MEETING STOPPED

Evening Star, Issue 22447, 18 September 1936, Page 4

MEETING STOPPED

“HITLER-LIKE CONTROL" ALLEGED YACHT AND MOTOR BOAT CLUB DISSENSION Following a complaint that the meeting had not been called in the correct manner, in that members were not given an opportunity to nominate candidates for office during the coming year, a motion that the meeting should be postponed was carried last night at what was to have been the annual meeting of the Otago Yacht and Motor Boat Club. The business of reading the notice calling the meeting and reading the minutes of the last annual meeting had been disposed of, when one member submitted the above complaint. The motion was seconded, and others in the hall clearly signified their appreciation of the motion. After discussion the motion was carried by a majority of four votes and the meeting dispersed. Some qualms were felt by members afterwards that the mayor (the Kev. E. T. Cox), who had an nounced his intention of attending, might come along and find no meeting. Commodore A. W. Hazelwood presided over a good attendance. The question of whether the meeting was quite in order was raised by Mr 6. Geddes. Notification of the meeting had been sent out by circular, included in which was a list of nominations for office-bearers. A notice at the foot of the circular stated that further nominations must be in the secretary’s hands by September 7, the dav after the date on the circular, while club rules said there must be 10 days’ notice before an election of officers. Mr Geddes said that other members had complained, and he was not raising the question on his own account alone. He moved that the meeting be postponed, so that members could be given a decent length _of time in which to forward nominations for offices. , , , ~ The motion was seconded by Mr 1. Henderson, who said that there was a “ Hitler-like control ” over the club by certain members. who used methods foreign to British justice.” The motion was received with acclamation by those present. The Chairman explained that there had been a small mistake in the matter of dates. The club rules stated that seven days’ notice should be, given. The meeting had advertised, while a notice had also been posted up at the boat harbour Interjections: We don’t live at the boat harbour. Mr Geddes: This meeting is not in order. There are quite a,number of other matters to be dealt with. The committee, of the club think they can “ axe ” anybody, but they are not going to “ axe ” me while I' am still living. Interjection: They won’t do it when you are dead. Mr Geddes: It would be interesting to know why the Social Committee resigned. The secretary of the club is in perfect order, and I ask him to produce a list* of those who nominated the officers. The rule states that nominations must be, in writing. _ . , Mr J. T. Paul: If this meeting is in order, I ask that the discussion be conducted under the correct rules of debate. : ~ . Mr Geddes: There..is another point. This is the only meeting since the last annual meeting. There are men nominated for positions in the club in whom a considerable number of the members have no confidence. You have nominated those people around the table, and apparently it has • been the custom in the pa'st to nominate these men, and will continue to 1 be the custom. Although I have my own name down for one of those positions, I am not looking for support. There are two men nominated for positions whom I intend to challenge. The Chairman then announced his intention of putting ,the motion to the meeting, and asked if anybody wanted to speak to it. ' , , , Mr R. Cahill: Although I have attended every committee meeting held this year I have not seen any underhand business. The reason why the annual meeting is so late is that wo have had to wait until we had obtained a suitable hall for the purpose. I know that officers have spoken to a number of club members with regard to nominations. The Chairman then put the motion to the, meeting, the motion being carried. After the announcement that only financial members could vote, a further show of hands was held, the motion being carried by 14 to 10. Mr Geddes: What time is the mayor going to be here ? _ Mr Paul: The meeting is finished— Mr Geddes has disrupted it. , Mr 0. W. Sundstrum said he had been connected with the club for many years, and he knew that a certain section of the members. were out to wreck it. Mr Geddes: I am going to report this matter to the Press, and I want them to be careful what they say. It was an insinuation to say _ that any man had come here to disrupt the meeting. Mr Paul: Mr Geddes has spoiled the meeting. What he was saying was just mere nonsense. Mr Geddes: The best thing the committee could do is to resign. As a body they have fallen down on their job. They have not done anything during the year. Mr Paul; Any 10 members or the club can call a meeting of the club. .1 know that if any of the officers had been approached with this matter a meeting would have been called. I think it was quite unwise to stop this meeting. Mr Geddes contended that calling a meeting was not as easy as Mr Paul made it out to be. The Chairman then declared the meeting closed. OLYMPIC TEAM RETURNING RY RANGITIKI Press Association —By Telegraph—Copyright LONDON, September 17. (Received September 18, at 2 a.m.) The Rangitiki’s crowded complement includes the New Zealand Olympic team. Dr Porritt, who dined witli the team before it sailed, told the Associated Press that Boot, if trained hard, would be in the picture in the Japan Games, He considered that New Zealand athletes needed cinder tracks for future training.