FARMERS’ UNION CLUB.

Gisborne Times, Volume X, Issue 961, 6 August 1903, Page 3

FARMERS’ UNION CLUB.

'To the Editor Gisborne Times. Sir, —There appears to bo every probability of a cieavugo in tho Farmers’ Union club at tho prosent timo, owing to the attitude taken up by two or threo members of the committee, whoso tactics might have a tondency to mislead tho farmers and influence them to join tho rival club, which I understand is to bo called the Farmers’ Club. Tho following are tho tacos of the case, os far as my knowledge goes: Tho formation of tho club was first mootod by the To Arai branch of tho Farmors’ Union, and brought before tho Provincial Executive, and that body appointed a provisional committeo to carry out tho initial arrangements. The greatest difficulty was experienced at tho outset in finding suitable rooms, but at longth the old sample rooms of the Masonic Hotel woro selected. Mr J. A. Harding was approached, and aftor considerable solicitation, ho agreed to have tho rooms converted and furnished as at presont, although he conld ill-afford at tho timo the loss of tho sample-room accommodation. Had a lease boon stipulated for threo yoars instead of ono it would have been agreed to, as tho Provisional Committee considered tboy had secured the best accommodation which could be got at the time. During tho tenure Mr Harding was at all times willing to meet the committoo, assuring them that should they be in want of increased accommodation, or a reduction in rent, he would give it his hearty consideration. Now, sir, how has this treatment on Mr Harding’s part been returned ? We find that an individual membor of the committee, Mr Lissant Clayton (who was also a membor of the Provisional Committee), corresponding privately with Mr Charles Dunlop with a view of obtaining an offer from that gentleman some months prior to tho special committeo meeting, and yet at that meeting the committee were led to understand that tho offer had come

straight from Mr Dunlop, and they had only 24 hours to consider whether they would accept his offer or not. At that mooting there wore only eight out of seventeen members of tho committoo present, two of whom I understand dissented to the coramittoe taking any stops in the matter until tho special goneral mooting hod discussed tho question, The ballot, to my mind, was urged on with indecent hasto, the object being plainly to get members committed to vote on tho proposed rooms boforo tbo matter was proporly pub boforo tho special general meeting. When it bceamo known that Mr Harding had not boen consulted officially a complete revulsion of feeliDg sot in, and it was evident that many of those pvosont (including mysolf) had altered their opinion. Tho aotion of one member of tho committee clearly shoivod that ho was actuated by personal motives, notwithstanding his disclaimer, and it is a matter of rogrot that ho should have found two other mombors to support him, well knowing what those motives woro. lam quite prepared to substantiate all that I havo stated in this letter, and can only regret tho noccssity for penning it; but perhaps this explanation may bo tho means of causing tho farmers to pause boforo joining tho so-called Farmers’ Club.—l am, etc., Hilton N. Lysnar.