PRESS EXCLUDED.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 19724, 14 September 1929, Page 4

PRESS EXCLUDED.

MEETING OF SCOTTISH SOCIETY.

FRICTION AMONG MEMBERS. Because it was not considered desirable to let the public know that there was friction in their camp, the Scottish Society of New Zealand (Inc.), decided at a special meeting of members last evening, to exclude the reporters and to hold the discussion in committee. The meeting -was one called at the request of twelve members of the Society, in accordance with Rule 17, by the following circular dated September 2nd, 1929: A special meeting of all members of the Scottish Society of New Zealand (Inc. 1 * will be held in the Society's rooms, Crown Ironworks Buildings, Manchester street, Christchurch, on Friday evening, September 13th. 1929, at 8 p.m. Business: Burns Memorial Hall and Society's finance; control of Saturday night dances; general administration; deliberations of the Council; secretary's duties and authority. As a considerable amount of friction at present exists in connexion with the management of the Society, a full attendance of members is' requested, in the best interests and future welfare of the Society. This special meeting is called at the request of twelve members of the Society, in accordance with Rule xvii. The above is a notice handed to the Secretary of the Society on Tuesday, September 3rd, 1929, and we wish every member to attend so that things may be settled and harmony in the Society once more. —Harold Johnston (on behalf of the twelve members). There was a fairly large attendance, presided over by Mr J. S. Chisholm. "This meeting has been called " the chairman began, when a member interrupted with a motion that the meeting should go into committee. Mr H. A. Gilbert: What is there to hide?.

"The meeting is in your hands," the chairman said. "I am here only to preside. Personally, I maintain that the Press act as a form of discipline." A member (interrupting): Put the question, Chief! "It's all right, I am in the chair," retorted Mr Chisholm. "What is the motionf" somebody else asked.

"That we go into committee," the chairman replied. The mover said that he had proposed his motion on the grounds that matters of importance to the Society were to be discussed, and it was not necessary for the genera] public to know the discussion. "I therefore move that instead of being a public one, this meeting go into committee," he added. The motion was seconded, the seconder •giving as his reason that "if we are going to have a bit of a barney it will be better if we have it among ourselves and have done with it." "I don't think that it is at all necessary to advertise that there is friction in this Society," said another member, "that we should let the public know that there is friction in the inner circles of the Society. It won't do much good and it would be better to keep the public in the dark. It may be little and it may be much." The motion was then put to the meeting and carried withont dissension,.; and the reporters were courteously asked to leave. , Asked if there would be any decisions to convey to the Press after the meeting, the Chief said that, as far as he was concerned there would be none, but he was in the bands of the meeting.