The J. G. Ward Farmers Association.

Southland Times, Issue 13481, 15 June 1896, Page 3

The J. G. Ward Farmers Association.

TO THE EDITOR.

Sm, — Your correspondent " Interested," whose letter appeared in your issue of Thursday, has very little sense or he would not have written as he did about tfee management of the above Association. Has the Association not got a board of directors to manage the business, consisting [of the Hon. J. G.jWard, Messrs A. Pyper, A. Baldey, J. Hnyes, and T. Green 1 Surely " Interested" does not mean to question those gentlemen's ability and integrity ? Have the shareholders not been paid good dividends, aud purchase! s good bonuses, and the officials good salaties and bonuses during the career of the Association ? What more does "Interested " require ? This is just another of the class of writers whom the president of the Association freely condemned, and it is too bad for anyone to ask such pertinent questions. I think the Premier should introduce a bill intituled "Co-operative Associations Defamation Bill," to prevent shareholders criticising the actions of directors and make them liable to heavy fines and imprisonment for so doing ; tbifl bill to include protection of directors of advisory boards of mining syndicates and companies. Such men as " Interested " are not capable to understand, and conld not comprehend delicate, complicated financial transactions, and these affairs are best left in the hands of experts of known ability and repute. True co-operation must contain all the elements of faithful trust and obedience, otherwise failure will follow. I notice that oar City Fathers were going in to have their works carried out on the co operative principle, and should consider that His Worship the Mayor and some of the Councillors can by intuition and experience speak with authority of the benefits which flow from co-operation. — lam, &c, Disinterested. 12th.JJune