THE HEPPLE FUND.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1195, 2 August 1911, Page 5

THE HEPPLE FUND.

8 ~_ ITS ADMINISTRATION. ' iV MR. J. W. READE'S EXPLANATIONS. In St. James's Hall, Lower Hutt, last evening, there assembled between two and three hundred people to hear a stated ment by Mr. J. W. Reade regarding- the Hepplo Fund. Sir. Pethcriek, who occupiod the chair, explained that Mr. Reade had taken the hall at his own expense, and bad called the gathering together to answer certain charges that had been made against him. Mr. Reade had done very deserving work, and whatever was said about him, he had only been actuated by a spirit of benevolenco in endeavouring to "assist a family in their misfortune. A good hearing was given Mr. Reade, though it was obvious that many w.ere present in expectation of lively proceedings. Mr. Eeado went fully into details in regard to the fund, starting with an allusion to the very earliest stages. He declared that ho was not going to bavo anything covered up. When the public had all the. facts they could then decido as to what i should be done in the application of the fund. The point upon which moft of his explanations centred was his right 10 ascertain things and tako certain actions in connection with the fund, and as to who had control of the matter. He grew very warm rr-1 excited in his denunciation of the action •of some of the members of the committee Mr. Reado tlenied that ho had taken upon himself to close the subscription lists; he had only asked the peoplo to stop subscribing further. (A fierco dogfight .at the back of the hall suspended proceedings for a time.) Various other details were given.- The fond was in the name of himself and the Rev. Mr. Bowden Harris, and it could only be operated upon by them conjointly. All he desired was to see the fund lodged safely with the Public Trustee for investment. The chairman then proposed a resolution that twelve gentlemen should bo selected whose names should be submitted to Mrs. Hepplo for approval and that they, in conference witlr -.' her,.- determine how the money should ■be applied, and that it be then paid over to the Public Trustee. Various suggestions, said the chairman, had been made as to how the fund should be applied. / Mr. Freeth seconded the motion pro forma. As a member of the committee, however, he did not see the object of the proposal..'.The committee had . desired, right through, to do the best for the widow and were not actuated by animosity to Mr.v.Reado or anyone else. He thought the meeting would be fully justified in leaving the matter to the committee. (Applause.) He moved as an amendment that,the matter be left to the committee, already appointed, to arrange in regard to how the money should bo applied. Mr. Baldwin seconded tin's. After further remarks by Mr. T'rcetli and Mr. Baldwin (replied to by Mr. Reade) the amendment was. put:.to- the meeting and carried. Mr. Reade' said lie was now free from the responsibility of administering the fund.