UNION JACK CLUB

Press, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23080, 24 July 1940, Page 2

UNION JACK CLUB

Elections To The

Committee

OPPOSITION AT PUBLIC

MEETING

Allegations from a section that the proceedings had been "readied” lead to a lively debate at the public meeting in the City Council Chamber last evening when the Union Jack Club, which will entertain members of the armed forces while on leave, was formally launched. Representatives of a number of bodies in the city were nominated, three from each, and some sharp exchanges arose over the nomination of nine members of the Stock and Station Agents’ Committee. There was further criticism when three representatives of the Trades Hall were nominated, the objection being that the Trades Hall authorities had not been consulted.

Explaining the purpose of the meeting to the 200 persons who were present, the Mayor, Mr R. M. Macfarlane, said that a great deal of work had already been done on the project, mainly by the Stock and Station Agents’ Committee. It was felt that there was room for a club to look after the men of the armed forces while they were on leave. The club would not conflict in any way with those organisations, such as the Welcome Club, already in existence. Mr R. E. McDougall had offered free of charge for the duration of the war the Frascati building in Cashel street, which it was proposed to use as club rooms. The meeting would be asked to resolve formally to form a club, and then to proceed to elect a general committee, on which members of a number of organisations, as well as private individuals would serve. Dr. J. Leslie Will; who was elected convener of the committee, explained the work done by the Stock and Station Agents' Committee, and said that the ground had been well tested and the scheme had met with unqualified approval. The club did not intend to entertain lavishly, but intended to make available to men of the armed forces, and of the mercantile marine, a place where they could find a comfortable chair, have a shower and a light meal, and meet their friends and make new ones.

His motion that such a club, to be known as the Union Jack Club, be formed, was carried unanimously.

Idea of Meeting

Dr. Will explained that the idea of calling a public meeting was to draw in everybody who was interested in forming the club. There was nothing cut and dried about the suggestions of the original committee, but it was suggested for a start that representatives of the following organisations should be on the general committee:—The Stock Auctioneers’ Association, Returned Soldiers’ Association, Territorial Association, Rotary Club, Commercial Travellers’ Association, Woolbuyers’ Association, Patriotic Council, Trades Hall, General Service Corps, Businessmen’s Club, Officers’ Club, and the City Council. Several other bodies, including the Navy League, various sports bodies, and the Scottish Society, were suggested later in the evening. “Where is the money coming from,” asked Mr A. J. Empson. Mr Macfarlane said that already a considerable sum of money had been promised, apart from offers of work and equipment. The club would also be able to call on the patriotic funds, as the Welcome Club could. Dr. Will then that the committee consist of three representatives of these various organisations, and of as many more organisations as were interested in the work, as well as private individuals. The motion was carried without dissent. The first hint of opposition came when Mr R. H. Hill moved that the Stock and Station Agents’ Committee, consisting of nine members, be elected.

“What’s that mean? There are more than three of them,” said a voice from the back.

Dr. Will; I assure you they are not trying to pack the committee. Voices: It looks like it. Has this meeting been readied? The Mayor explained that it was usual in setting up organisations of this sort to have something for the meeting to go on in the way of suggestions, otherwise hours would be wasted. “It is only to save time,” he said. “I assure you the meeting has not been readied.”

“It appears that some of those present think there is something political about the meeting,” said Mr W. Russell, who expressed his disapproval of any suggestion that a meeting presided over by the Mayor would have been “readied.”

. Mr Macfarlane said that throughout the war he had insisted that any organisation of the sort should be set up at a public meeting where anybody had a right to speak and criticise if he liked.

Duty to Perform

Mr G. B. McCredie, chairman of the Slock and Station Agents’ Committee, said that the building had been offered to that committee, and it felt that it had a duty to perform in seeing the club properly launched. “One or two of you fellows seem to have come here to throw a spanner in the wheels,” he said. “If you have got better ideas in your heads, come forward with them.” The election to the committee of representatives of a number of bodies then proceeded, and went smoothly until the names of Messrs T. Smith, G. W. Dell, and J. Roberts were proposed as Trades Hall representatives by Mr R. Rigby. Mr J. E. Jones rose at once to object. ‘ The Trades Hall should be left to appoint its own delegates,” he said. “I

don’t like this hole and comer business.” “I say it is infra dig for an auctioneer to nominate three members of the Labour Party,” said Mr H. E. Denton. "We understand our own business best, and nominations should come from an official source only. In every case these nominations Lave been readied up before the meeting was called.”

Mr E. Edridge said that all the names were selected by the organisations mentioned. The Trades Hall had been approached also, and the names-were suggested by a man very prominent in the Labour movement.

Voices: Name l\im. “I am connected with some important organisations in the Trades Hall,” said Mr H. McCaw, "but • ~ were not consulted. It seems that all the other bodies were.”

Mayor's Suggestion

The Mayor suggested that if heat were engendered over the point, it would not be to the credit of the Labour Party. The names were put in in all good faith, but he suggested that if other organisations had elected their own representatives to the committee, the Labour people should also be given that chance. The complaint in other centres was that the Labour organisations had been left out of similar schemes, and this committee had tried to make sure that this did not happen in Christchurch. There was no intention of casting any reflection. Dr. Will, who said that he did not know what the word “ready” meant, declared that the ori-,’nal committee did not care who was represented on the main committee- as long as all classes, and all willing to work, were included.

“The bodies I represent will give every help.” said Mr Empsoh. A woman in the audience caused amusement when she suggested that among all the persons the meeting was electing to the committee, someone with money should be included. Her suggestion that stockbrokers might be given the task was greeted with loud laughter. Dr. Will assured those present that there was no need to worry about finance. Promises of assistance in goods or money had been received from all over New Zealand. “It is nice to have Mr Feast and the patriotic funds behind us,” he said, “but I will ‘go he’ if we have to call on those funds.”

The Mayor announced that an anonymous dono’- in the room had promised £2O to go toward furnishing the club, and asked for more donations. Mr J. W. Niven, the City Treasurer, was elected treasurer, and Mr A. B. W. George honorary secretary.