DISPUTE ABOUT MATCHES

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21867, 21 August 1936, Page 4

DISPUTE ABOUT MATCHES

WOMEN’S COMMITTEE RESIGNS DIFFERENCE AMONG MEMBERS OF RAWHITI GOLF CLUB

A dispute among the women of the Rawhiti Golf Club recently resulted in the resignation of the women’s committee, and made necessary a new election of officers, which was held at a special meeting called for the purpose in the Oasis Hall, New Brighton, last evening. The resignation of the committee was the outcome of an incident which occurred on May 27, when a non-pro-gramme mid-week match for women was to be held. From 1932 onward, these non-programme matches had been played each fortnight, alternating with a programme match, and the entrance fees had been paid into the club.

On May 27, however, three members of the club informed the club captain (Mrs J. E. Gudgeon! and Mrs A. M. Branch, & member of the committee, who were in charge, that they did hot wish the match to be played as a club match, as they saw no reason why the club should retain a percentage of the entrance fees. Mrs Gudgeon explained that for four years the matches had been treated as club matches, and no change in their status could be made without the consent of the committee. The three members elected to treat the match as a non-club match, and did not enter their nai .es in the official match book, which, under the Ladies’ Golt Union rules.' regulates the handicapping of players. Written Apology Demanded This matter having been brought to the notice of the committee, the three players were called upon to attend a meeting, which they failed to do. They were informed that unless they attended a certain future meeting their resignations would be asked for. The general executive committee was then asked what action the ladies’ subcommittee should take, and the matter was referred back to the ladles’ committee with power to act, subject to the stipulation that the three players should have the right torappeal to the executive. The three players attended a meeting of the women's sub-committee on July 20, when both sides were heard. The players admitted the facts of the case, but claimed that the non-pro-gramme matches were not club matches. The meeting decided that they had been guilty of rudeness to club officials, and had interfered with the running of the club matches, and also contended that they should have notified the club officials of the action which they had intended to take. They were warned that unless a written apology was received by the ladies’ committee they would be suspended from the playing list as from August 5. An appeal was made by the women to a meeting of the men’s executive held on August 3, when the c|ub captain (Mr H. Throp) presided. ' Appeal Upheld The appeal was upheld by a narrow margin. On August 6, following the announcement of the executive’s finding, the whole of the women’s subcommittee resigned.

The president of the club, Mr G. W, Bishop, presided at the special meeting .held last evening, which was attended by 23 members of the Rawhiti Ladies’ Club.

Mr: Bishop said that the old committee had .declined to stand lor reelection, ■