FARMERS’ UNION CLUB.

Gisborne Times, Volume X, Issue 949, 23 July 1903, Page 2

FARMERS’ UNION CLUB.

o (To the Editor Gisborne Times.) Sir,—From what I can learn, capital is being made out of the two letters whirh appeared in your Tuesday’s issue, from Messrs L. Clayton and Chas. Dunlop, in order to induce farmers to join a Club which is being got up in opposition to the present Farmers’ Union Club by certain members who became indignant and resigned'because the special meeting called to consider the removal oi the Club was adjourned for a week, to enable certain information to be : obtained which the majority, of members present thought should be obtained before finally deciding. Both letters are so misleading and 'incorrect, to the knowledge of several others besides myself, that I did not intend saying anything ajbout the incident referred to until next Saturday’s -meeting ; but as some farmers may in the meantime be induced to join the opposition Club, it is best perhaps that a correction should be made at once. Immediately after the meeting I saw Mr Dunlop,, and explained to him in the presence of another farmer what the meeting had decided, and asked him if he would be willing to extend 'the' time for accepting his offer for a .week, when he replied that he would. I then called two other farmers, including the President of the Club, 'and detailed to them what I. had.just told Mr Dunlop, and his. reply that he .was willing. I then said that the extension had better be put in writing, and that we had better go into the club-room and fix it up. The whole four acquiesced, and we (leaving the fifth farmer standing on the footpath) walked towards -the club-room ; just before entering the club, Mr Clayton came towards Mr Dunlop and said he wished to speak to him. I turned towards Mr Clayton and said, ‘‘ Excuse me, Mr Clayton ;• Mr Dunlop is engaged with us just now—you can see him presently.” Mr Clayton pressed Mr Dunlop to stop and speak, and x 'again protested. By this time? Mr Clayton had said to Mr Dunlop in my hearing that he wished to speak •to him about the letters that had passed between them regarding the rooms, and that the matter was off. I then walked on into the clubrooms, leaving Clayton and Dunlop talking, and shortly afterwards Mr Dunlop, came into the room, and said rather'angrily, and with an entirely changed manner, that the offer was withdrawn. As Mr Dunlop then •seemed excited, I walked away, and have not since spoken to him or-the others who accompanied me into the club-room. .... It is indeed a miserable condition of affairs when tactics like this are resorted to, and I appeal to the ■farmers who have the true interests of the Union at heart not to commit themselves in the meantime to anv opposition scheme, but to come to’Saturday’s meeting, and let this matter be decided upon its own merits, and not allow matters affecting th 3 Union to be influenced by anger or personal feeling. We have a duty to do to ourselves of greater value and' importance than being influenced by petty quarrels of this kind.—l am etc., W. DOUGLAS LYSNAR.