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Constitutions of the National Patriotic Party Of New Zealand.
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Printed at the Caxton Printing Works Christchurch : Manchester-st.
1885 page break
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Constitutions of the National Patriotic Party of New Zealand.
Preamble.
At the present time, when the whole civilized world seems convulsed and disorganised, when, notwithstanding the various schemes which have been set afloat, and the innumerable theories which have been propounded, Morality, Prosperity, and Happiness seem to be retrograding, and Vice, Pauperism, and Misery steadily advancing. It becomes us, as intelligent beings to enquire why these things are so, and to organise and band together for the purpose of mutual protection, and searching out the truth. Man is an intellectual being, able to know the relations of manifested principles : and a moral being, with duties and responsibilities,—therefore, Truth claims Man, and nothing can be of so much importance to him as to know the truth. Knowledge is power,—the birthright of every human being. No man can have any right to withhold knowledge from his neighbour. Knowledge of man's relationship to man, and to the world, is a necessity, in order that he may be fitted to do his duty to himself and others. It is therefore incumbent upon every man, who desires to improve the social or political condition of the community, to endeavour to educate his fellows, after having formed clear ideas himself. Man is so constituted that his true happiness consists in making others happy; and it is only by striving for the rights of those who are too weak and helpless, or too torpid or disheartened to strive for themselves, that he can obtain or maintain his own.
Recognising, therefore, that "self-preservation is the first law of nature," and that in "union there is strength, we have constituted ourselves a Party, to be known as the National Patriotic Party of New Zealand," for the purpose of enlisting every intelligent resident in New Zealand in the endeavour to educate themselves and the masses of the industrial population in a national, patriotic, and self-reliant train of thought, in order that the minds of the rising generation may be protected from those great enemies of mankind—Ignorance and Prejudice, and properly equipped for the active political duties of life. Let no one imagine that he has no influence. It is the duty of every man to do what he can to forward the true and the right. Therefore, let each one claim his privileges, and not shirk his responsibilities, or by wilful neglect of the opportunities offered to him remain in ignorance. We call upon every one—upon the aged, for their advice and experience—upon the middle-aged, for their energy and firmness—and upon the young, for their hopefulness and enthusiasm. We are the People ! It is time that our voice should be heard in New Zealand, demanding an account of the stewardship of those who have been entrusted with the management of our affairs. High time that we should assemble ourselves together, in order to fit ourselves to fulfil honourably and ably those duties which devolve upon us as men, to keep in remembrance that the voice of the People is the Supreme Law, the Governing Power; and to unite as a Branch of the Universal Brotherhood of Man, for the Advancement, Honour, and Protection of our common country—New Zealand.
Alexander Fraser,
Alfred Crook,
William Hannaford,
Alfred Carter.
Objects.
To endeavour to accomplish the organisation and political education of the industrial classes, carefully consider all matters affecting their interests, and to foster and encourage a true National, Patriotic, and Self-reliant spirit in New Zealand.
To adapt the Elective Franchise to the promotion of such patriotism.
To secure a thorough comprehensive and effective system of Local Government, based upon an intelligent and equitable system of election.
To impose protective tariff of not less than twenty-five per rent. on all commodities which can be, and remission of all duties from all commodities which cannot be, advantageously manufacture or produced in New Zealand, with a view to encourage settled industrial population, and provide Home markets for our produce, whether the results of labour or skill, and to entirely put a stop to all free or assisted immigration.
To obtain complete responsible Government, by the election of Ministers after appointment, and to abolish plurality of offices and of voting, in any and all cases or circumstances.
To obtain reduction of salaries—of Governors' salary—there by removing all incentive to influential and incompetent or impecunious place-hunters, and securing energetic, competent, and patriotic administration; also of Ministers and Parliamentary representatives, to such rate as shall secure them against actual lost only; and total abolition of the Pension system.
To obtain extension of Districts and reduction in number of Members of Parliament, and corresponding reduction in number of Legislative Councillors.
To consider all matters touching Protection, whether administrative or defensive, as occasion may require,—such as Land tenures, Bailway Management, Taxation, Purification of the Ballot, Education, Naval and Military Defences, &c.,—and to use every legitimate means to secure the return of trustworthy representatives to Parliament and elsewhere, pledged to support the objects of the Party.
A. Fraser,
Secretary. Secretary's Office, 114 Colombo Street, Christchurch.January 20th, 1885.
Constitutions of the National Patriotic Party of New Zealand.
Article 1.
This Organization shall be known as the "National Patriotic Party" of New Zealand, shall consist of at least five members, and shall not cease to exist so long as that number object thereto.
Article 2.
No immoral or licentious person, drunkard or debauchee, nor any person holding any title from the Imperial or any other Government, Pensioner of any kind whatsoever, person holding any office of trust or emolument under, or Contractor with Government, Agent, Employee, nor any person so situated as that Government influence may seemingly be brought to bear upon him, nor any Legislative Councillor, or Officer in trust in any Banking, Monopolizing, or Importing Concern, shall be eligible as a member of this Party, and acceptance of any such title, office, appointment, agency, contract, &c., shall cancel membership.
Article 3.
No member of the House of Representatives shall be eligible as a member of the Executive Committee, and should any member of such Committee be elected as such election shall vacate his seat on the Committee.
Article 4.
Every person eligible for membership shall be of the full age [unclear: o] eighteen years, and of good moral character, and shall undertake [unclear: to] do his utmost legitimately to forward the objects of the Party.
Article 5.
The name, age, residence, and occupation of a candidate shall [unclear: b] presented by some member in writing, and referred to a committee [unclear: o] investigation, to report not later than the next regular meeting, [unclear: whe] who a ballot shall be taken upon the proposition, and three black [unclear: ball] shall exclude. A vote of rejection may be considered on motion [unclear: a] the same meeting, but no other. Ballot for election of members [unclear: ma] be taken instanter by unanimous consent of meeting, and [unclear: every] member elected shall sign the Constitutions.
Article 6.
The fees for membership shall be one shilling per quarter, [unclear: first] payment to be made on application for membership, and regularly quarterly in advance thereafter.
Article 7.
Any member in arrear shall not be permitted to speak or vote upon any question at any meeting, and if one quarter in arrear, shall be notified thereof by the Secretary, and if at the half-yearly meeting full payment be not made, he shall cease to be a member of the party. (Sea-faring members excepted).
Article 8.
Conviction for crime or misdemeanour in any court shall cancel membership, except where malicious or vexatious prosecution may have been instituted or carried on in consequence of political acts, opinions or expressions, in furthering the views of this or any kindred organization, in which case this Party shall consider the matter.
Article 9.
The Government of the Party shall consist of a Standing Executive Committee of not less than four, nor more than seven, the majority to form a quorum, of which the Secretary shall be one. (by virtue of his office) the Chairman to be convener; said Committee shall be elected
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by ballot at the regular half-yearly meetings in January and July, from candidates duly nominated at the previous regular monthly meeting; and the Chairman elected at a regular monthly meeting shall be Chairman until superseded by election at the next regular meeting. Any vacancy shall be filled by election by ballot at the next regular meeting
Article 10.
One of the Committee, or in case they be all absent, a member of the Party shall be elected Chairman at each meeting, and should any one of the Committee be absent from three successive monthly meetings, and fail to render at the expiration of that time, a valid excuse, his seat shall be declared vacant.
Article 11.
It shall be the duty of the Committee to forward the objects of the Party, to appoint sub-committees, to prepare and arrange regular business for the monthly meetings, and generally to conserve the Constitutions.
Article 12.
All questions not otherwise provided for shall be decided by majority of votes.
Article 13.
The Party shall meet regularly on the second Tuesday of each calendar month, and such meetings in January and July shall be the regular half-yearly meetings.
Article 14.
The Secretary shall keep a record of the proceedings of each meeting, attend to all communications, receive all monies, and deposit the same when directed so to do by the Committee, and shall present each deposit receipt to the Chairman for attestation; shall draw cheques in favour of the Chairman for monies voted to be paid at a regular monthly meeting and no other; he shall notify by extract from the minutes signed by the Chairman, the gross amount of monies ordered to be paid, at any regular meeting, to the Bank, or place of deposit of the funds of the Party. (And the person, or institution, in charge of such funds, shall be and is hereby instructed not to pay anything in excess of such notified amount, and in cases when the
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proceedings of any meeting are published, tbc amount of monies ordered to he paid shall be part of such publication.) He shall be prepared to answer any question touching the financial standing of the Party at any meeting, if such question is approved of by the chair; he shall make out at the expiration of the half-yearly term a full report of the proceedings during his term, and submit the same; and perform such other duties as his charge may require of him; and deliver up to his successor all books, papers, and other property: of the Party.
Article 15.
The Chairman shall keep order in all meetings, and striotlj enforce the provisions of the Constitutions and Bye-laws, and shall endorse cheques drawn by the Secretary for payment of such monies as have been authorised by the regular monthly meeting, and no other, and check by attestation all deposit receipts.
Article 16.
Extraordinary Meetings.—The Secretary may call a meeting of emergency of the Committee at any time, for which he shall be responsible, or he shall call a meeting of Committee on requisition of any five members in good standing, and the Committee when met, can empower the Secretary to call a special meeting of the Party, for the transaction of such business as may be expressed in the notice of call, and no other, and in case of such calls, or any of them, each member of the Committee, or Party, as the case may be, shall be duly notified in writing; but the Committee, in case of such extraordinary call, shall have no power to act, unless duly notified and properly assembled together.
Article 17.
The Secretary shall be paid for his services such sums as may from time to time be deemed sufficient, to be voted at a regular monthly meeting.
Article 18.
No religious or sectarian discussion shall be permitted at any meeting.
Article 19.
No member shall speak on any question, until seconded and stated by the chair, nor more than twice on the same question, and not more than ten minutes, without special leave from the meeting.
Article 21.
It shall be deemed the duty of any member who disapproves of the principles of the Party to resign and withdraw therefrom, and such shall be entitled to, and command our respect and esteem, as a conscientious opponent and worthy fellowman; but any member convicted of unfaithfulness, or treasonable utterances or practices while on the roll of the Party, shall be expelled, and regarded and treated with the scorn and contempt which such conduct merits.
Article 22.
Should any accused member fail to appear when summoned, without sending sufficient reasonable excuse, the trial may proceed as if he were present.
Article 23.
It shall be incumbent upon all members to recognise, and treat with courtesy all fellow-members, wheresoever and whensoever they may meet in the ordinary course of events, so that a feeling of confidence, self-reliance, and cordiality may be established, and any member acting otherwise shall be deemed worthy of severe censure.
Article 24.
It shall be the special duty of members to discountenance any approach toward sectionalism or localism, and to remember that they are New Zealanders, to know no North, no South, no East, no West, but New Zealand and its dependencies as a whole, and of the Party so to act—that it may be seen and felt that we have the good of the whole country at heart, trusting that our example may be followed in the various centres of population, and that through the National Patriotic Party the voice of the people may assert itself as the governing power.
Article 25.
The only title or distinction recognised by the Party shall be that of Honorary Member,—which shall be the reward of meritorious services rendered to the Party,—be conferred by unaminous vote accompanied by a badge, and entitle the recipient to the freedom and all the
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privileges of the Party, but this rule shall not debar members of the Party presenting addresses, or recognising individually or collectively by presentation or demonstration, meritorious actions or conduct of any individual.
Article 26.
It shall be one of the aims of this Party to encourage the use of the English language, and to avoid and discourage any other mode of speech, or the establishment of communities or settlements in New Zealand, calculated to perpetuate other tongues, and in speaking or writing of the mother country to recommend the term British, and to discountenance such sectional terms as English, Scotch, Irish, Welsh, &c., which terms should be merged in our nationality, and to apply the term Home to New Zealand—our home, instead of to Foreign Countries as at present. But this rule is not intended to apply to the Maori language or to Native communities.
Article 27.
Should any five or more individuals, eligible as per article (4) of these Constitutions, resident in any other part of New Zealand, desire to effect an organisation with objects similar to ours, we earnestly invite them to apply to us, and upon such application a license for the adoption of our title, name, and constitutions, with oopy of said constitutions, will be furnished them for the purpose of securing unity and harmony of procedure, until such time as a congress of delegates representing the whole Nation, can .be arranged for the revision, amendment, or confirmation of the same to comprehend the whole party, so that a member may enjoy the privileges pertaining thereto in whatsoever part of New Zealand he may sojourn or reside.
Article 28.
The Committee may adopt such Bye-laws and Rules of Order as may from time to time be deemed advisable, provided such do not conflict with these Constitutions, and shall not be in force until after approval of the majority at a regular monthly meeting, after having been first notified at least one month previously.
Article 29.
These Constitutions shall be altered or amended only by a two-thirds vote, at a half-yearly meeting of the Party, such alteration or amendment having been notified by the mover in writing to the Chair-
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man at least three months previously, and proclaimed in open meeting at three successive regular meetings, and the vote in such case shall be taken by tickets signed by each voter, and containing the words yes or no, and shall be proclaimed aloud upon the count, so that all may hear, and no mistake or oversight pass undetected.
Article 30,
| 1. | * Reading and approval of previous minutes. |
| 2. | Reports of Committees. |
| 3. | Election of members. |
| 4. | Correspondence |
| 5. | Proposals for membership. |
| 6. | Unfinished business. |
| 7. | Notice of motions for next meeting. |
| 8. | Motions pursuant to notice, |
| 9. | Miscellaneous business |
Article 31.
Any case of emergency not herein provided for shall be dealt with by the Committee in the meantime, to be finally adjudicated upon by the regular meeting.
Committee.
Alexander Fraser.
Alfred Crook.
William Hanna Ford.
Alfred Carter.
* The minutes of a regular meeting cannot be altered or amended at a special one.