Sheffield Daily Telegraph – Tuesday 28 March 1899
Liberalism in The Doncaster Division.
Mr, Black at Conisborough.
Mr. A. W. Black, the adopted Liberal candidate for the Doncaster Division, who has just returned from tour in the Holy Land, and is now going the round of the division, paid a visit to Conisborough yesterday.
A welcome tea was provided in the Baptist Schoolroom, which was partaken of by about 100 persons. Subsequently meeting and concert were held the Board Schools. Mr. J. Brocklesby presided, and was supported Air. A. W. Black, Aid, Clarke, Doncaster, Mr. J. Kirsop (registration agent for the division), and others.
The Chairman, after alluding to the policy of the present Government, spoke of local matters, and said that in Conisborough there was hardly any difference between Liberals and Conservatives. They had found it necessary to sink all their differences, and unite their efforts to secure urban powers Although the order of the Connty Council granting urban powers to Conisborough had not been confirmed, he believed it would be before long. (Applause.)
Mr. A. W. Black, in the course of his remarks, said he felt when at Conisborough that he was amongst friends, and by the time the election came round they would know each other better. So far the Liberal Party were concerned, what was the outlook?
Aid. Clarke said it was good, and he (the speaker) was inclined to agree with him. He found things decidedly hopeful (Cheers.) They stood Liberals for justice for justice to the worker, for equality of opportunity to all in the land. They wanted to give brains a chance among the young people; among the children of the poor well as among the children of the rich. (Hear, hear.) They had fight against tyranny and oppression, and these are things which die exceedingly hard. (Hear, hear.) By standing shoulder to shoulder, with unity and persistent effort, believed they would progress until victory was theirs. (Hear, hoar.) They would have noticed that a week or ten days ago Mr. Ritchie received a deputation consisting of private of railway stock, relating to the automatic couplings clause, urging him to take out. Mr. Ritchie’s proposal was not very drastic one. He only proposed that the owners rolling stock in the country be asked to affix automatic couplings to the stock within five years. He would remind them that every year, on account of the dangerous conditions under which shunters did their work, two thousand were killed and injured whilst performing their duties. He was sure they would agree that something ought to done. (Hear, hear.) Mr. Ritchie sent over little time ago competent authority to investigate how things worked in America and Canada, with the result that he had decided that it was quite time something was done this country. Frightened that some wealthy supporters and a number of votes would lost, Mr. Ritchie, in spite of his convictions, had climbed down.
Referring the Workmen’s Compensation Act, Mr. Black said the Act was a good one so far went, but required extending. (Hear, hear.) The present Government did not seem likely to extend the act, and he hoped the first Act of the Liberal Party when they came into power would be remedy this crying evil. (Hear, bear.) Old ago pensions occupied a prominent place in the Tory programme the last General Election, but in spite of these pledges nothing_had been done. They must have universal system. They must have a scheme whereby all men after the age of 65, when they were longer able to follow their ordinary employment, should be able draw a pension as their right. (Hear, hear.) Under the Agricultural Rating Act, money was given to the wealthy landowners which would provide pension of 8s. per week for every agricultural labourer England over the age of 65. and it would also provide 8s. per week for every agricultural labourer’s wife over the same age, so they would see that there was plenty of money if was only devoted to the proper channels. (Applause.) Mr. Black, in, conclusion dealt with the housing of the working classes, the taxation of land values, and House of Lords.
Ald Clarke and Mr. J. Kirsop adressed the meeting, and a musical programme was gone through