THE HEPPLE FUND

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7868, 2 August 1911, Page 1

THE HEPPLE FUND

MR READE’S POSITION NOISY MEETING AT THE HUTT, CONFIDENCE IN THE PRESENT COMMITTEE. Mr J. W. Rcade, who, by resolutiol carried at a public meeting, was do posed from the secretaryship' of thl Hepple fund, addressed a crowded meet iug in St. James’s Hall, Lower Butt last night. The meeting was called bj Mr Reade to give him an opportunity t< lay before tho public the full facta ro lating to the formation of the threi committees and ”to obtain instruction! re the cash now locked np in the pos( office in tho name of tho treasurer and secretary." Mr F. E. Pethorick pro sided. It was evident that the public had no( assembled to treat the matter at issul in a serious mauuer. The whole thing

whs regarded in the light of a joke,- and many of the theatrical sayings and gea lures of Mr Reade caused roars o I laughter. At times these outburst! ' lasted for several minutes and tno cuair i ma ii bud a hard taslt to keep order.

The small boy element was very prova lent outside tue ball, and, at the request of Mr Reade, too cnairman made several excursions outside the building to try and put a slop to intermittent “ cai calls 5 ‘ and other weird cries. Finally, Mr -Petuei-ick induced a number of fb* outsiders to come into the bail. They bleu m through a side door and war* allotted seats in tbo front of the hall.

“If you boys do not behave your* selves, 55 said Mr Reade. when the ladi were seated, “ tbo chairman has power to order yon out and have you arrested, 51 , REGRET EXPRESSED.

In opening his address, Mr Reade said ho very much regretted tho uisagreo ment that had arisen. lie bad tiomj bis best to avoid it, but now that troubls bad cropped up ho was not going to shirk a light. Dirty work was being done by those who wero trying to place opprobrium upon him. He then detailed the history of tho three committees in order to show that “ No. 3 55 committee, which had deposed him, was realty endeavouring to usurp tho powers of tbo original committee. Do |Mr Reade) had been instrumental in convening tho third committee, and in spite of that an endeavour had beeu made to keep him out of it. Mrs Hopple, ho declared, wag surrounded by advisers. -Ho called attention to the housewhere she was living, stating it was not fit for her and her. .seven children'to dwell ..in, :■ and yet,, instead' of a proper.' house, being purchased in Mrs Hopple 5 s own name, certain people . were bringing pressure to bear to keep the widow in tho place she noiv occupied. He then made statements about certain persons who . bad been connected with the fund, some of his remarks being greeted with uproarious laughter. , .What would bo his position, be asked, if be handed over the funds of one committee to another committee and then the subscribers to the funds of the former asked what had become: of the . money? He would bo in an awk-', ward position. CONSIDERABLE INTERRUPTION. There was considerable interruption at this stage, and tho chairman had many difficulties; One person raised his voice above the din and askod Mr , Reads to state facts. ’«■ . "Lie down and go to sleep/ 5 retorted. Mr Reade. Tho chairman told tho interrupter that if bo did not like w-hat was being saidbe liad better go out. After Mr Reade had. made further statements ho concluded his address by saying; “X recognise the authority of the widow-. She is the boss of the wholeshow, and can do whatever she likes. 55

A dog fight at the back of the hall then lasted several minutes, the audience being highly delighted, and 1 when the competing dogs had been separated Mr Petherick moved: That this meeting requests tho members of the throe committees to select the names of involve gentlemen, from whom Mrs Hopple will , be asked to choose three, who will place the .money in the hands of the Public Trustee and instruct him as to its disposal. Mr P. C. Freeth seconded pro formal then moved as an amendment: That this meeting has tho fullest confidence in the gentlemen who have already been appointed by a public meeting to control the fund, and prefers to leave it in thlir hands. This was seconded by Mr Baldwin amicarried almost unanimously, Mr Reade said tho meeting had now taken tho matter out of his hands, and he would have nothing further to do with it. Mr Freeth rose to propose a further motion to the effect that -Mr Read'e be requested to hand over the money in - his possession to tho committee recently appointed. Mr Reade said there was no need to . put the motion, as he would do as suggested. A vote of thanks to tho chairman ter. minated the proceedings, the meeting closing quietly-