“SCOTS AT LOGGERHEADS”

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 190, 14 May 1928, Page 10

“SCOTS AT LOGGERHEADS”

MR. AV. STUART WILSON IN REPLY.

Sir, —The headline “Scots Differ”, in yesterday morning’s "Dominion” might lead readers to believe that the Wellington Caledonian Society was addicted to having violent differences of opinion, which would be quite erroneous. Tlie meeting was well organised by Captain R. H. Nimmo aud two of his friends, in a similar way to the meeting of the Wellington Automobile Association last Monday evening, when the proposals of the executive were thrown out. Air. Nimmo’s childish attack on myself came as a complete surprise, as he had not warned me that lie was going to attack me in such an unsportsmanlike and unwarranted way. Under the circumstances taken completely off my guard, I am afraid I made a pool - defence. What surprised me very much was the attitude of Air. A. B. Sievwright, Colonel T. AV. AlcDonald, and Air. A. J. McCurdy (exAlayor of the Upper Hutt). 'They all opposed the amendment whicii was moved which would have had the effect of referring the same to tlie new directors, who would have been able to have considered the position under calmer conditions and free from the shock attack, which had been for some months cunningly and surreptitiously prepared. Tlie statement of the speakers that the Scots of AVeliington were going cap-in-hand to anybody was entirely opposed to the scheme or plan of campaign contemplated by the directors. Aly proposals were fully set out on different occasions when addressing various members of the society, which in a few words meant raising five thousand £lO debentures on some suitable site in AVeliington for a building to provide a modern home for AVellington’s Scots, which would produce from 8 to 10 per cent, interest on the debentures to those furnishing the money. This does not sound much like a begging expedition. The membership of the AVeliington Caledonian ■ Society comprises a large number of industrial workers, whose lot would be very much improved if a modern building could be financed whicii would give them many advantages in the way of establishing a really modern restaurant where splendid meals could be provided at a nominal cost to the members, and also secure the best food, pure milk supplied to man, not pasteurised "dead” milk as supplied by the AVeliington City Corporation. There would also be large social club-rooms, billiard rooms, gymnasium, concert and dance hall, and the latest discoveries of science, such as broadcast receiving equipment, which lam listening to'in a house of a friend at the present moment, being broadcasted by 2YA AVeliington. This is it stirring Highland inarch. "Jamie's Patrol” played by the First Battalion AVeliington Regimental Band, about 9.28 ibis evening (Thursday). I only wish we had club-rooms, where hundreds of my brother Scots could listen to this wonderful music combed from the air.

This establishment would be one which the Scots, of 'Wellington could point out with pride. Our Scottish community in Wellington is clear-visioned enough to provide the money for such good interest on their investment for their less well-en-dowed compatriots. Captain IL 11. Ninrmo’s vanity appears to be very much wounded because the directors of the society endorse this policy with .only the secretary and himself in opposition. I do not believe the members of our society will for one moment allow this movement to be chocked. During the past two years, as far as I am able to observe. Captain Nimmo’s contributions to the welfare of the society have been publicity-making speeches, while he has allowed the hard-working social committee during the past twelve months to provide the funds between 1400 and £5OO to enable the society to be successfully financed. Captain Nimmos mana gem ent is well evidenced by the tact that the large membership of the society has only produced £5O odd for the year. Captain Nimmo can scarcely flatter himself on this result. It is my intention to still continue with the project. I tee! confident that the Scots of M elhngton will not' allow this matter to remain iu its present unsatisfactory state, particularly as pointed attention has been drawn to our home down a lane in Wellington by a visitor from Dunedin, who recently wrote about this in the New’ Zealand Scotsman.” and further stated that a home of this kind was not worthy ogcSehtf ots hm mh mh mh mh mh h of the Scots of Wellington.—l am. etc., IV. STUART WILbON.