Correspondence.

Huntly Press and District Gazette, Volume 3, Issue 6, 10 July 1914, Page 3

Correspondence.

WHILE! it is our endeavour to give I correspondents every facility < for tlie free expression of their i opinion, it should be borne in 1 mind that the views expressed < do not, necessarily, reflect the f opinions of the Editor. TO THE EDITOR, I Sir,—After reading Mr Parlies’ i .etter in your last week’s issue, < 1 feel sure, in common fairness, ; you will permit me to place before your readers our side of the question. Prior to the “ Waikato Miners’ Union " entering upon its building scheme, a committee had leen set up to consider ways and . means of raising funds ; also the , size and other requirements of :he hall it was intended to erect. That committee duly reported to i general meeting of the Union, which, after considerable discussion adopted the plans outlined jy the committee. There was, lowever. some doubt about the ( advisability of embarking upon • io large a scheme, but a motion moved by Mr McMillan, and I seconded by myself, that the i question be referred back for modification, was defeated by an , overwhelming majority. Mr < Parkes was present at that meetng, and although unable to say which side he voted on, anent ' modification, the fact remains shat he took an active part in subsequent discussion, and is . credited with being the mover i or seconder of motions that juided the construction of the - ouilding. At that early stage , t was mooted that the Medical , Society should assist in financing ;he scheme, but no definite irrangement was decided upon. : Either then, or at some later : neeting of the Union or Medi;al Society,Mr Parkes questioned lie legality of so using the ] liedical funds, and his motion . ’or legal advice. I either seconded or strongly supported, i 4s a result of this advice, it was found necessary to alter or uld to the rules of both Societies, < which we thought had overcome } ill objections to co-operating in 1 hescheme. The industrial trouble hat eventuated undoubtedly i jlaced the Union in a poor posi- ( ;ion financially, and necessitated lie Medical Society involving j tselfmore than was anticipated; nit the members logically contenied that the two societies were me and the same body, and 3Very sum of money that had been placed by the Medical Society in the hall building, had seen sanctioned, and confirmed by general meetings of its members. The remarks about pliable trustees in view of the above facts are hardly worth mentioning, but many will agree that a really strong man would have stuck to his post and prevented the danger, if possible. In reference to the accident books, we are not quite sure what the position is, but past knowledge tells us that this fund was always in a more or less insolvent state, and seeing that no contributions would be received for several months to'meetthe claims of the injured men upon it, it is safe to say it diedfrom inanition. As regards selling the doctor's residence, Mr Parkes knows as well as I do, what Mr T. H. Marshall’s feelings were about it; those feelings were held by myself and others of our executive, and our sentiments were expressed strongly to some of the men concerned. Personally X never regarded the proposition as a serious, or possible one. Wo have to thank your correspondent for liis advice telling u.s we may sell the hall, and share the pioeeeds; but we will give secrets away also, and inform him and others that it is possible for anyone working in or about the Waikato mines, to become a member of our union. The only drawback is the embargo placed upon it by his colleagues on the union executive. Perhaps he may advise them to remove it; but in any case, this action was found illegal in Dublin, so possibly it may not be lawful in New Zealand. In conclusion we do not say that mistakes have not been made, but any such, have been honest and well intentioned. Right from its inception the hail committee work has been a work of self sacrifice, and during the past 18 months any man on it has known that he was holding himself up as a special target for the continuous sniping and occasional volleys that ’’ave been depleting our ranks. Some of the men Mr Parkes is now throwing mud at, apparently, have given more hours service in the men’s interest than he has given minutes, during the last few years, and their only hope of reward was the sack. Thanking you in anticipation for inserting this rather long letter. I am, etc; JOS. MELLING, President, Waikato Miners’ Union. [We have omitted two sentences irom Mr Melting's letter for obvious reasons. The omissions, however, in no way destroy, alters, or affect the context. The first sentence was somewhat personal, while, on enquiry, it was found that the statement in the record was not in accordance with fact. Ed. Press,] TO THE EDITOR. SIR, —I was surprised to learr i that a particular sentence in mj ' letter which appeared in ias week’s PRESS has been interj d as being antagonistb ■ t. e Medical Society’s doctor j T i not so, since I have pub lii tated at a meeting of th So , and in private,

Huntly people had never been setter served than they have seen since the present medical officer took charge. All that I meant to imply was that the notice of the termination of this engagement was the climax to a series of actions by certain parties. This notice I personally told the doctor to pay no attention to. I am sorry if f have given any offence as none was intended, and I willingly withdraw any expression that may seem to bear such construction. Yours etc., J. A. PARKES, Chairman, Medical and Accident Society. 1 We also regret that anything tending to hurt the feelings of any one was published in this column. Ed PRESS.]