South British meeting closed by protesters

Press, 8 November 1980, Page 2

South British meeting closed by protesters

PA Auckland The annual meeting of the South British Insurance Company was closed less than 15 minutes after it began in Auckland yesterday. ' The chairman, Mr J. C. Fletcher, closed the rowdy meeting after a, series of verbal clashes with antiapartheid protesters, On closing the meeting, he declared a shareholders’ poll. However, the voting papers distributed to protest groups were ripped up with the shout /‘We’ll be back next year.” At the start of the meeting shareholders learned that the company’s managing

director, Mr D. Bullock, had obtained a High Court order giving directions for the conduct of the annual meeting. In effect, the order required Mr Fletcher to move through official business as quickly as possible, which would avoid objections by the anti-apartheid group, The order also empowered Mr Fletcher to exclude people from the meeting who might be carrying whistles, rattles, or any other artificial device for the purpose of making noise. Finally,, the order allowed a period of an hour’s discussion on the company’s involvement in Soqth Africa, or until 6 p.m. which ever

occurred first, provided the meeting had proceeded without any disruptive behaviour.

Anti-apartheid protesters challenged the validity of the order, and at one stage a protester shouted to Mr Fletcher, "You’re in contempt of court, Jimmy.” Disruptions from the floor continued while the notice of meeting was read. Amid chanting and singing of “God Defend New Zealand,” Mr Fletcher told the protesters the meeting was to conduct the business of the company and not solely to discuss South Africa. He then ordered the meeting closed.