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The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 68

Friday, June 7

Friday, June 7.

The Conference resumed its sitting at 7.30 p.m. The President of the Christchurch Branch, Mr. D. Shaw, took the chair, and all the Delegates were present.

A letter was read from the Invercargill Branch, and it was decided to deal with it later.

The Chairman then introduced the newly-elected President of the League.

The President on taking the chair, addressed the Conference, and hoped the League would become an institution of great importance He considered the Customs tariff more of a revenue than a protective tariff. He advocated a land and income tax in place of a property tax. He also advocated the establishment of a State paper currency, which he considered was the sovereign right of the State. This paper currency would be made a legal tender, and would be used for the purpose of paying the civil servants, &c.

Mr Douglas, Vice-President, also addressed the Delegates in support of the President's statements.

It was moved by Mr. Swan seconded by Mr. Douglas:—

"That a Special Conference of the League be held in the City of Duneain in the month of January, 1890, leaving the date to be fixed by the Executive.

page 5

This Resolution was carried unanimously, as it was considered most necessary that a Conference should be held during the Exhibition reason.

The following resolutions, 1 2 4, were adopted and ordered to be forwarded to the Government:—
(1)"That as the existing Tariff abounds with the most absurd anomalies, it should undergo a thorough revision, and that in all future compilations the list of articles taxed for the purposes of revenue should be kept quite distinct from those which are taxed to protect the New Zealand producer."
(2)"That all articles absolutely essential for the manufacture of New Zealand goods, and which the Colony itself cannot produce, should be allowed to come in duty free as raw material; but all imported manufactured goods or fabrics which can be produced here should be taxed to that degree as would enable the New Zealand producers to hold their own against the foreigner."
(3)"That the contemplated changes by the Government, namely, the reduction of the members of the House of Representatives, and the introduction of Hare's modified system, is fraught with great danger to the Democratic Constitution of the Colony; as the former, by enlarging the area of the constituencies and increasing the canvassing expenses, will effectually debar any but rich men coming forward as candidates; and the latter will still further curtail the political power of the people by giving an undue influence to the voice of the minority. This Conference therefore asks the Government to refrain from legislation of this reactionary kind, and to fall back upon the one man one vote principle in all municipal and parliamentary elections."
The debate on this resolution was adjourned to the next sitting:—
(4)"That the development of the sweating system in New Zealand, especially with regard to several branches of female industry, calls loudly for parliamentary interference. This Conference therefore recommends that the Labour Bureau be reconstructed upon an enlarged basis and under a responsible head, so that it may take cognisance of all wage scales mutually agreed upon by employed and employers, adjust disputes by arbritation, obtain statistical information relative to the labour market, and also serve as an agceny for drafting the unemployed to districts where their services may be required without subjecting them to arbitrary conditions or unnecessary hardships."

The Conference adjourned to 7.30 p.m. next day.