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CLAJZE POLITICAL ASSOCIATION.
[From our own Correspondent. J
On Saturday evening, the 17th instant, a meeting of the
above Association was held at Smith's Hotel, Cmp. The
number in attendance was not very large, owing chiefly to
the -farmers of the district being engagefi hi securing their
harvest ? In the absence of Mr. P. Butler, the President, Mr.
John Jonas took the chair. Several new members were
enrolled, and paid up their subscriptions; after which, the
Secretary stated that he was in receipt of a. communi
cation from the head office in Adelaide, stating that dele
gates would attend at Clare whenever arrangements
were made by the Committee to suit the convenience
of both jpartles. A copy of the principles and rales
of the Parent Association had also jbeen ftnparded
to the Secretary, which were duly proposed, seconded, &nd
adopted. - The Secretary was also In receipt of a letter from
the branch Association, at Bedrath, Burra Burra, which
expressed an anxious wish, that their Association and that
of Clare should co-operate together, and contained a pressing
invitation that delegates from Clare should visit them at an
early date. Three members of the Clare -Committee were
appointed to that doty. The letter stated that upwards ot
100 members bad been enrolled at the Burra, with a prospect
of 300 or 400 bang BUortJr added to the number.
The question* proposed^ ifoe last meeting were, as lias
already been published, the waste lands, &c, and ihi
impounding oi cattle from unfenced lands.
Some fresh speakers appeared in .the arena, but as their
strictnres and allegations aid not differ much from those
already published in, the Advertiser,! shall merely on this
occasion summarise them :— That the waste lands were let
far under their value— witness the evidence given by K. K.
Torrens, Esq.— 'That they would let for 100,0002. perannum,
and toes cheap bargain.' That by such means, and direct
taxation, the Custom-Douse revenue could be supplemented
when abolished, Thafjimmigi^tion, for the present at. least,
ought to be discontinued. That the principles of free trade
and free distUlation ought to be adopted. That absentees
ought to be taxed. That the Waste Lands Begulations
were all bad together, and the assessment on stock' was
partial and unjust, as being a tax on capital and stookIn
trade; ihe tax ought to liave been levied equally on bankers,
mercnants, and . . squatters. , That the whole . of
the errors, evils, and Buffering In the colony, arose from the
want ofstatesmanship in the Parliament. Thelwst remedy
for which, » aaio have paid members in Pariiament : That
by payment'the radius of choice for the elections would be
so extended that they would return members of talent com
petentforlegiBlaSvedufiee. That -there were several most
patriotic andtonesttnemberBiij the -Assemply, but unfor
tunately tney were always in JtUe mworitj-. That Mr.
Torrens was one of Hje first statesmen in tf»8 A'ustrali^n
colonies. That he and good Government quitted the Parlia
ment of South Australia on the same day. That he ought
to :be returned to the, next Parliament. That tbe district
of the Burra and Clare had to some, extent 'been
untbrtonate in their cnoice. mat one ot . tneir
membera beoame enamoured with the coffees of
the'£re»sury ; *h# he 'jumped Jim Crow;' and at the
close of the session poijnce4 ontUe unfortunate coffers and
secured his prey, ? That fte coffers of the Treasury have
Bufferednuicn&om its lovers, to many J)f whom its.cbarms
seem irresistible. ** mtaeu flie #eraml# for «£S(* -vhpn
«haages of the Ministry have been made. That the payment
of membera wouldte* certain and permanent relief to the
suffering and victimised Treasury.
After its being arranged that the next meeting of the
Association be held «t -Gregg's -Hotel, on the 24th instant, a
vote of thanks to $h6 ^Gh&trmftu'' concluded t&e meeting.
Cobpoeation AcGonsks.-r Tie -Corporation
of Melbounjetave overdrawn their account at the Onion.
:Bank,to;iUe .extent of upw^ds -rf £3S,V0lf. /.
$