Constitutional Society “Undemocratic”

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29893, 6 August 1962, Page 10

Constitutional Society “Undemocratic”

(N.Z. Press Association)

WELLINGTON, August 5.

The Constitutional Society had adopted undemocratic methods of control out of keeping with its aims, the elected chairman of the Wellington branch, Wing Commander E. B. Waters, who was expelled from office by the society’s general committee, said tonight.

“My sin has been that as chairman of the. Wellington branch I have failed to answer ‘yes’ as required andhave voiced the branch’s objection to any form of undemocratic control within the organisation,” Wing Commander Waters said in a statement.

The method of control adopted by the society appeared to be in keeping with authoritarian principles certainly not in keeping with the society's aims. His contention had been that, in keeping with the society’s democratic aims, the destination of the organisation itself should be democratically controlled. “Control should be by members from the bottom upward, not from the top downward as in a proprietary company, and I have maintained the right to voice objection within the organisation to measures which contravene the principle.” Expulsion Comment

Asked to comment on his expulsion from the society; Wing Commander Waters said that hitherto he had regarded differences of opinion within the organisation as private, and publication likely to jeopardise progress toward the establishment on a permanent foundation of the democratic rights of New Zealand citizens.

“Regrettably, the society revealed its undemocratic foundation when, at the annual meeting in Auckland on July 14. 1961. it amended its rules to permit’ the purchase of life membership by persons undertaking payment of ‘an annual subscription of not less than 50gns for six years' —a total of 300gns. “It does not end here. Life members are granted the right to ‘one quarter of their number or six members, whichever shall be fewer, to be members of the general committee undemocratic representation quite out of keening with their strength “It was this same meeting which granted the general committee the right to expel members of the society ” When the society’s nresident. Mr N Wilson, Q.C.. in

a statement from Auckland, said Wing Commander Waters’s resignation had been asked for by the general committee more than a year ago, he did not say why. Wing Commander Waters’s statement said. Nor did he add that the action of the committee had been reported to the Wellington branch and’ that the branch had supported its chairman and Unanimously re-elected him to office. “Mr Wilson said that I had not taken advantage of an offer to permit me to defend myself—a strange statement as it has not been suggested that any rule of the society has been infringed. He did not add that the matter had been taken out of my hands by the Wellington committee with a written explanation which apparently carried no weight with the general committee.”

In its written explanation, the Wellington committee had made it clear that the conduct of the annual meet-

ing of that branch had been decided from the floor of the meeting by the vote of ordinary members. Funds “Withheld” Wing Commander Waters said there was still very considerable feeling in Wellington over the manner in which funds had been withheld. Wellington last year had maintained its subscription rate of £2 2s as distinct from the £1 subscription of all other major branches. Wellington had done this so that after head office received its capitation fee of £1 a member the branch would have available £1 2s a member with which to start a branch fund. “Throughout the year £1 of every subscription paid in Wellington was conscientiously forwarded to head office and was accepted without comment. However, most Wellington subscription renewals of £2 2s were paid direct to head office and a refund to the Wellington branch of £1 2s a member was confidenctly expected. “Instead, it is advised that head office passed the moneys to the central regional council (which takes in Hawke's Bay, Nelson, Marlborough and Wellington) and the Wellington branch may whistle for its additional subscription.’’