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Otago Witness, Issue 2813, 12 February 1908, Page 83

QUESTIONS FOR THE CLUBS.

Dear Dot, — If I am not too late for Club "Week I would like in just a few lines to touch upon a problem of special importance to our clubs. There has always been soiiie littledifficulty experienced in fixing satisfactorily the status of a. country member, and club officials are often at a loss to know just how country members should be treated. Attemipts have been made, with more^or less 1 f.uccess, to unite the two* classes ot membees, to combine forces with the common ob.ect of promoting the welfare* of the club. But the city member is apt to under-estinrate the value of his country bi other, who cannot take any active part in the debate, while, on the other hand, the country member belorno disgusted ,that his carefully-prepared i Sort should have met with but a brief acknowledgment. The question now arises, What policy is to be adopted to place both classes upon one common ground and to meet satisfactorily ■the requirements of each? However, perhaps I am a trifle previous. Before realising the necessity of such a policy club officials must necessarily appreciate fully the value to their club of countrj members.

This is a point not yet actually achieved;— although bogusly assumed — by our city friends. Now, as I will probably be cen- " sured for that statement, let me verify it by an instance in point. Some little -time ago, you will remember, an attempt was made to remove the grievances of country members and increase their {privileges. Among other thingß, they were invited to suggest subjects for debate. At least one country JL.F. took the club seriously, and responded. She was no doubt not a. little surprised to read 1 in the next club report that FO-and-so was sincerely thanked for the subject suggested, and invited to contribute a paper upon it for the next open meeting, when the club would judgo whether it was suitable or not for a debate. The incident was decidedly humorous, but it showed little tact on the part of the club in question, and less appreciation. ' About the same time Awkward Ned was taken severely to task for championing the country members' cause. Now. I might point instance upon-- instance in which town members have really been at fault. On their part my city friends might reply, I know, with similar instances weighing in the balance against country fo'.k. This, however, would do no Rood, and my object is -not to tlraw distinctions between membeis, but rather to sweep them away. The terms "country" and "town" members, which I hnve been using so freely, are rather ambiguous and misleading phrases. If it is necessary to draw a distinction let it be that of "present" and "absent-contributing" members, and thus do away with all local prejudice, a thing harmful to any progressive movement. Thus a member from the country visiting the club becomes a present member, while the town L.F. on holiday tour is for the time baing an absent-contri-buting member— all paltry distinction being dcrne away with. We can now approach the pnoblem with one and an open ni'.nd. The . ordinary olub rues confer upon present "members every- privilege necessary ; but how to do justice to absent member* is a slightly more difficult question. Plainly, the distant member has a right to select a fair proportion of the subjects for discussion. Moreover, a quarterly syllabus should be placed in his hands that he may have the same time as present members in which to prepare his papers. Also, in order that the abeent metnbsr might see the benefit of his •work , a full report of every meeting should be given, with copious comment In tni3 respect Dunedin possess an ideal secretary in Cornish, while-the Invercargill system of leproducing extracts from papers capitally serves the same end. . Briefly then, the policy I advocate is that distant members be enr-lled as present members *re, contributing the same annual subscription ; that they be given eqiial rights in carrying out the work of the club; that a syllabus be prepared and distributed quarterly, and that every pape-- bs fully resuggestions I respectfully commend to the consideration of either club Wing they will be received in the impartial spirit in which they are given. *:„«,;„<, What moie can I say t°f*?? .V th ™£» except a. word of advice to club officials, preritati especially. Cultivate; tact; seek to iSer in the 'imperfect efforts of modest beeinners grand poss-bihties. It 11 the way them, and thus -«^"M\" highest ideal of your club .B. B " d «£ f ™* an-1 earneMlv the initial efforts of Dot _s wee mites sid th» encouraging and appreciative teplies their letters receive; emulate D W;th kindest regards to all my oVI comrades,—Yours sincerely. bui.