — 1. "That this Council re-affirms the necessity of placing upon the Statute Book an Old Age Pensions' Act." 2. "That immediate steps be taken by the Council in the direction of promoting further organisation ahd combination amongst the women- workers of ' the colony." 3. "That in the opinion of this Council the abolition of the Legislative Council is an urgent necessity." 4. " That in the opinion of thia Council a system of State farm and industrial settlements should be immediately established." 5. "That this Council affirms the desirability ot establishing a system of preferential voting a^ithe election of members of the House of Representatives." 6. " That in the opinion of this Council all religious houses in the colony should be open to Government inspection." Following up the agitation on the subject of the Legislative Council, your committee has forwarded petitions for its abolition to the different centres throughout the colony, and hopes that these will be productive of good results. Your committee has under its consideration the Technical Education Bill and the Rating on Unimproved Land Values Act, and proposes to agitate for certain amendments in both measures. The Lands Sub-committee has summoned a conference of delegates from various associations to consider the State farm schemes of Mr E. J. Le Grove and the Hon W. W. Bolt.and the result of their deliberations will appear shortly. A strong subcommittee has been set up to deal with matters connected with the Board of Governors of Canterbury College. One vacancy has occurred on the committee, which you will be asked to fill by tbe election of a lady ; and the appointment of Miss S. M. Henderson to the secretaryship renders it necessary to elect a vicepresident in her place. In conclusion, your committee desires to express its pleasure at the arrival in the colony of Horr Michael Flurscheim, who, with Herr Ignatius . Singer, proposes to settle for a time in the colony, and devote' himself to the promotion of land nationalisation and an exchange bank. Your committee has accorded him a welcome, and hopes to receive, shortly, more definite information as to his plans. The total abolition of the Legislative 'Council was made a plank in the platform of the Association. Mrs Blake was appointed a vice-president of the Association. A motion, urging the Cit}' Council to establish a crematorium, was discussed and held over for further consideration. The meeting closed at 10 p.m.