GREY VALLEY MINERS

Grey River Argus, 10 May 1934, Page 6

GREY VALLEY MINERS

Mr Furdy in Reply (To l lie Editor.') Sir. — In a paragraph published the ••Argus" of May 7th, describing a mcetiug of the Grey \ alley Lnion. it wa> stated that the balance sheet was adopted by J<» votes to S. -W--tually. the balance sheet was adopteo unanimously. I nominated Mr I’. CWebb as prospective candidate for the next Pa filamentary election. Al. - A. M. Lagan nominated Mr Da\<• ward. Air Mi-Lagans motion lapsed for want of a seconder. Mr P. C. Webb was then selected upon a unanimous vote. A notice of motion of noconfid' nce in Messrs .1. Sn eaton, A. Me Lagan and .1. Develin had been posted to me during the week. The Chairman. Mr J. Devlin, refused to accept the motion. I then moved that all oilu-inl positions be declared vacant and nominations be invited. 'ihe chairman refused to accept this motion. 1 then challenged the (hairhaving his ruling defeated. The chairman then declared the meeting closed.. Messrs Smeaton. Alcl.agan and Devlin walked out of the hall amidst jeers anil groans, some of those present whistling ‘‘The Dead March.’’ I was then invited to continue the meeting and take nominatiins. I advised those present that it would be best to wait until I had molding if the Exctilive. This was agreed upon. A vow of confidence and appreciation of ser vices tendered to myself was carried, amidst applause. Following the publication of your report of the meeting (I may say 1 raised an ibjedion to (he publication if anv account of the meeting, ano was not re.-ponsilde in -any way lor its publication-. Mr J. Smeatnu published a statement in the ‘‘Star.’’ In it preface to his remarks, ht* assert 1 - thtr there is "not one word of t rut h ’' in the statement as published by the •‘Argus." My foregoing statement is accurate, and can be used as a basis of comparison with the one published and it is somewhat amusing to reliecl that Air Smeaton is chairman ol the ‘ ‘ Argus.'' Concerning the signatures on the balance sheets, the signatures are sti 1 ’ available for inspection. I'he balance sheets on previous occasions have been written on separate sheets, and no complaint has been made. 1 do not JifiOW who signed the books, but. as i knew they were correct. ) returnel them for reaudit. 1 brought the books up-to-date, and requested thw auditor to type out a balance sheet for each period under review. Il'ihe did, and they have been printed and eirenlated amongst the members, and adopted. Mr Smeaton stated that the audita:

signed Ihe books despite flic fad that the accounts had not been signed by Ihr chairman. In common j'airnoss to the auditor, who is a business mail ind has a reputation to maintain, it should have been slated that the audi I tor ntlacher a I'oot not e 1o t h:i, effect. The usual practice has been for the chairman ro sign all the accounts en ■doc ;i day or so before the audit. Mr Smeaton slates that rhe que< Don being voted on at Sunday’s meet iiig was ‘‘Purdy's action in endeavouring in get a meeting held when the ’hree officials were away.’’ Sir. the following' •I\ nil isrim'i.lwill perhaps explain the situation concerning the calling of the meeting: — NOTICE. NO MEETING of the GREY VALLEY AIINERS’ UNION has been authorised by me. J. DEVLIN. 1 ’resident. We Ili ngl on. AT :i meeting of I lie GREY MALLEY WORKERS’ INION, held on April 25, it was agreed that a FUR : THER AT FETING would be held on j APRIL 29. Mr ,1. Devlin. President. ' vas presiding, and agreed upon same, i However, it gives mt' great pleasure to ' agree |o the postponemeiit. It was due entirely io the nonI statement by Mr Devlin that he was I leaving the district for Wellington. (Signed ) W. PT’RDY. My action in publishing my adver- | fisement in reply Io Mr Devlin’s adj vertisemeiit was endorsed. I proven j that, at the time the B'.ackbalt I nion | was being demolished, as a result oi i friction amongst the officers, a meeting was convened nt Wallsend in the usual way. 'l'he chairman and vice- ' chairman were not present. Mr d. i Develin acted as chairman al that I mi'eting. and my action was endorsed j j in calling the meeting, even in th-' I absence of the chairman and vice- - chairman. However, when I - first rend MSmeabHi’s statement. I had intended i following his im-tics; bui I feel that ' the Movement is bigger than the man. I can imagine Mr Smeul'in’s feelings j when he was hoofed out of the hall; I '-nt, as Mr Smeaton totters around on his dailv task, lie may console himi sp]f with the thought that the remuneration he receives f'»r services i rendered certainly compensates him for those little unpleasant nessos.—-J 'im. etc., W, PLRDY. LEAGUE FOOTBALL - 11 in <■ k I-a 11 seniors iv. Marisf): — ! Rilch'o. Osbourne. .1. Neil-on, J. I Dodds. Ware, (’alder, Smith. Gilman i las. Anderson. Jno. Anderson. R. Clark. W. Kells.