The J. G. Ward Farmers' Association of New Zealand.

Otago Witness, Issue 1851, 17 August 1893, Page 5

The J. G. Ward Farmers' Association of New Zealand.

TO THE EDITOR.

Sib, — Aa a rule I do not notice annonymous writers. There are, however, exceptions to every rule, and a letter dated Invercargill, August 8, over the signature of " Subscriber,"

in Friday's Daily Times, calls for attention from me.

The writer attempts to convey an untrue statement concerning a business with which I am connected. He states, in reference to a meeting of shareholders in the J. G. Ward Farmers' Association, which took place in Invercargill last week, that the unanimous adoption of the balance sheet by the shareholders lacks point, because the balance sheet was not published, and the local press were nob present. I desire to say that the balance sheet of. the association was weeks ago distributed broadcast throughout Southland ; that at the meeting in question it was in the possession of every shareholder. The meeting, which was a large and representative one, lasted over two hours, the balance sheet was fully and favourably discussed, and unanimously adopted. The meeting was as open to the local press as it wan to your own representative. It was convened in the usual way, and the insinuation of " Subscriber " is therefore entirely unwarranted. If your representative has shown greater zeal than the representatives of the local pre3S it is all the more creditable to him and to you. In addition to this, an efficient shorthand report was taken of the whole proceedings, a copy of which will be published in extenso in the nexb issue of the " Southland Farmer," which circulates amongst the whole of the farmers of the district, and goes to every shareholder in the association and everyone with whom it does business. Hence it will be seen that the insinuation of "Subscriber" that publicity is not given to the balance sheet is as base as the unworthy motive which prompted it. Now the question arises, why should " Subscriber" evince such a profound interest in the concerns of this association, in which he is not a shareholder P He urges as an excuse for his anxiety on behalf of the association that it is offering its shares to the public. I may, however, state that, since tho business was formed into an association, no broker has been employed or asked to sell a share, and no pressure in this direction has been brought to bear upon anyone. We fortunately had previously a very large clientele and many | staunch friends and supporters, a number of I whom took the opportunity of becoming shareholders upon the formation of the association, a step which they have since had no reason to ! regret. And all those desirous of becoming shareholders have had the fullest information afforded them. I am pleased to say that wo have an excellent body of shareholders, including some of the most intelligent, discriminat ing, and best farmers in Southland. There are some men who, envious of their fellows, and incapable of doing any good for themselves or for others, are ever ready to cavil at and forebode evil to anything in which others succeed. They are the sort of men who are to be found skulking round corners, and endeavouring in an underhand way to blacken anyone who may bo opposed to them— in short, a class of people who find more time to attend toother people's business than to their own. These people are the curse of every commercial community. Had the association made a loss doting the half-year just ended, it would doubtless have given great satisfaction to such as these. Because, however, it has made a profit, we find some of these envious, incapable, and unsuccessful people trying to throw mud ; but, like all cowards, they do ib under the concealment of some friendly hedge, or keep themselves out of reach of the law. This association has not, by advertisement or otherwise, asked the public to subscribe to it. The business is one which is run entirely on co-operative lines. Its customers and those with whom it does business are its shareholders, and to them alone is the management responsible ; and all the lying scribbling in the world by such as " Subscriber," whose object is to damage it if he can, will nob deter it from, or interfere with, the course that has been laid out for the conduct of the business of the association. I have heard of one or two persons who have been 'particularly busy about the affairs of this association, and it is remarkable that they have themselves been signal and conspicuous failures in everything they have touched. Ido not object to fair and open criticism, but I have a supreme contempt for the spiteful tactics of jealous and envious opponents. I would recommend them to try and run their own affairs successfully and allow , others to do likewise. — I am, &c, August 11. J. G. Ward.

The Cromwell Argus states that from the rabbiters' .point of view the season just ended has proved a bad one on account of the heavy falls of snow.