THE SECOND DIVISION.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16208, 10 May 1918, Page 6

THE SECOND DIVISION.

RECENT LOCAL HAPPENINGS

DECISIONS OF CANTERBURY COUNCIL. Tho recent happenings in the Christchurch Second Division League, leading to the resignation of a majority of the members of its executive, resulted in the holding of a special meeting Inst evening of the Canterbury Provincial Centre of the Second Division League, when tho whole matter was discussed and certain steps resolved upon, the principal being the calling together of a general meeting of the members of tho Christchurch League for tho purpose of electing a fresh executive. The following delegates were present:—Messrs H. S. J. Goodman (chairman Canterbury Council), 6. Dash (WaimateK F. Kibblewhite (New Brighton), H. McMillan (Marshland), H. M. Jones (Asliburton), C. East (Timaru), H. J. Yates (Christchurch), E. B. P. Brown (Rnngiora), W. T. Lindsay (Waikari),.6. Holland (Waipara), L. .J. Campbell (lion, secretary), and the Rev. C. locker (Geraldino). Mr R. A. Armstrong, national president of the League, who was iii attendance, was voted to the chair. The chairman said as national president lie was plealsed to meet tho Canterbury Council for the first time. When lie arrived in Christchurch on his way to Timaru, he found the Christchurch League had a number of difficulties to face, and a number of misunderstandings, partly on account of the public meeting held in Christchurch on Sunday week, and he thought it his duty to call the Canterbury Council together owing to a number of resignations from tho Christchurch executive being seiit, loaving no one to do the work of thai] body. No member of tho Chrilstchurch League, so far as he could see, had anything but the best of intentions. In a time of crisis like this 3 and -when, becauso of the political tactics of tho leaders of the country giving the impression that the Second Division would not be called iip, recent events had como a!s a shock to the people, and' things were done which would , not be dono in calmer moments. Whether things had been done wrongly t> r hot, it •was not for him to say—that was for the law to docide—but tho people had been stirred up unduly during tne past) fow weeks in demandihg their rights. They could not oarty oft a Second Division Leaguo unless in a Constitutional manner, and he wanted tho meeting to give an interpretation on two or three matters. A's it Britishbr, he before the war abhorred the thought of conscriptioil; . the British nittion had always looked down on it. Since the war his opinions had changed, for this reason : We as a nation were up against an unscrupulous foe, and wo had had to adopt conscription, just as wo had had to adopt poison gas and iiir reprisals. "We had had to adopt many otilor of the methods of our enemies* because, when a nlan tame at us, we had to adopt tho sslms meatis as he used to defend ourselves. We in New Zealand, up till recently, had had the privilege of the voluhtary system, ahd had been safe oil our shores bocau'so of the safety afforded us by the British Navy. Through this ihoans of defence We. were able to disciiss Second Division affaiis. Had it not been Tor this Navy, we would all have had to defend our homes. The men of the Second Division, when they realised last year that the Government should do the will of tho people and make proper provision for soldiers' dependants, had taken the matter up and urged the Government to do tho right thing. However, to secure their objects, they iniist adopt constitutional means. To itbhievo theif purpose, they must not go beyond the constitution of the League or its objects. If s as hiul been Suggested—he did not think it was so—there -were men -who . joined the League because they thought it might be the means of preventing men going to the froht, they had joined the League undbr it misapprehension; They had the right to Organise and iiir their views, biit if these were not tlie views of th& League* the* League miist put>hcly strtte so.

At this stage, at the request of the chairman tho Council went Into committee.

Upon resuming in open meeting the chairman announced that the following motion hdd been carried unanimously: "That in the opinion of this meeting of tile Council of the Canterbury Second Division Leagues, the resolution passed at the meeting of the executive of the Christchurch League held on Friday, April 2Gfch. Was not tvltljin the constitution; and is therefore null and void."

Tho chairman Said the next question was to consider the filling of the vacancies on the executive of the Christchurch League.

In reply to Mr Yates, the chairman said it was not the intention of the Council to attempt to fill the vacancies on the executive of the Christchurch League.

Mr Yates said he failed to see the reason for calling the Canterbury Council together because of the vacancies on -the executive of the Christchurch LeagUe. The ehhirman said it was because of til? impossible position regarding the Christchurch League, it having no executive, that he had called the meeting of the Council. The rights of the Christchurch League would not be infringed in the slightest. Tho Rev. C-. Tocker said the Christchurch League had reached an impasse position, there being no executive or at least no quoruhi on the executive. Still the Canterbury Council could not interfere with the rights of t.lie Christchiirch League. lie thought, however, a motion he proposed to move would provide a satisfactory solution. He moved: —

"that in view of the impisse to which the . Christchurch League has come, the Provincial Council hereby declares all executive positions vacant and decides to call a meeting of members for the purpose of electing officers of the League."

In secondjtig the motion Mr Yates said he felt exceedingly pleased that at last they would have ah opportunity of electing a fttll complement of officers.

Mr E. B. P. Brown said he erittsidered that the sewotarv of the Christchurch League should first trv to call a meeting of that body. Ho did not consider that the Canterburv Council possessed any authority over the Christchurch League unless given eucli hy the Christchurch League. He would oppose the motion.

TV chairman said the executive of the Christeliurcli League was ahsclutelv "bust,-' to put it iri a vulgar way. As a matter of fact the secretary of the League had written to "Wellington to say he had put his resignation in the hands of the chairman, but there was no chairman to receive it. It seemed that the most pimple solution of the problem was for the Canterbury Oiltre to call together the members of the Christchurch League to elect officers. In further reply to Mr Brown, the chairman said there was no responsible officer to call the members of the Christchurcli League together. In reply to Mr_ "Yates, the chairman that the meeting be convened by a commit tee of the Council of which Mr Yates should be a member. The motion was carried unanimously. The chairman next said he wanted a clear and definite decision as to what was expected from the members of the Lengue in regard to their military obligations. Upon tne motion of Mr \ate3. the meeting went into committee to discuss the matter. Upon resuming after a lengthy interval, it was reported that the fol-

lowing-motion had been carried unanimously:—

"That this Council interprets the constitution as binding even* member to loyalty and to the support -if the Government in carrying out vhe Military Service Act in its entirely and as indicating his willingness to serve under that Act. And anv tnan or woman in claiming membership accepts this interpretation of the constitution."

The following were appointed a committee to organise tlie meeting of the Christchurch League: Messrs Goodman, Yates, Campbell, Kibblewhite, Armstrong, and the Rev. C. Tocker. Subsequently a mdtion was passed to the effect, "That tho Council of the Second Division Leagues demands that the three months' "race between the dates of the medical examination and mobilisation Of reservists be retained intact." KAIAPOI RESOLUTIONS. A meeting of the Kniapoi branch of the Second Division League was held last night, Mr H. C. Revell presiding over a fair attendance.

Mr Morgan Williams was appointed to represent the League at the Dominion Conference, to be held at Wellington on May 22nd. The following remits were passed, to be forwarded to the Dominion Conference : —

(1) "That the action of the Government in increasing the rate of the reinforcements does not assist in winning the war, as it involves the use of transports -which could be hetter utilised m transporting American troops." (2) "That in unduly depleting the country of its Wealth-producers the Government will render the country incapable of doing its duty to the * dependants of those who go to the front."