PRESIDENTS TERM

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31023, 31 March 1966, Page 14

PRESIDENTS TERM

Amendment Rejected

The annual meeting of the Christchurch Returned Services’ Association last evening rejected a notice of motion seeking an amendment to the constitution which would prevent a president from holding office for more than three consecutive years. The tone of the debate indicated that the meeting interpreted the proposed amendment as a move to debar the present president, Mr D. Barrett, from being reelected next year. The notice of motion put forward by Mr S. J. Geary was: “That no president shall remain in office for a longer continuous term than three years. If there is no nomination for the office of president then the retiring president shall continue in office until the next annual general meeting.”

Mr Geary said that in the history of the association only t W o presidents had held o*fice for more than three years.

“Tn my opinion three years Is enough for any man to put Into effect his ideas for the gond of the association.” he said.

Mr Barrett said he felt eery member should have the ability to get to the top in the organisation.

Other members supported the view that neonle should rise to the rank of president on their merits. One sa'd: “If Mr Barrett pots reelected, good luck to him ”

Mr A. S. Farrar: There is no need to have any alteration. The notice of motion is wrong. When the motion was put it was defeated with only one in favour.