A LIVELY MEETING.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1233, 16 October 1885, Page 3

A LIVELY MEETING.

An illustratioq'pfithe misuse fml jig of distrust .caused among the shareholder.-cof . public i companies in Ireland by the failure of the Munster BankfMS’ been,, jifforded.iby the;proceedings at the half yearly meeting of the Dublin Tramway Company. The Chairman (Mr Lombard, J.P.) .said the company were in a very prosperous cond Ition f but notwithstanding his satisfactory statement, numerous ques lions’vvere, raised p in a hostile spirit The existence of. the reserve fund was doubted, and tbe financial position of tho concern was at ncked, and it was alleged-that shareholders had unfair transactions with the company in the supply of go als Mr Gardiner, the auditor, was endeavouring to explain how the reserve-fond stood, when he was told that.auditors.very often gave answers which were not well found“d Mr Gardiner then told the shareholder he lied if ho applied that observat.on to him. A number of exciting scenes followed. Mr Gardiner was called upon to apologise, and. it was said that he hj id insulted every man in the room; but he would not unless the shareholder also apologised. Mr Rtf- in'son said that if Mr Gardiner applied the observation to him he would chuck him out of the window. Ultimately Mr Gardiner sat down and declined to proceed The ilev. Mr Huston raised a question as to the pay of the directors. There were cries of “ Away with them and they were spoken of as appropriating .LISOO rtr yoar-of-ttrer company’s funds -for nothing. The board was also accused of jobbery in the purchase ot horses. The chairman in answer to cries of “Who gets the bonus?” shouted, “T recognise that voice, Mr Baker. I don’t see your face, I see tho old white hat, lut I can’t see your gaiters.” This was foU lowed by roars of laughter and cries of “Shame!” -These lively proceedings lasted for nearly two hours, and at length the chairman declared that it would be impossible to proceed He reques ted some shareholders beside him not to look at him as it they were go ing to eat him, for they would find him the most indigestible article they ever had He said the proceedings were disgraceful, and the suggestions which had been made low and disreputable A dividend of 41 per cent, was declared and the chairman ultimately left the chair while half a dozen shareholders were endeavouring to address the meeting.