MAORI LANDERS' ASSOCIATION

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 55, 14 September 1928, Page 4

MAORI LANDERS' ASSOCIATION

(To the Editor.) Sir, —In your issue of Wednesday last "JN'.ew Zealander" again endeavours in a manner peculiar "not to throw cold' water" on the movement for the formation of a Maorilandors' Association in Wellington, aud ■it soems to me that his idea is to convoy the impression, partly by an execrable forni of attack known as innuendo, that the provisional committee made "determined efforts" to do something which he does not approve of; that salaries or honoraria of office-bearers may be unduly higfi, and that, generally, the association.has something to conceal. "New Zealander" stated in his-first le'ttor.that he was present at the meeting :at which the proposed constitution was presented for adoption, "■uiendihent, or rejection, whichever the meeting "thought fit, and, if he does not agree with what the majority did at tho meeting, that ■is the majority's misfortune, but why make a public lament about it? In regard to the alleged "determined efforts" made to have one of the members of the provisional committee - appointed a3 organiser-of the movement at a commission of 20 per tent, on all moneys collected by him, the provisional committee had discussed the matter fully, and it was thought that it was only fair that the man who had acted as honorary organiser from the inception of tho movement should be given the first refusal of tho job. On the question of payment for his services, as we had no funds in hand and could guarantee nothing in the future, payment by results was the best we could offer. The 25 per cent, commission was suggested by Mr. Watson,, who is a keen and able business man, and who has given more material help to $he association so far than any other man in Wellington, and his suggestion was adoptod. On behalf of the provisional committee, I moved at the general meeting tho adoption of the recommendation, and after discussion an amendment was carried by an overwhelming majority, "That the appointment of an organiser bo left in the hands of the management committee, with power to act." Can anyone, except "New Zealander," say that there was-anything underhand or not above board in connection, with that bit of business? The management committee has not yet dealt definitely with the question, but, after it has done so, it I will report fully to the next general moeting. Is there anything unconstitutional or unbusinesslike in dealing with the question-.in tho way it has been dealt with? . I must again correct '' New Zealander" in tlio matter of enrolments and -subscriptions, collected, althoughI thought that by now he would not require further correction, and insist that no proposal was ever put forward or entertained that tho organiser should be paid for onrolling members. His payment was, and is, intended to be a percentage only on the moneys actually collected by him. If "New Zealandor" arid his friends pay their subscriptions direct to the secretary, the treasurer, or any other member of the management committee, then the organiser will; receive no .percentage from those subscriptions. Tho salaries (or honoraria) ./of the secretary and the treasurer, as was provided foriir the constitution and approved of by tho general meeting, at which "New Zealander" says ho was present, are to be fixed by the management committee, and I trust that very soon we shall bo able to offer them at least some slight reward for their valuable time and attention,,, although it will not by a long way 'be commensurate with the services they have rendered. "The labourer is worthy of his hire." There is nothing to prevent every member enrolling two or threo other

members, as "New Zealauder" suggests, and their subscriptions need not be paid to tho organiser. ' That is a capital idea if taken up enthusiastically, and I thank "Now Zealauder" for bringing it forward. The figures mentioned by your correspondent to support his claim of over-payment to tho organiser border on tho fantastic. Whatever tho future may bring forth, at present our activities are necessarily confined to Wellington, and, if- the organiser collects subscriptions from 1000 members during the next three months, then I think lie will have (lone exceptionally well. "Now Zealauder V 100,000 is a joke, but I wish it were possible. Finally, if there wore many native-born New Zealanders iv Wellington of a similar disposition to "New Zealander," then all the poor organiser would, be likely to receive, metaphorically speaking, would be -to be sniped at .from behind ditches and hedges, and, further, there would never be an effective association of nativeborn New Zealanders so long as such ill-timed and wholly unjustifiable attacks were being made.—l am, etc., M. J. PORDE, President, Muoril-udcrs' Association.