Correspondence.

Huntly Press and District Gazette, Volume 3, Issue 6, 28 August 1914, Page 3

Correspondence.

V/HILEit is our endeavour to give correspondents every facility for the free expression of their opinion, it should be borne in mind that tlie views expressed do not, necessarily, reflect the opinions of the Editor. SIR, —I crave a little more space to reply to Mr Melting’s letter in your last issue. The first paragraph needs, no comment. Coming to the £2O business again, lie knows very well that I referred to the doctor’s residence. If lie will ascertain the amount the residence was offered for, lie will have no difficplty in obtaiiiiiig the number of members'approximately, and as this took place after our pre- ! sent union was formed I think ! it will not be far off the mark, i But, notwithstanding this and all 1 the arithmetic, I reiterate he i does not deny the soft impeachment. In regard to joining tlie Waikato Miners’ Union Mr Melling knows quite well that our present union rules debar that. In reference to the Accident fund, I vvisli to thank Mr Melling for the information he has given us. It discloses two things very plainly: first, the resolution carried by the members'was not carried out (a law unto, themselves; again); and, secondly, they paid £7 to the Strike Fund which was a direct breach of the Friendly Societies’ Act, and which can be recovered from the trustees, and if Mr Melling will substantiate what he states we will sue them for it. It is our duty to do so, and in fact any member of the Society lias tlie power to recover. If Mr Melling will look up the case of the Typographical Society -published in; the Auckland Press a weak or two ago lie will find the mill tor’ set out very clearly. What is tliA use -ri registering if the funds can be

misapplied in this way ? Mr Mailings stated that, I may look upon him us an upstart. That is a bogey he has erected himself, as I am sure I do not do so. He is quite justified in doing tlie best lie can for the | union of which lie is the head, ! and, considering what lie is up | against, I think he lias done all j that could be expected. He has i raised some dust, no doubt, with I the object of obscuring the issue, [ and drawn a few herrings across I the scent, but tlie facts remain 1 (They are “cliiels that winna ding,” ye ken). Mr Melling challenges me to debate this question. What is the use of that ? This is a question that a majority cannot decide. We are standing on the legal position. No matter how large the majority may be they have no . power to dispose of -the fund for any other purpose than that for which it is contributed, so it is; 110 ,u*p debating it, not.in that way, at/ least.. As 1 have Jieforo remarked, 'the decisiu'ir in ' tlie Typographical Society case makes this very plain. We do not wish to embarrass the Waikato Miners’ Union unduly ; we want to repair the neglect of our own former trustees in not taking security for the funds advanced. We ask the Waikato Miners’ Union to give us that security. We are not asking for tiie money. If that is given, and some arrangement is made for repayment, that is all we require. I claim this is a reasonable offer. If the Waikato Miners, Union decline to do this, -and would sooner fight, tlien I say in the words of tlie immortal bard. ' Lay on, MacUuff, and damned lie lie that first cries Hold, enough.” That is the last word, Mr , Editor. ft is no use flogging a dead horse. Thanking you in anticipation, I am yburs, etc, J. A. PARKES, Chairman Waikato Medical Socici.v-