MINERS' REFORM LEAGUE

Westport Times, Volume IV, Issue 634, 19 March 1870, Page 2

MINERS' REFORM LEAGUE

PUBLIC MEETING. The Miners' League Committee, desirous of submitting to the general body of miners the results of their proceedings since their appointment, and of receiving instructions as to their future course of action, called a public meeting which was held at the Masonic Hall, Westport, on Thursday evening. There was a large attendance both of miners and of residents of the town. The members of the committee—Messrs. Barrowman, Braithwaite, Dunn, Graham, Malone, and Rolandson —were on the platform; and Mr Munro was in the chair.

The Chaieman, in stating the objects of the meeting, said it was now almost unnecessary to give the reasons which existed on the Nelson goldfields for a combination of miners to secure and maintain their interests. Sufficient reasons were admitted to exist, and it was rather remarkable that combined action had not been taken even sooner. Professional, commercial, and other interests were habitually protected by the combination of those representing them, and there was no reason why miners should not similarly combine for their own self-protection. The special circumstances of the West Coast miners the wide area over which they were scattered —were, no doubt, somewhat against the successful formation of a Miners' League; but these special circumstances were also a reason why an eifort to form such a League should bo made. The present Superintendent and Executive were adverse to any concession being made to the miners, and he was glad basis of union and action for the representation of their interests was to be made by the mining community. Mr Bareowman, as hon. secretary to the committee, read the minutes of their proceedings, and the letters which he had received from Mr Coe, secretary to the committee appointed in the G-rey district, and from Mr Aiden Doyle, secretary to the Charleston committee. Mr Coe's letter is quoted in another column. The letter from Mr Doyle was as follows: Gentlemen, Miners' League Committee, Charleston, to submit the following suggestions to you for consideration.

We are of opinion that a League, in the full sense of the word, if organized in a simple but comprehensive manner, and directed with prudence, would do all that is necessary towards the end contemplated by the promoters and supporters of the present movement. We cannot perceive the good likely to result from resolutions or expressions of opinion at public meetings, inasmuch as they are usually 1 contemned by those against whom they are directed, and this, to a great extent, because the public neglect to support its own opinion. We are led to this belief by our knowledge of the manner in which former resolutions adopted at public meetings on these Goldfields were treated by the Nelson authorities, and neglected by the people. We are of opinion that the most necessary of our present wants are the establishment of Mining Boards, and the creation of a responsible Goldfields' Secretary, having a seat in the Provincial Council, otherwise a Commissioner appointed by the General Assembly, who shall be subject to the Provincial Council, and whose duty it will be to see to the proper expenditure of the moneys voted for goldfields' purposes. A more extensive representation in both the Provincial Council and General Assembly is nothing but what we are entitled to, and must at no very distant period have conceded to us. In fact upon all the subjects discussed at your first public meeting, and since more or less ventilated at a public meeting in Charleston, we fully agree and wish to act with you in all things for the best and most speedy removal of the grievances generally complained of.

Any suggestions which you may have to make in this matter we shall receive and consider with attention. The local committee, continued Mr Barrowman, had had an interview with Mr Franklyn, and, if the Grey people could not conveniently send a delegate, Mr Franklyn had kindly agreed to submit the resolutions which might be approved of that evening to a meeting to be held in the Grey district; and by this means they would be brought under public attention. A committee was, he understood, already in existence at Wangapeka, and steps would be taken to secure the alliance of Addison's Flat, which was not yet adequately represented. "With the Charleston committee, the committee expected also to be able to co-operate personally. With reference to the letter from the Grey district he might say that they did not wish to take into consideration the present regulations. If a Mining Board or Mining Boards were established, that would form one of their first duties. The resolutions

now to be proposed were only submitted to the meeting as a test of the general feeling, and the committee would be glad to have the most open expression of feeling on the subjects to which thev referred.

The Chairman read a clause in the Goldfields Act, 1866, to which his attention had been directed. It was to the effect that, on a petition of 500 miners, the Governor would appoint a Mining Board in any district. Mr James Graham, after a characteristically serio-comic speech, in which he warmly advocated the object of the resolution entrusted to him, proposed as the first resolution:— That a petition be presented to his Excellency the Governor praying that a Mining Board be established on the Nelson SouthWest Goldfields.

The motion was seconded by Mr Harris, and unanimously agreed to. A speaker in the body of the hall, who said he had lately come from Auckland, but had formerly resided on the West Coast, remarked that a similar appeal had been made to the Governor in Auckland, but the Governor declined to interfere with the exercise of his delegated powers. The Chairman thought that they had a much better case than Auckland, and it was a question, after reading the clause of the Act which he had quoted, if the Governor was not the proper authority to appeal to. Mr Dunn addressed the meeting, and proposed the second resolution. We reserve our resume of his remarks and of the remarks of succeeding speakers. The resolution was as follows: — That in the opinion of this meeting the inequitable representation accorded the Nelson South-West Goldfields is inadequate for securing their development, progress, and suitable government; and that a petition should be presented to his Excellency the Governor praying that increased repi'esentation be granted the Nelson South-West Goldfields both in the General Assembly and Provincial Council.

Mr Cato seconded the motion. The stranger who had previously spoken suggested that the appeal for increased representation should properly be made through the representatives of the district. The Chairman explained that such had been done, but that it had hitherto failed. The resolution was passed unanimously, and by acclamation. Mr Malone proposed:— That this meeting is of opinion that the miners should elect their own Wardens, and hare their cases settled on the ground at their own option. Mr Gill seconded tbe propesition. The Chairman feared that, if "Wardens became the victims of electioneering, they would not occupy the position which might be desirable in the discharge of their duties. Had he not been in the chair, he would have ueeii uiopuoca lu move an amendment to this proposition. Mr W. Pitt, not being a miner, did not desire to interfere in the proceedings, but, being intimately acquainted with the nature of their interests, he took the liberty of doubting the propriety of such a resolution. While they were right in asking for increased representation in the different ways suggested, they would make a mistake by asking for that which must present itself as absurd, and which could not be granted. Mr Babbowman explained that it was simply desired to show to the General Government that a radical change was wanted in the selection of gentlemen to act as Wardens—that, in making such appointments, the Government should select men practically or intimately acquainted with mining, and the particular matters upon which they had to adjudicate. Mr A. Beid suggested that a resolution resembling in phraseology the remarks just made by Mr Barrowman might recommend itself to the meeting more than the motion which had been proposed, and ho thought it would as fully answer the object of the miners. As it stood, tho resolution asked for that which, he feared, was unattainable. Mr Bbaithwaite explained that the matter was perfectly in the hands of tbe meeting. The committee were not committed to the resolutions. _ Mr Malone withdrew the resolution, and substituted for it the following:—

That in the opinion of this meeting the appointment of Wardens should be made only on the known ability and experience of the individual proposed to the office. Mr GiLXi, as his seconder, adopted the amendment, and, in this form, the resolution was unanimously passed. Mr Braithwaite proposed the fourth resolution:— That in the opinion of this meeting the delegated powers of the Governor to the Superintendent of Nelson over the Southwest Goldflelds should be withdrawn and placed in the hands of a Commissioner to be responsible to the General Government. Mr M'Lelland seconded the motion, which was also unanimously carried. Mr Bolaitdsok proposed That the four foregoing resolutions be embodied in one petition to be presented to His Excellenoy the Govenor. The remedy proposed, he considered, was the most effective which they could adopt in the meantime. The petition, when prepared, would be placed in public situations for signature, and he hoped that the miners would not fail to show their interest and zeal in the promotion of the matters which the petition represented. The motion was carried.

Mr A. Eeid, as one who was acquainted with the active interest which the Committee had taken in the dis-

charge of their duties, suggested that, iu recognition of that interest, and of the trouble they had taken in appearing to meet the public that evening, a special vote of thanks to them might most justly be passed by the miners and by others of the community present.

The proposal was made, and carried by acclamation, and the proceedings, of which we have only now given an outline, were concluded by a vote of thanks to the Chairman.