FARMERS’ UNION CLUB.

Gisborne Times, Volume X, Issue 946, 20 July 1903, Page 3

FARMERS’ UNION CLUB.

PROPOSED CHANGE OF, ROOMS !A! LIVELY MEETING. A special general meeting of thi above Club was held on Saturday morning to consider the propose! change of rooms to Dunlop’s build ings, and there were upwards of 4i members in attendance. Mr C. J Parker presided. Mr Hood proposed that member! should go and see the rooms prioj to holding the meeting. Mr Birrell held that it was theii own fault if members had not seer the rooms. Mr Chambers said the change from the present rooms would be for the better. 1 Members could take that for granted. ?Ir 11. N. Lysnar suggested that the correspondence between Mr Harding and the Club and the minutes of the last meeting should be read. The Chairman said the rooms could be inspected in about five minutes, and if anyone would second Mr I-lood’s motion he .would put it to the meeting. Mr H. N., Lysnar contended they had two or three weeks in which to do that. Mr Clayton seconded the motion and said a number of members had not seen the rooms. The motion was lost. Mr Birrell stated that no correspondence passed between him and Mr Harding. It had all been done ■by arrangement. ' Mr E. D. Bilham wrote with reference to the nature of the meeting, and raised the question whether the committee had any power to issue any proposal for decision by, ballot. He also questioned as ’ to whether Mr Harding had ever been approached on the matter, so as in any Way to meet the requirements or defects in the present arrangements. In the event of a ballot being in favor; of the Club’s removal to other quarters, whom was it proposed to elect as honorary members that would help to swell the revenue from the billiard-room to such an extent Farmers, as a rule, have not time or opportunity to play billiards and the constitution of the Union debars any but those interested in farming or farm products ; therefore, in the event of a deficit in the annual income, who will be liable ? the billiard players or the whole Club ? Mr Clayton then read Mr Dunlop’s offer, which he considered a generous one. Mr Dunlop. further offered the .whole of the top floor for £IOO. A month’s notice was sufficient if the Club required to leave the rooms at any time. As regards the question of billiards, he had £IOO in deben-. tures already, .without active canvass' Billiard rooms at other clubs had been a financial success, and they, .would also tend to popularise the rooms. There might be a suspicion that personal feeling attached to the matter; but he assured them there was not. He considered the present rooms too small. ■ Honorary, members .would keep the club alive. There was a feeling 'amongst the farming community that? the - rooms should be away, from hotels. Mr Tuohy considered they, should not be too far -away. Mr W. D. Lysnar said that it was street corner talk that Mr Harding ,was being badly, treated. A number of the committee were got together on the previous day, and approached Mr *Harding on the'subject, and he would like it to be understood that there was no intention to treat him unfairly. Mr Harding had stood to them well in the past— (hear, hear),— and had expressed himself as willing to meet them as regards any requirements. He considered ' they 1 .should hear Mr Harding prior to going into the merits of the (question. Alt.hrnTfrh f.h a PAmmifion Jimrl in_

:urred a liability of £lO to take Mr Dunlop’s rooms, it should, not weigh in the decision—it was a personal guarantee. Mr Clayton remarked that when Mr Harding gave the present rooms, he said if they wanted ~to better themselves at any, time he would be pleased to sde them do so. ,j , Mr Hood said that when the question of . Dunlop’s rooms was brought before them they had to. seize the opportunity. , > Mr Birrell said that as secretary of the Club he was sorry to see the meeting called for such a purpose. It was not the fault of the accommoI dation ; it was the members. After much trouble the present rooms had been secured, and altered at much expense, and the small section who Wanted to shift were the first to back the matter up. Mr Hood : Is not this small section you refer to the report of your committee ? Mr Birrell contended that all the members of the Club had not taken part, in the movement. Mr Wallis stated as one of the committee, he had considered the financial 1 position of the Club. Unless the amount of subscription was increased they could not carry, on the Club ; it was economy,- that had prompted them to move in the matter. He thought the billiard room Would attract more members, and help them financially.

Mr Birrell, in proceeding to read | the circular issued, emphasised that i it was Mr' Clayton’s. Mr Hood rose to a point of order, and explained that the circular was the committee’s;: and not Mr Clayton’s. r Mr Neenani held that, the voting by ballot was of no more use if they were going to discuss the matter. The Chairman . considered no . objection could be taken to the, rooms,, though he would sooner see the farmers buy a section and erect a building of their own, which could be done for £IOOO. Mr Colebrook declared that it was an injustice to have to vote first and discuss the matter afterwards, and he asked if he could change his voting paper ? . Mr Lysnar said he was surprised to hear that the circular had gone in that form. It was in opposition to their constitution for a vote to be taken by ballot. It was not a fair way to deal with the (question. Voting bfy'ballot Was a Conservative process which they should not follow. (Dissent and laughter.) Mr Hood considered that when he heard Mr Lysnar term voting by ballot a Conservative institution History would have got up and knocked him down. (Laughter.) Mr H. N. Lysnar asked on whose authority the voting papers were issued ? 1

A Voice : The Committee. Mr H. N. Lysnar : They, deny it. Mr Clayton said that he was fighting for the back-block settlers. Those in the country, should have the same right to vote as those in the, town. Back-block settlers . would classify the Club, as a Gisborne institution. The voting papers had been sent out on the instruction of the Committee. Out of the 154 members of the Club there were not 60 present, and he considered it an injustice not to let them have a say. ' ' ’ / ■ ■. Mr Chambers proposed that the action of the Committee be confirmed. i; “

Mr Malone seconded the' motion. . Mr A. R. Watson considered that Mr Harding’s proposal should be heard. Mr Heggarty moved that the matter be held over for consideration. Mr H. N. Lysnar seconded the proposition. i Mr Harding said that he was not then, in a position to put anything definite before them ; he had only,' heard of the meeting at four o’clock on the previous day. He cited the arrangement made about the present rooms, and how he had met the Union. He had not been aware of any grievances. He considered it unfair of the Committee, as they, did not consult him in the matter—if members thought they, could not I finance, he would make a reduction, j If they, were determined to go elseI where, he would not stand in their I way, and would still do his best to further the interests of the. Club. (Applause.) . Mr-Birrell" said that' if billiards were the Alpha and Omega of the whole question, during his tenure of office he had not had an application for a single concession. I' Mr Neenan said a number of memI hers were under the impression that IMr Harding had been consulted. Mr Harding said that he had not ■been.' ... l.U'; f ■■■ iv- ’ The Chairman was about to put Mr Chambers’ motion, when Mr H. |N.; Lysnar pointed out that there was an 'amendment, by,; Mr Heggarty. Mr Clayton : That is a direct censure on the Committee. You elect a Committee; and then find fault with them. We had better retire. If;, the resolution was carried, he added, they would practically be. kicked out." He questioned what they were elected for if they did not have the power to do what they thought 'advisable. The committee had given a personal guarantee. The Chairman pointed out that the guarantee did not, bind the Club. Mr 'Chambers’, motion was then put to the meeting and carried—l 6 for and 13 against. Mr Neenan vigorously protested, on the grounds that' country members Were not present to vote. Mr Heggarty’s , amendment was dealt with as a separate motion. ,i Mr, Clayton protested that it was a vote of censure. (Cries of No !,)

They were making the thing interminable. Mr Harding’s ofier was indefinite. The issue, before the meeting was whether the Club remove to Dunlop’s buildings. Mr Hood said it was correct that

Mr Harding had not been approached I officially, but the Committee should , Ibe given credit. The, best terms Mr I Harding could give them were £7B la year. At the same rate what, I would a billiard room and other I rooms cost ? The secretary had been I complaining that he could not; keep I any papers in, the present rooms; * I and by,'having a billiard-room, they I would be able to keep a man to 11 I look after things. : Mr O. Gallagher jocularly tendered i- I a solution of the problem. There a I were, he said, two clubs in , town—- - I the “ Squatters’ ” and the “ Farilmers’.” Why. not 'amalgamate ? I squatters were all farmers. (Laugh- * I ter.) , ' I Members : Buy them out. (Laugh- , I ter.) . ... |• Mr Tuohy banteringly asked if a I piano and music teacher would be -I provided if they removed to the I other rooms. (Laughter.) I Mr Hood said that an advantage I with Dunlop’s buildings was that I they could have several rooms, and lone could be fitted up for their I wives. r Mr W. D. Lysnar considered that I Mr Harding should be given the opI portunity to make a proposal. Then I they would hear both sides • and a I vote could be taken on Saturday. Mr I Dunlop’s offer closed that day, but lit could be extended to Saturday. IMr Dunlop wished to make a counI ter-offer if necessary. The present I rooms were handy, for getting members together. I- Mr Heggarty’s motion was put to | the meeting, and carried by a small I majority. . I Mr Clayton : That is a vote of I censure on the. Committee —they will I resign. I Mr H. N. Lysnar : If you take it [that way, resign and have done with I it. I Mr Birrell : It was a put-up job from start to finish. .It was resolved that another meeting be held on Saturday, to take a vote on the question. [ After the meeting Messrs Wallis, Hood, Clayton, and Tietjen handed in-their .resignations from the com--1 mittee*•: .. . ' ..... "