Second Edition. STRATFORD FARMERS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIV, Issue 7, 11 December 1915, Page 6

Second Edition. STRATFORD FARMERS.

A LIVELY DISCUSSION. VOTE OF £6*o MADE TO THE PATRIOtIt FUND. A meeting of shareholders of the Stratfd-d _ .-..Muers’ Co-operative Association to consider the advisability of doriaiiug a sum of money to the Patriotic Jb%h'ds. was heul m tno Town Hall this W‘-0,. *.ir It. Din-

gle (Chairman ijf Directors) presided over a large attendance. The Chairman explained the business of the meeting, and said that the Director's of the Cdril'pany had' been met by the Executive of the Patriotic Comtnittee on November 18th, when a contribution to the committee’s funds was asked for. The Directors explained they were not in a position to vote a surti of money. It was decided to call a meeting of shareholders and get Mr Kirkwood, or any other •member of the Executive to explain -the matter of contributions. A Ypice: “M r e are capable of doing it odfselves.” Continuing, the Chairman said he hojied they would cake it seriously, and discuss the matter of making a contribution thoroughly between themselves. Mr Dingle further said that Mr Kirkwood and Mr McMillan were present to address them, and give any

information required lirieriecfors: “Are fhev shareholder*-?'” ‘‘Tt is a sFiriVehqldei-’s meeting.” The Chairman said the deputation had a perfect right to he present, and explain how the money donated to •tW'RhWidtie Fririds’ Wris heinV tised. (A voice: “To dictate to us’’’) He said after thev had heard what Mr Kirkwood and Mr McMillan ■ had to say they should then consider the matter. A- shareholder said if M*- Fv-Vwond was there to address it was for the meting to decide whether it wpnM hear fum o r not. Mi' Pan-les said tllev w«ve busy neur»ie. and it was a matte’- for th- meeti”if tr> decide'whether they would hear th« address. The Chairman said they should stop quibbling over small matters arid hear whht the deputation had .to sav, y After thtev have heard what Mr Kirkwood wished to say, thev would then hold | the - Directors meeting. Mr Rawles; “It is a Directors’ meeting from the- commencement.” A' Shareholder said that he-had travelled .eight miles to the meetirig 1 . He had mot .come i that distance to a Patriotic meeting, Hut to a meetin'h of Directors. He ; emphasised the . i act that they we#e busy people.' ’“ ‘ The Chairift&i shM lls thought They wjfaifl ■ hare > been, pleased to get' :n----forination:.pm .Patriotic. matters. 1 ' A Voifce: “Why -'” , f A Shareholder: “Do you think an hotel proprietor Can’ .cohiy here arid | teach; us? It .is an insult to cm- in- ■ telligence.” that ’the ‘Patriotic Committee had • donated £l5O to the Salvation' Army, you might as welii give me a trip.” Mr Were moved, and Mr Rawles seconded: “That Mr Kirkwood and Mr McMillan be heard, and he allow-

qd t*H: minutes each.”—Carried. .'tqMii’Kirkwood orl rising, said that he ;t»f..; B(e thanked them for tlioif corirhim to, speak. He, .present po; dictate to theni. ihutvjdmpljh to the position. Mr donations had bej** madefor Patriotic purposes in * Taranaki, . .some ;pf these were not • made :as wished-. If the money was ■ paidodirect ‘tp the Gbyerniffbrit, 1 the P returned soldiery,, of, Tarariafel 1 '^drild not. benefit,Jtbcreby. YAj Vpiceqw ‘.‘Explain what you mean ■ by ‘direetr’P : . , » , ! Continuing, Mr Kirkwood said that '' if the money Wds paid to' the Government, it was’-paid. into the Consolidated Fund. If the money was paid into the’ local committee’s fund. Taranaki boys would derive 1 a direct benefit’. The money donated for the wounded soldiers in Taranaki would be administered *by the;Taranaki War Relief Association, arid not the Stratford Patriotic Committee. The different . committees were prabtieriily marking time at the. present waiting the formation of the Association. A con-

siderable amount of the committee’s . funds was lent out and was earning five per cent. Mr Maxwell; “How much has the , Stratford Loan Company not?” Mr Kirkwood said the amount on deposit with the - Stratford Loan and Deposit Company is £2500. Mr Maxwell : “Are you a brother-in-law of the Secretary’s?” Mr Kirkwood said lie was. hut the Patriotic Funds money- was placed with 1 the Stratford Loan and . Deposit Co.,_ because this institution offered more interest than any other similar societies, : and for no other reason. Mr Kirkwood went on to say that he (Mr Kirkwood); had nothing whatever to do with the placing of the money. In answer to an interjection, Mr Dingle reminded the meeting that the speaker had only ten minutes to address them. Mr Maxwell* “I do not like it. Ape you in their crowd?” ,Thp Chairman asked them to give the speaker a fair hearing. There was no need for interjections. Tf any-*

one could not remember his question he would supplv a pencil and paper. . Mr Kirkwood said they could rest assured that any money voted and stipulated for a certain fund, would be administered properly. The money would be used for those requiring assistance and to make up the Government pensions for those who needed further help. The Chairriian invited questions on Mr Kirkwood’s behalf. Mr'Blackstock rose apd commenced to speak, btit was asked if he was a shareholder. • Mr Blackstock replied that lie was. - “Anyhow,” said the chairman, “you are not entitled to vote.” Mr "Blackstock; “I am a supplier any way.” The Speaker went on to sav that By reading the report of Wednesday’s meeting of the Patriotic (Committee it seemed that the men. if they required assistance, had to inform the dfficials of the, committee. Many meti would rather die on the road side than do that. Mr Kirkwood said the different committees in Taranaki, were marking . time at present. As soon as the .Relief Association was formed, there would Be no need to ask for money, it wetild bo grafted where required. Under the old system the money was administered by separate units. It was best to have a scheme in which »1) the centres in the Wellington * Military/"District would be amalga-

mated. If £hc amalgamation . wore bfpujght ‘about tjfco wealthier districts would help to maintain the boys in other districts, if necessary. Mr Blackstock said if, with the strong Patriotic Committee that was in existence at the present arid the small amount that was at its disposal, the boys had to ask lor anything they required, he could not see how bogging was going to improve matters. Mr Kirkwood said why they were marking tune was because they bad the Association in view. If a uniform scheme was instituted they would know what they were doing. Under the present conditions there was a chance of contributions to the boys being double-banked. The money contributed to Patriotic Funds was trust money, and they would have to be very careful with it. They could not get too much for patriotic purposes. (Applause). Mr Maxwell: “I want to have a straight talk. Mr Kirkwood, have you enough confidence,in the Government of N.Z. for it to administer the whole of the wealth of the patriotic money?” Mr Kirkwood: “The question has nothing to do with the matter.”

Mr Hawles said he thought that portion of the report of the proceedings of Wednesday’s patriotic meeting should have been omitted in the Pi •ess. Dr. Paget, said the speaker, had mentioned a case where a man was allowed to wander at liberty when he should have been under a doctor’s care. If the Patriotic Committee could not attend to the wants of two or three soldiers what would they, do when there was a large number ? Mr Kirkwood said the committee had ’the case mentioned in View, but the patient was left in the hands of Dr. Paget, who attended to him in his private hospital free of charge. Mr Hawles; The report read between the lines, as it should not have read. Mr Maxwell asked why the patriotic money had not been deposited with one of the Banks? Mi- Kirkwood said ho had already stated that the Stratford Loan Company allowed the best interest, viz., ■5 per cent, and the money could be withdrawn at the convenience of the Committee. Mr Milne said it appeared to him that the money was for a good and worthy cause, but in the four centres it could nqt Work out mathematically equal. He favored a universal scheme.

Mr Blackstock said the matter of conlribiitiohs to returned soldiers was riot clear to him. The family history Would be looked up in Wellington, but when the men arrived home they would not answer questions put to thqm by the local Patriotic, Committee. 'lbus- would rather starve. ! Mr McMiflani Tll’eii we hopo. their friend^,,.ujill coriie' 1 arid tell' trie ;com- ? : KHeiidft'are j.ust a,s. as ' the ' hoys, i or »•!. hope 50... ’ n ?• | Mr ’ tisked if -Mii;- Black? ; stuck had any suggestion to- hotkey Mr Blackstock replied that men should be appointed to wait on thy . men arid see what they required. Those appointed should go down hack ' roads to' the different places as well as visiting those on the main roads. Mr Kirkwood said that the returned men would have to give the PatrioticAssociation officials full information, the same as given before the Pensions Board before financial assistance could be gendered. If the necessary iilforraatiou was not forthcoming it could not be ascertained if the men were or were not the ones for whom the fund had been instituted. , Mr Blackstock said if that was the case they were going to make the ( boys Ipse their' independence, arid that was what tlfri.V' Were fighting for. . said that in many cases,! jon jaccclun,t of* the’boys’ -independence, ; their'parents wbrild'-have to look afs .ter, ,ihem, , . I ~A voice - n “Give' 'the : money to the (Government and Irit them administer ,it.” Mr Rawles asked if the Scottish Society was going to paSs the money it had collected for patriotic purposes over to the Patriotic Committee? Mr Kirkwood said the Society was handing all the money over to the Patriotic Committee. The sum of £IOOO had already been acknowledged. Mr F J. McDonald said, on behalf of the Scottish Society, he wished to make it clear that the money collected for patriotic purposes was not going to be used, as some thought} to send a nurse to Egypt. As soon as the Society received the balance ot the money', it would be handed over to the Patriotic Comm it tee within an hour or two.

Mr - Rawles ; Suppose we give a donation to the Patriotic Committee to-day, will it do away with the petty begging from the town? He said the farmer was always being asked for subscriptions; if. it was not money, it was for “cream for a feast that was being held.” The “cookies would have to make sacrifices, but they did not want “feasts.” The chairman said he was opposed to what Mr Rawles had instanced. They should give a donation and then people would be satisfied. It was better to give as they proposed than to give a Is in one place, 2s in another, and 2s 6d to another person. If they made a donation as they now proposed they would have a clear conscience and know that they weio doing their duty. Mr Rawles: Will collections still go on when not authorised by the Patriotic Committee? , Mr Kirkwood said an Act had been passed to stop unauthorised people collecting money for patriotic pmposes. Permission to collect money could only be given by certain perS ° A'shareholder said that all the money subscribed for the Wounded Soldiers’ should be sent to the Rea Cross Society at the base. Another shareholder asked how much the sheep farmers were giving, and suggested that they should g one per cent, of their a. 1 ® 0111 ®- Mr Kirkwood said he did not know exactly what they were doing but he knew pf one farmer who had given £SOO. ’< ,il Al,. TClrk The Chairman thanked Mi KnJt wood and Mr McMillan tor the information they had given the meeting. The chairman also, eulogised the work of the two gentlemen cpuceinA resolution was then passed allowing Mr Kirkwood and Mr McMillan o be present at the meeting of shareholders. Mr Maxwell: They are not staying to teach us, for they cannot teach us anything! The Chairman said it was not tor him to say what they should give or what they should not. Mr Dingle then gave particulars of the contributions made by other Dairy Companies, and in answer to an interjection, said t-

' it was not for them, however, to ask what the other Compannie.s were doing. Supposing they were only getI ting 6d per lo for trieir butter-fat, it was still their duty to give to the Patriotic Funds. He asked the meeting to discuss the question on broad j lilies. If the Company gave £1 in the I £IOO, a mutter of 1 per cent. ' the amount contributed to the funds would border on £IOOO. It was for I the meeting to say whetlicr it was 1 prepared to do anything. They should not think the money would be wasted, for tVe young men would want it. They could not he too generous. Ho personally would be willing to keep six of the returned boys for twelve months at bis private house if they had no funds. The time would come when they would have to keep the hoys who were to-day fighting for them. He was not dictating to the meeting, but he would be pleased, as Chairman of the Company. if they could see their way to give generously. Out of £BO,OOO, they could spare £IOOO, and this meant about £1 in every £IOO. but he was sure in a time like the present, they could spare it. He would ask those present to make up their minds whether they would give 10s in the £IOO or £1 in the £IOO, or any other sum to the fund. He reminded them they were getting Is and Is 2cl for their butter-fat at present, and when the war was over, they would not get such high prices, and would not be able to contribute, as easily. He did not intend to move in the matter, he would leave it to their own generosity.

Mr Maxwell moved; “That it be an instruction to the Directors that all money contributed be handed over, to the Government for disposal.” He said, in moving the motion, he did it as a friend, not as an enemy, ft was the duty of the Government to conduct the war. pay the men. and nay the pensions, it was also the Government’s dutv to go up back roads and find out who was requiring assistance. If the money was administered otherwise than by the Government, it was a direct .insult to the Government of New Zealand. The Chairman said the business of the meeting was to make a vote to the Patriotic Funds. If the .money was sent to the Government never a word would be heard about it. It would never be acknowledged, and it Would not be in the district when needed. Mr Kneebone moved, and Mr Fincham seconded: “That the Stratford Company’s contribution to the Patriotic Funds be one per cent, of its total income.”

Mr Reader moved as an amendment: “That considering the price of commodities, the contribution bo one-half per cent;, and when the bonus is declared, another contribution bo made.” This was seconded by Mr Hin'cher.

Mr Rawles. said, there might lie. a slip in the money calculations. They anticipated receiving £IOO.OOO if they proposed to . give; £IOOO. ft ,was not jwhat the farmer ,was getting, it was. (what he, wag paying for his goods. -They had. to pay fully . 100 per cent, move for some,of tlioir .goods. There [was a ;lot said about what the farmer 'way making, and he was expected to be at everybody’s beck rind call. oAsi far as finances wore concerned; he, for Ids i own part, would rather have a normal season when lid ’would bo paid for butter-fat, and gobds cob Id be purchased at ordinary prices. The sum of £OOO, (about \ per cent)., was a very reasonable gift. There was no urgent need for money as could bo seen by the fact that the committee had some out at interest at the present time.

<The amendment of donating £ 'p° r cent, when, put to the meeting was lost, , only 17'vote’s being recorded in favor of it f v f. 1 j . Mr Rawles ,moved, and : Mrsl Breen, seconded : , “That £SOO be’ donated, j the amount to be paid out at the dis-| pretion of the Directors”’ This motion was. lost. Mr Blackstock moved that iio' contribution be blade. He said that in moving the motion, he did so not because he was unpatriotic, but it was for the benefit of Stratford farmers. Men. as well as money were wanted, and if the farmers used the money to purchase new . and modern farm machinery, they would be able to release one or two men from each farm. It would he doing better patriotic work for the British nation to give men than to give money to the Patriotic Funds.

There was no seconder to Mr Blackstock’s motion. The motion that one per cent on income he contributed was lost hy 20 votes to 22. / Mr Willis moved. “That Id/ he voted to the funds for each pound of butter-fat received during the/period of November to May.”—This was seconded bv Mr Were. Mr Rawles moved as a namotidment. that £3OO he voted at present, and other contributions be made if necessary. or if the Company thinks fit.— This amendment lapsed for want of a seconder.

The Chairman then moved, and Mr Milne seconded: “That £6OO he donated to the Patriotic Funds for the season 1915-1916 hy the Stratford Dairy Co.” Without further discussion, this, was put to the meeting and carried by . 33 votes to 9. The meeting tjhen'dispersed.