A FARCICAL DECISION.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LII, Issue 13696, 28 May 1915, Page 7

A FARCICAL DECISION.

m BUILDING SOCIETY, AND HOSPITAL^ SHIP. (Special to Herald.) AUCKLAND, this day. The question whether a donation be given to. the Hospital Ship Fund] was the subject of an. animated discussion at the annual meeting of the Auckland Terminating Building Society, the result being a farcical one, inasmuch as the large sum of twopence farthing was eventually voted to the fund at the instance of Mr John Payne, M.P. The chairman of directors (Mr J. F. Buddie) was asked during his speech whether the society had given anything to the fund. Mr Buddie replied that it had not. the directors having been advised that 'they had no power. He regretted that this was so. Mr J. R-. Lundon proposed a resolution, instructing the directors to make a levy of 1 8 per share for the purpose mentioned. This was seconded. The chairman remarked that he doubted if the meeting could bind absent shareholders, with whom the levy would be purely voluntary. The proposal would of course mean circularising everyone. Mr R. J. Entrican (a director) proposed as an amendendment that each of the nine directors lie voted £50, m addition to his honorarium, with instructions to give it to the- fund. This proposal was seconded by a gentleman, who observed that if the G&rmans were successful the secretary's next balance sheet would be short and simple, consisting of the words "Bill took the lot." (Laughter and applause.) Mr John Payne, who was present as a shareholder, here rose and protested that the meeting was being asked to vote away the savings of working men and women for a work which ought to be chargeable upon the income tax. He declared that the Government ought to be urged to fit out the hospital ship from the country's revenue,, instead of appealing to the people for funds. Two other objectors voiced their views. Mr Lundon having withdrawn his motion m favor of Mr Entrican's proposal, Mr Payne moved an .amendment, amid some laughter, that the , amount voted to each director be reduced by* £49 19s llg. This found a seconder. . Mr Lundon protested against the dignity of the meeting being lowered by such an absurd proposal. Tlie chairman': You can mow that by a negative. Mr Payne again stated his objection. "The money ought to be paid by thje rich squatters and capitalists," he declared. "Their property is being defended by the boys at the front." A show of hands was taken, and the amendment was declared earned hy 75 votes to 65. Mr .]'. Q. Haddow then proposed that the amount paid to tho directors be £45 each. He urged that the society was an extremely wealthy one, and the gift would be a mere .nothing lo tho individual shareholders. The chairman : Less than 6d a share. Mr Haddow's amendment was lost. In reply to the chairman Mr Payne declined to withdraw his motion, which was then formally put and, carried. "It's a farce," declared Mr Buddie m a disgusted tone. "The matter drops."