PATRIOTIC SOCIETY

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3116, 21 June 1917, Page 7

PATRIOTIC SOCIETY

RESIGNATION OF THE. SECRETARY

ASKED TO RECONSIDER

DECISION

There was a Ipnsn interlude al Ihn meeting of Hip W'clliugtou r««fio«Jo Ninety on Tuesday evening whoii 'ho President (Hon. .1. CI. W. -AitKon. M-L-l----sin.!ril that a Idler had revived conveying Ihe resignation of Mr; . osopu Lewis' Hs'wcrotjii'v of Iho fiociely.. In .he, course of his letter Mr. Lewis sla to, I Ihal. lie, liii.l tried (o "do his bit '<? ■'" best of his ability, Iml in vww "I «' l » fact 1.1 mI; his methods <li<l not appear to please some people ho Jm.l no nltornnllvo i bint lo rcsiAii ill order Hint Homcpnc morn capable could tnko "P tho duties. Jho loiter ramo liko a bombshell to- '""f ; <« Ihoso present, though they knew there had been someanonymousand ,lultlul ■ wrrrspondoDco in Iho Press. . Tho Hon. J. (i. W. Ail.keii«l«led ""at ho ivas .-lirare of llie magnificent .woik achieved by Air. Lewis, who had worked liko a Trojan, and pointed oui lli. . in liis opinion Hie society <ouW iiol at«>nl. such a knock-out blow without ir.ciucs.fiii" consideration by Mr. Lewis of wlml. ho" felt sure would I>o (ho .linnailMMlH opinion of nil present, viz., that All. Lewis bo requested to withdraw his resignation. . ,„„, , n ■ Mr. I). MXaren moved: hat I hit. mooting, of the Now Zealand Patriotic boeielv request Mr. Lewis lo w.thdraw Ins letter of resignation." The speaker fell, sure thai, everyone present knew tlio i resignation had been tondorod out ot o spirit of pnro patriotism. Tho members Ol tho executive of tho society had absolute confidence in him, in his ability, and in his integrity. Air. M'LaTon inrIhee stated that, ho had been closely associated witli Dm secretory for some five or six years, and ho characterised the criticism levelled at Mr. Lewie .w »» lutely dastardly. ~ ~ Mr. B. .T. Colley, in seconding the motion, stated thai' ho knew thai, the sncioty had in Mr. Lewis n Mcrolw and a man second to none. To his persona knowledge tho statements. current and published in some of the papers had no basis in fact, and.-ho know equally as well as all other members thai: Mr. Lewis had been working .purely from molives of patriotism. Mr. James M'Tntosh said- ho wao sure that no man in Wellington, and that, was saving a good. denl. had given nearly as much in time, trouble, or money for the. fiako of the Dominion and tho King ami Motherland ag had been dono by tho secretary. He felt very deeply hurt al llio cowardly innuendos that had teen niado respecting Mr. Lewis, and ho felt Iho time was opportune to express the absolute confidence of each and. every member of tho society with regard, lo Mr. Lewis. Ho felt is would, he an irreparable loss should Mr. Lewis insist upon his resignation being accepted. Mr. (!. M.TiUko said ho had eiteoluto confidence in Mr. Txswis, -whom ho knej lo ho a most honourable and straightforward man. who had, in a self-denying spirit, "put forth his utmost efforts to help the cause. ~,.,- r Colonel M'lntosh said he knew few men who possessed tlio '>?™ssary knowledge, tact, energy, and ability to fill Uie position held by Mr. Urns for Ihe last Ihroo years. He pointed out thai nt a rocenl'mocting of Iho executive a tmolulinn of confidence and trust in (he secret nry had been recorded on the. minutes. Mr. Brownrigg fully endorsed fID Mat had been said by previous speakers, ana added that without the valuable services rendered by Mr. Lewis, no such society as the New Zealand Patriotic Society would ever have come into cxistCn M°r W. 15. Puller said he could not speak too highly of Mr. Lewis's worthin* a secretary, <md with Mr. Brownrrg that the society could not. exist ivilhout the service* of Mr. Lewis.. . Mr V. W. MBther was of tho opinion Hint no one of whom lie knew could adequately fill the position held by Mr. Lewis'durimr the last three years- ■ Captain M/Parlnne suggested that a letter should be sont lo Mr. Lewis embodying the remarks of tho and requesting him to withdraw his resignation. He know that Mr. Lewis was in-, capable of anything of a mean or dishonest nature. Tlio Hon. .T. G. W. Alton called for an expression of opinion from members i.f the coinmitteo regarding tho resolution that a resume of tho remark mado by speakers should bo presented to Mr. Lewis, and it was unanimously • decided tnat tlio suggestion of Captain M I-arlane should ,be carried out. , ~ T • A letter has been written to Mr. Lewis by the Hon. J. 0. TV. Aitken asking him to withdraw his resignation on the eroivnds that it would be "a death-blow to the society." Mr. Lewis is to give a reply to-day.