A DISORDERLY MEETING.

Otago Witness, Issue 2810, 22 January 1908, Page 73

A DISORDERLY MEETING.

. . SOME LABOTJE TROUBLES IN • v AUCKLAND > ' * ffEOK Ora Owir Cohsispokdeitt.) AUCKLAND, January 17. The Auckland _ Independent Political Labour League, -if judged by its jpiroceed* ings last, night, /is by no stretch of imagi« nation a happy family nor a model of thee Rood effects .of unity, says the Star TPoH close on three' boura, under the presidency of Mr G> .Davis, motions and amendments, recriminations ' and -invitations to impromptu pugilistio- ' encounters; - interjections, and cries of "Order" flew about iiK a bewildering 1 maze. • - ' Proceedings commenced with an objection to the presence of non-members, and; it was thereupon decided to elect recruits to the ranks of the league. This was^do.ne,' five being nominated and agreed to, while other persons not ' connected with l the organisation were asked to leave. The next bone of contention was the legality or otherwise of a special meeting: which had been called by requisition ai few xfayß, previously ■ to - discuss > certain) ■ matters connected with the' leaguer After much, heated talk, several amendments, and ' frequent excursions into the' rule book, the meeting came .to the conclusion that*' this special -^ meeting - had been illegal. Having got .thus . far, the controversy wag reopened by a. motion for a special meeting to .be held on Tuesday night, at. which! , (the whole matter discussed at tfo uifdrmali meeting could, be thoroughly vent^latedarid a decision' come to on this rijuch-yexedl question. 'After much more argument knd strenuous haranguing this also was-'settled,-and matters looked more hopefuL. * ' '' \_ - Trouble was not .ended, howeverj r *fop jut 1 the course of some further remark* '«/ 'speaker insinuated that one of ' his leHpwi members had been fined for sweating Children. This brought the injured one to; hi* feet with the polite rejoinder- that -.the speaker was, " a liar," and upon the remark being repeated, added " atrocious " fto itha description. ; Order was finally secured, and a. member expressed the opinion i that, ."id is a sad and. sorry plight ;in which ' the Independent " Political Labour League '- is in to-nijrhh, Here we are preaching a_ " worlds wide gospel, aJid we cannot cbntr.pl ai paltry little meeting like .this. Before t>u» policy can be carried out I am afraid s.fhat we shall have to create intelligence among) many of our own members." • * > After ' the. tumult _of .dissent had died away a suitable finale was provided In a member proposing a vote of censure ,oni the chairman: The latter said that hex had endeavoured to. the best of his ability tot give each side a fair- -chance. His task during the evening had been a most diffU cult one, and he had had to hold *hi< personal feelings very much in check. J 'H«! proceeded to pour out the vials of Kre lbng ' suppressed— wrath, and ended up byv'sug-' Restively inviting anyone who disbclievect his statements to meet him in the back; room. v - ,1, j On hehalf of the chairman, it was -etatedl, that --his", task ,in dealing, with " th.C raos<£ "cantankerous lot of fellows ever assemble since the leajnie started" had been a ihosfc trying and difficult one. More heatedl words -'were flung round, and another ssene--ral invitation to fisticuffs issued by a" champion, of _ the chairman's cause. Th© ■motion of -censure was, however, negativedl -by ten votes to eitfhtK - .- '' - •A r fitting climax- -tras reached when \ the; meetine carried, a motion nem. con; tnankinar both president "and secretary for "their able conduct of the business*