A LIVELY MEETING.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 155, 1 July 1919, Page 4

A LIVELY MEETING.

PLENTY OF PANDEMONIUM. AT YVORKIXGMEX'S CLI'B. INQUIRY QUASHED. I To use a popular expression, there was "something doing" at the Workingmen's Club last night, and the special meeting of members that had been called to reconsider the report ot a special committee of inquiry degenerated at frequent intervals into a boisterous gathering, where cat-calls and hoots and cheers and hisses and countings-out very often changed the business into a modern babel where nobody could get in a word that could be heard. The hall was packed with members, and Mr. \V. Purdy, viceI president, was chairman. I It appears that some time ago differences arose regarding the matter of boundaries of the club, the rental paid for archways, and the question of drain-1 age, so a sjjeial committee of inquiry! was set up to report on these things. They duly reported, their findings were, adopted at a meeting on April 24, and this gathering last night was another special meeting called to reopen the subject. I The report itself set out that the I actions of the trustees were deserving of censure at the hands of the club because of live things they did or did not do—(1) Granting an option over club property for an extended time; (2) accepting the

small deposit of £50 for it; (3) failing to make the option-holder pay rates pending the option if he purchased; (4) failure to obtain the direction of the members; and (5) failure to disclose full particulars of, the transaction. All these thing 3, by the way, had happened in 100 S. J The excitement began with the first' explanation which Mr. Hall Skelton rose to make on behalf of the trustees. He had not properly started when Mr. Watts rose and tried to get in a question, and this was the signal for an uproar. Mr. Watts claimed his right to correct an error on the part of the speaker, but . ithe chairman ruled him out of order, and ; i when the resultant row subsided Mr. I j • Skelton .went on explaining what he de-} I scribed a 6 "the absurdity'of-he findings.'"! Mr. Benson asked whether the rules j did not give Mr. Skelton a certain time to speak. The chairman admitted they did, and the inquirer then pointed out j that the man on the platform had ex-1 ceeded that time. Another uproar, after ', j which the speaker went on, endeavouring 'to show that the committee had exceeded their instructions, had laid a 'serious charge against Mr. Hawkins, who had done so much for the club, and against other trustees, and therefore the committee were liable for libel. (Loud cries of "That's right," "Rot," and "Why don't you go for it, then?") Interruptions were frequent till Mr. Skelton moved the resolution, "That the motion adopting the special committee of inquiry's report, passed by a special meeting of members on April 24, 1919, be re- ' scinded, and the resolution of Mr. Watts - re re-casting the rules be rescinded." ' '■ Mr. Johnston seconded this, and Mr. Watts then tried to have his say. He came on to the platform, but was howled down and counted out. He tried bravely '. to carry on, but could not always jnake ', his voice heard above the din. Time and -. again members appealed for fair play. They had listened to Mr. Skelton, why , not to Mr. Watts? But it was no use, :

and Mr. Farrally put in a word or two, and two other membeis rose and moved "That Mr. Farrally be put from the meeting.'' There was no chance to carry this, and Mr. Watts went on speaking, but soon gave up the task as hopeless. Before .he sat down he alleged that the trustees j said they had duplicate keys to everything iv the club, and amongst the new uproar men freely called "Liar," and others counted him out. Mr. Harkins | explained how this statement had come to be made through himself saying the trustees ought to have duplicate key 6, and Watts said, "There, that proves my statement," whereupon the whole hall , was in an uproar. I Dozens of members asked—or, rather, ; tried to ask—different questions, but they were all up against a hopeless task until Mr. Paul Richardson arose and presented his own views, definitely, at some length, asking whether the committee would make definite charges against persons, and saying that as the report stood I there was nothing tangible in it. Mr. i Schofield asked for the resolution to be i divided, and Mr. Mahoney wanted to ; know whether certain minutes referred ito by different speakers were signed or •j unsigned. I After a great deal more noise Mr. j Skelton rose to reply, reading from the

minutes under question. "There," he said, "they are signed by " Then he turned to the chairman and asked, "Is it Charles Grey?" whereupon there was much laughter, and Mr. Skelton had to find the corect page before he could assure them! the minutes really were signed; and then | Mr. Benson got up and said those were. not the minutes that had been questioned ' at all, but he could get no satisfaction. ■ Still more noise was made then, and; ultimately the first part of the resolution | I was put, and carried with only 39 I against. Then there was more discussion I about the last part, concerning rules, speakers freely declaring that the whole of the club's rules wanted revision. Even- ■ tually the second part of Mr. Skelton's ' resolution was amended to read, "That > the committee be instructed to go into ' j the question of revising the rules forth- . with." This was carried overwhelmingly, and then the chairman put another matter regarding the conduct of a member. The incident had apparently occurred 5 last October, and there was some discus-, i sion before the meeting unanimously de-; > eided to give the member 24 hours more j to apologise to an employee for the mci.- . dent, failing which he was to be expelled. . Then the meeting closed, having quashed r 'the inquiry committee's report and. -ordered immediate consideration of a rei vision of the club's rules. I