PROGRESS LEAGUE MEETING.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 17939, 6 December 1923, Page 11

PROGRESS LEAGUE MEETING.

«> PROPOSED ALTERATION TO CONSTITUTION. A proposal to alter the constitution of the Canterbury Progress League in the direction of abolishing the quarterly meetings and increasing the membership of the executive was introduced by the chairman (Mr W. K. McAlpine) at last night's meeting of the executive. Mr McAlpine said that it had been said that the League spent its money in entertaining visitors. He could say that during the 18 months he had been in the chair there bad been no money spent on entertainment except in the provision of a luncheon for delegates to the quarterly meetings. That had been done so that business men could attend the meeting during the lunch hour. It was a question for consideration whether those quarterly meetings should be cut out. The proposed alteration to the constitution was in the direction of abolishing the quarterly meetings and adding to the member- I ship of the executive, so that more of the country members could attend. They would not expect the country members to attend every special meeting, but if they could attend 50 per cent, of the meetings they would learn a great deal more about the work of the League than they learnt at three quarterly meetings, Mr Holland said he had not heard the arguments in favour of abolishing the quarterly meetings. The League should not be so thin-skinned as to take offence at anything that had been said about the quarterly meeting luncheons. If it came to the point, he was sure the members would gladly pay for their luncheons. Mr Macartney said the executive should be representative of all interests, including the country. The wider representation ,and the larger attendances they could get the better. Mr Leadley suggested that they should refer consideration of the proposed alteration till the next quarterly meeting. He moved to that effect. Mr Hall seconded the motion.

Mr Henderson suggested that an ordinary meeting of the executive be" held at the conclusion of, the quarterly meeting. In that way the country members would obtain a better idea of the real business of the League. Mr Jenkin supported the - motion. He said a discussion at the quarterly meeting would get at the root of the trouble. Mr Henderson: What is the trouble which Mr Jenkin wishes to get to tne root of? Mr Jenkin: There is an uneasy feeling abroad. Mr Henderson: I haven't heard of it. Mr Jenkin: There is talk going round and Mr Henderson knows it. Mr Henderson: I haven't heard it. The chairman said he' took responsibility for bringing the matter forward. In reply to Mr Henderson he could say there was no uneasy feeling. The motion was carried. It was decided that the February meeting of the executive should fix the date of the March quarterly meeting.