HARD HIT!

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8611, 23 December 1913, Page 8

HARD HIT!

COMPETITIONS SOCIETY PAYS 12s IN THE £< A WINDING-UP MEETING. NOTHING FOB MB BAEYEKTZ. The affair* of the New Zealand Competitions Society have been creating some interest locally, owing to the fact that financially the society is seriously embarrassed. In fact, a meeting of the executive last evening was to aU intents and purposes a winding-up ot matters. There were present—Messrs E. C. Dewey, A. M. Lewis, H. Plimmer, G. M. Clark, J. M. Geddis, J. W. Carr, J. H. Helliwell, and James Dykes (secretary). Mr Devvy was voted to the chair. The secretary made a statement to the effect that that day ho had gone round to all the creditors of « e society. and they bad agreed to ivccept 1& In the £ in settlement of their claims. Mr Dykes eaid that ho had secured signatures to the following document, which had been drawn up for the purpose by Mr Lewy: We, the undersigned creditors of the New Zealand Competitions Society, hereby mutually agree that after payment of rents, salaries, and wages in full tv© will accept in full settlement of our respective aocounts the sum of 12s in th© £» sub-i-ect to an audit of the accounts being effected after this payment is made and a duly certified balancesheet being produced to us. It is to be understood that if there are any further moneys available for payment of the . society's debts the surplus will b© provided pro rata amongst us.

This was signed by Messrs Ferguson and Osborne, £2OO 15s; Wbitoomhe and Tombs, £1 Is; “Dominion,” £55 11s; F. J. Pinny, £6l 17s 6d; Victoria College Students’ Association, £3; W. H. Edwards and Son, £5; Coulls, Culling and Co., £9 Is Id; Scoullar Co., £2 15s 6d; Dresden Piano Co., £2 18s 4d; H. E. Geddis and Co., £l4 2s 6d; Remington and Roneo Co., 12s 9d; “New Zealand Times” Co., £7O los; G. P. Hanna, £4 3s; Chas. Begg and Co., £1 5s lOd; B. Martin, Ltd., £is 3s 6d; Gordon and Gotch, £1 2s 8d; Blundell Bros, £64 18s; W. Littlejohn, £3B 9s 6d; Charles Haines, £3/ 13s; Empiro Box-Making Co.. £l3 10s,

“EXCEPT BAEYERTZ I”

The secretary explained that the creditors had willingly signed the document. This was the most satisfhclory way of settling with them. If the City Council had been a little more generous, things might have been a little better for the society. The others, however, appeared to bo satisfied. A member: Except Baeyertz! Another member: How about the prize-winners. The secretary: They come into this —l2s in the £. Mr Lewis: Can the City Council go further? Can they get blood out oi a stone?

Mr Sykes: Yes. Mr Lewey than moved that the sums be paid according to the secretary’s statement. This was agreed to.

MR BAEYERTZ AM) THE SOCIETY.

The secretary then went into the correspondence connected with the appointment of Mr Baeyertz, and the final minute showed that Mr Baeyertz had adhered by telegram to his first offer to act as judge for £75 if the competitions paid; if not, for nothing. A member: Exactly, the original terms —£75 or nothing. Mr Levvey expressed the legal opinion that the terms must mean the society’s offer of £SO. Mr Geddis: With all duo deference to you, that opinion does not hold jfith the .word ‘'original.’!

Mr Dewey: I admit it i* open, to gumont. Mr Helliwell then moved that Mn Baeyerte bo not paid, the £3O, as suggested by th© society. Th© motion lapsed, for want of » •eoonder.

Mr Clark then moved that Ms Baeyerta be paid £3O. Mr Plrmmeir moved a* an amendment that tbs original offer by , Mri Baeyortz of £75 or nothing being paid him he agreed to. This was carried by 7 votes to 1. Mr Helliwell said he thought this! was right. Ho would now move that an honorarium of £3O /be paid M© Baeyertz. Mix Carr seconded the motion.

Mr dark: The creditors will not bs misled if we do that? Mr Dewey: That is the point. I think this is directly opposed to out last motion. ‘

“ WE’RE BEFORE THE PUBLIC I’” A member suggested that they should go into committee to discuss the mat* ter further.

Mr Levvey: We can’t go into committee. I wouldn’t have it. We’re before the public now, and we must act openly., The chairman declared the motion lost on the voices. On the motion of Mr Plimmer, the following motion wao carried:—“That, the society express its heartiest thanks to the secretary (Mr J. Dykes) for the energy and tact in bringing about A satisfactory settlement of the financial obligations of the society to its creditors, and at the same time to express! our sense of gnatitude to the creditors for the liberal spirit in which they hav«, met the society in the unfortunate position it was placed in through the effects of the recent strike.” MR DYKES’S OFFER.

Mr Dykes said he was surprised all the society refusing to pay the £3O toMr Baeyertz. The latter had worked very hard, and no one knew it better than he (Mr Dykes). He wanted to in» form them that as he had been paid £l5O, he intended to, hand £3O of this to Mr Baeyertz. Mr Lewis: That is very liberal of M» Dykes, but I don’t think it should b& countenanced by the society. Mr Plimmer: It is nothing to do with us what Mr Dykes does with hia money.

Mr Levvey: I think that is outside the scope of the meeting. Mr Lewis said that there were some suspicious people about who wanted ta know who was growing fat out of the society. Ho moved that a condensed balance-sheet be published in the newspapers.

After the opinion had been expressed that this was unnecessary, it was do-' cidod to advertise that the audited balance-sheet could be seen at the seo« retary’s office. A member: Are we going to meet again,

Another member: Are there going to be any more competitions?

The secretary (laughing): No, w» can’t get any more credit! The meeting then adjourned sine di<.