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The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 68
Saturday, June 8
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Saturday, June 8.
The Conference resumed its sittings at 7.30 p.m. The President of the League (Mr. D. Bellhouse) took the chair, and all the Delegates were present, also the Secretary Mr. J. W. Walker.
The debate on the following resolution was resumed, carried, and ordered to be forwarded to the Government, with the others:—
| (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,! 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 following resolutions were adopted, to be moved at the Public Meeting on Tuesday next:—
| (1) | "That, it is the opinion of this meeting that a Protective policy is the only one that can conduce to the prosperity of the working classes, and promote the development of the natural resources of the Colony." |
| (2) | "That, in the opinion of this meeting the Custom Tariff as it now stands is not sufficiently protective, it being evidently prepared with a view to revenue and not to protect our artisans and mechanics, and it considers every article absolutely essential for our own manufactures, and which we ourselves cannot produce should be allowed to come in duty free as raw material, while the duty on all goods and fabrics manufactured abroad which we can produce here should be greatly increased." |
The Conference adjourned to 7.30 p.m. Monday night.