Correspondence.

Huntly Press and District Gazette, Volume 3, Issue 6, 3 July 1914, Page 2

Correspondence.

TO THE EDITOR. SIR, —Allow me to make a few remarks re the meeting of the Medical and Accident Society held in the King’s Hall on Wednesday night, June 17th. The report by Mr W. R. Holmes on the financial position of the Society previous to the labour troubles of the Union, shows the situation in the light of confusion to the average member of the present society. Why? Because the Society in the past has always objected to duly qualified men outside the Society being appointed as auditors, etc., stating that the Society was qure capable of conducting its own business without the aid of outside influence. The answer to such an argument is evidently plain in Mr Holmes’ remarks, and should be a warning to the present members as to their future course of action. My experience as secretary was simply this: A large per centage of auditors appointed by the Society knew absolutely nothing about the business. In dealing with the legal aspectofthe Miners’ Union and Medical Hall, commonly termed ‘ Duncan’s Error,” I agree with Mr Dixon’s remarks . that the whole business be left in the hands of the Committee, provided that they are appointed by the general meeting and on the lines suggested by Mr Ramsen —by peaceful, rather than by legal process, as legal proceedings would be an unnecessary expense to all concerned. I am of the opinion that good results will be the outcome of a conference between the past and the present members, and also that Messrs Parkes, Darby, Stewart, Clout and Peckham, who have always taken a keen interest in the welfare of the Society, should insist on the Society being kept wholly apart from the Union, and any labour troubles that may arise in the future. In reference to some of the'“Local Lords of High Decisions ” who are fighting a Rear Guard Action in this matter, they should retreat into oblivion, as far as this business is concerned, as their actions in this affair only irritate the wounds of those who are suffering from the lash of defeat. Yours etc. JOHN HUGHES. To the Editor. SIR, — At the meeting of the Medical Society last week, I did not realise that a great number of our members were strangers, and did not understand the condition of affairs. With your kind permission I will set forth the facts for their benefit. When the financial part of the Miners’ Hall was under consideration it was proposed to take £4OO which was to the credit of the Medical Society. As one of the trustees I objected, and at my instigation the advice of Mr O’Regan was obtained. He advised us that it could not be so used. A r • another meeting it was pro posed to build a Medical Hall and Mr O’Regan’s advice was 5 again obtained. This time it was that they could build a me li cal Hall. Knowing that thL • was only a blind. I resigned my ' position as trustee. -They obtained a more pliable trustee in my place and got the the money. 5 Not long after that they required more money ; they then 1 thought of raising it on the Doctor’s residence. One of the trustees, Mr H* McFarlane, took the advice of his solicitor on the ! matter, and the advice was to resign as the transaction was il legal. They obtained a more convenient trustee in his place and then mortgaged the d ictor’s residence for £SOO- After that they seem to have taken the money as they wanted it according to the Auditor’s Report. When the new committee was elected the secretary applied to the late secretary for ilie books and documents. They had not the courtesy to reply. We received a letter from Mr O’Regan siating that we had no right to them, and if we wanted them we should have to sue for them. We duly sued the late trustees for them and they brought them into court not having a word to say. I may say that we prevented them from operating on the Bank Account in the meantime. When we obtained the minute • book two resolutions that were carried were disclosed which do not appear in the Auditor’s Report. One was to close the Accident Fund and divide the money, which was done; but who received it we are at present unable to tell, as they did not turn up the bank book or the Accident cash book ; hut we know that they drew all the money out of the bank, although the account is not closed as the interest remains. We intend to see into the matter further- The other resolution was that the secretary get into communication vitli the mortgagee with a view of selling tliß doctor’s residence. They also offered the res deuce to the doctor cheap, a d their last tarn was to terminate his agreement with the Society. The?e are the facts, fellow members, and they are chiels that winna ding.” A member stated in the hall that the rules had been altered so that the money could be used as stated above. Any alteration that is not in accordance with the Fr:e id’y Society’s Act is ha 1 in law. The Society can lurid on freeeold land, lend money on mortgage, but they have no i power to lend money to build j on some one else’s land without any security, which has been i done in this instance. I think ! ' that breach of trust has been ;

made by the trustees, for which thev will in all probability be called to account. Then another aspect of the matter is, the Waikato Miners’ Union could sell the hall tomorrow, divide the money, and leave us the mortgage of £590 to repay, [can ir s -me one say, they would not do this, but it is as well to remember that it is the same crowd who would have sold the doctor’s house and divided the money if they could have done so. Thank ng you in anticipation. I am, etc., J. A. PARKES, Chairman, Waikato Medical and Accident Society. ________