TAYLOR MEMORIAL FUND.

Auckland Star, Volume XLII, Issue 211, 5 September 1911, Page 7

TAYLOR MEMORIAL FUND.

A HEATED DISCUSSION. MAYOR LEAVES THE ROOM. (By TclsgrflliS.—Own Cnrrespondent.) ( llßlSTt'lU'Kill, Monday. The meeting of the Taylor Memorial Committee to-day was of a very much disturbed character. The Mayor. Mr. I. j Dougflll- who was in the chair, said that it had been thought tit to call a special mooting of the committee because 0 f persistent rumours whi hj had been circulated as to the financial position of the late Mr. T. 1". Taylor, and the family at the time of Mr. Taylor's death. Thnso responsible in the first instance for calling a public meeting to lay this matter of the Taylor Memorial before the public; fell somewhat aggrieved, lb' under-Uod tint the*o rumours were persistently circulated, and they desired to make a stifment in regnrri to the actual position He nn-'—tond that Mr. Isitt was prepnrcJ to mike such a statement, and thut he desired to silence ihe rumours which were going round a- to the position in which Mr. Taylors wife and familv had been left. Mr" Isitt said that the rumours re. ferred to bv the chairman were not of an ordinarv nature. They were being systematically worked throughout the Dominion. "He was convinced that they came from a certain definite quarter. The Chairman: "I think it would be as well if we eliminate that feature altoMr. Isitt: "It will be very difficult to do that." The Chairman: "T am not going to lend myself in any shape or form to any dispute between the Prohibitionists and the Liquor party. Ift it means the introduction of that into this business T will not remain in the room.'.' Mr. Isitt said that that did not alter introduced." The Chairman: "I am not going to discuss the matter, and I shall declare the meeting closed if the subject is introduced." Mr. Bowron: "Has the Mayor any ripht to close this meeting? If I come here r.s a British subject to discuss this testimonial fund, neither the Mayor nor anv other citizen has a right to close the meeting." The Chairman : "I will not lie a party to any discussion as between prohibition and liquor. I will leave the meeting eooner. It was stated to rae by Mr. Isitt this morning that he would charge a , certain individual with making certain I statements, and that he would ask to | have that individual present to answer I the charges. I said that I would be no rarty to anything of the sort. I was very emphatic indeed in my expression ; cf opinion that if this subject was intro- | duced I would retire from any personal > connection with the whole concern. j Mr. Isitt said he had complained to , the Mayor some time ago that systematic j misrepresentations were being made in j regard to Mrs. Taylor's position. He had | got evidence of that in Wellington. When | he returned to Christchureh on Saturday j he told the Mayor these rumours were , rifr\ Within a very short time after leaving the Mayor he had evidence that it had' been said that Mrs. Taylor had over £7OOO in her own right, and that | within a few days this would be made I public. He thought the Mayor should agree that theso rumours had had a very evil effect on the fund and that they were I making it very difficult to get subscrip- j tions. He also thought the Mayor would i agree with him that if there was no warrant for such statements a very grievous wrong had been done to Mrs. Taylor and her children. After some further discussion members of the committee produced documents ' showing that the total income- from the ! late Mr. Taylors estate would be £lB5 15/6. of which £122 15/6 would be available for the family after taxes and charges had been met. The Chairman said he was extremely pleased to hear the statement made by j Mr, Salter. They now had a complete, i answer to any insinuations made on the aubject. I Mr. Isitt said that that did not alter the fact that the fund was practically ! ruined, and that women and children had | been robbed by vile slanderous state- I merits.

The Chairman 3aid there was a remedy if any man had done slander. A short discussion followed as to whether a full report of the meeting ought to be published, and it was agreed that under the circumstances no restriction 6honld be placed on full publication. I Mr. Bowron said that Jf there was a I certain ma n who they Wrought had been | circulating these rumours they should send him a copy of Mr. Salter's statement, and ask him to note the figures and make himself sure of the true position. Continuing. Mr. Bowron said: "I understand there is a man, a Mr. (mentioning the name of an individual). The Chairman: "I cannot allow yovi to introduce this personal element." Mr. Bowron: "I am going to say what I have to sar. This is a free country." The Chairman at once left the room, faying: "I must decline to have anything further to do with the matter.'' Mr. Bowron: "1 think that Mr. Dougall would he far better out of the committee. It is quite unreasonable for the Mayor to try and prevent a man making a reasonable statement to the committee" It was suggested to Mr. Bowron that Mr. Dougall was the Mayor, and that the committee were sitting in his room. Mr. Bishop: "And the only thing to do now is to pet out." v te A BREACH OF CONFIDENCE. PRIVATE CONVERSATION REPEATED. (By Telegraph.—l'ress Association.) CHitlSTv ill iU.ll, Monday. Air. K. Nurj.in. m ciliary of the Licensed iVciualic.a Aa.uc.aiion, the gentleman reierrcd .u .. v name ut ibe laylor memorial iuud meeting as lUe one primarily responsible for tne circulation oi iuii.ours through New Bealand of Mrs. la.wu'i means, gives an eiupnatic denial to ihc statements made. He explains th-ai while having tea wilh a friend and another gentleman Whom he did not know at, the time, but who he had since ascertained was a inend of Mr. L. M. laitt, he was drawn into a no-license jrgument. the conversation being brought round to the question of the Taylor memorial fund. He said in the aourse of the conversation that he had lust been informed that Mrs. Tavlor lad £7OOO in her own right, and that " had further been informed that that "ft Would be made public in a few days. He did not repeat that statement either Before or after that conversation at the tea rooms, and novor imagined that anyone would be guilty of such a breach w confidence as to repeat a friendly con-

1 vcrsation. He gave an emphatic denial j to the statement made at ihe meeting | that either he or the trad<l had done | anything to injure the Taylor memorial | funrl.