A CHAIRMAN'S RULING.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1556, 27 September 1912, Page 4

A CHAIRMAN'S RULING.

Sir,—There is a. Chamber of Commerci in Raglan. In its early infancy it passec ti resolution pledging it to use its endeavours to get a line of railway froir Huntly to the Raglan Harbour. Subse t|uently tho possibility of other routesnne from Ngaruawahia, another froir Frankton—was brought before the notice of the chamber. A strong party whs gradually formed, advocating the Frank ton route. The outcome of their effort: Was that notieo of motion was given t< rescind, tho former resolution of - tht clumber binding it down to the Hunth ronto. All formalities were complied wit! and.a special meeting of the chambei was called to consider the.motion,-"Thai the recent resolution of the chamber pledging it to advocatc tho Huntly route be rescinded." - • The motion was duly proposed, spoker to, and seconded. Then an amendmetil was brought forward, "That no furthei action be taken by the chamber in th< matter of a railway to Raglan until aftci the visit of (certain) Ministers." Perhaps for a flill appreciation of th( position local circumstance;; want touch ing on. The townspeople who could at tend every meeting and stay -there til midnight if necessary were as a bodj against' tlio_ rescinding. Tho - country farmers coming in over the mud roads "some of them ten, some up to twonlj miles, were, as a body, for resoinding. LI was important to the farmers that th< division should take place within reason able time, as they had tho long joitrnej home. Between fifty and sixty person: were present at the meeting. It was obviously the duly of the chair man to rule all efforts at delay out ol order, which did not conform to th< strictest canons of debate. He ruled th< abovo amendment out of order for tho following reasons— ' (1) It involved the direct, negative ol the motion, sinco if such an amendment were carried tho motion , would-be lost ir its entirely. Moro than that, had the motion been lost in a straight-out issue the feeling of the chamber, whose personnel was growing in numbers constantly, could at any time havo been again tested after compliance with the formalities, whilst tho amendment, if carried would have closed the months of the Krankton advocates for an indefinite time, (2 It was irrelevant:. Tho motion referred to a past act of the chamber—the amendment to its future line of action. (3) It was confusing,-sinco the same man might qnito consistently und reasonably.bo in favour of rescinding the former resolution' of'tho chambcr, and also be ir favour of. the chamber...tnkinc no furthei action iii railway, matters till after the visit of Ministers. ... • The chairman's action was called -■.« question, but- ho- bouMlndt iSre'hisvway't'c any. other, decision. The following ■ 'two letter.* subsequently appeared in the local paper:—' , . • "Raglan.; August 26,. 1912.—The Hon. the Speaker, Hor.se of Representatives, Wellington. Doaa- sir,—You would confer , a great favour on a largo number of residents of this district if you would kindly give your .opinion .'as to -whether the amendment as mentioned-below ought oi ought hot to have been allowed. At a former westing ol the Kaglan Chamber of Commerce, a resolution was passed advocatins tho .construction of a railway f rc !I 1 to Raglan. At a mcetinc held on Saturday a motion was proposed ro rescind the former resolution re railway construction. An amendment was proposal, 'That no further action lx> taken by this chamborm tho matter of a railthe Prime Minister and .Minister for Public Works havo paid their promised visit to this district.' The president refused to accept-the amendment, ruling that it was a direct negative to the motion. I would bo greatly obliged if you would let mo know if this ruling is correct.-Thanking you in anticipation, J. am, yours faithfully, S. Pelham." (Same letter sent to the Chairman of Committees.) "Speaker's Rooms, Wellington, August 2!>, IDI2.—S. Pelham, Esq., Raglan.—Dear sir,—l havo to acknowledge receipt of your letter of August 28. In reply thereto I beg to advisa you that in my opinion the chairman of tlio Raglan Chamber of Commerce ruled incorrectly in-refusing to accept the amendment proposed by vou to tho resolution. My opinion must, of course, be read in conjunction with tho facts as stated in your letter, which I return herewith.—l remain, yours truly, A. R. Guinness. Speaker." ' ' A largo number of the settlers here feel that Sir A. R. Guinness lias subscribed his name, and tho prestige of Ilia position, to a great mistake and injustice and would bo pleased if vou could see your way to ventilate the subject in your columns.—l am, etc., „ , ' . W. M. SANDERS. Raglan, September 18. TOn the facts submitted to him, we can. not see that Sir Arthur Guinness could have given any other decision-than that which ho forwarded.]