NOT A HAPPY FAMILY.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 98, 18 January 1908, Page 5

NOT A HAPPY FAMILY.

V .. LNDEPENDENT POLITICAL LABOUR' r' .; league. LIVELY MEETING..:AT, AUCKLAND.::: (by TELEOBi.ru—SI'ECIAL ' COttUESPONDENT.); . . Auckland, January 17. ■ ; Tbo Auckland Independent Political Labour Leaguo, if,judged-by its proceedings last, night, is 'by no stretch.' of "imagination a' happy family, or a model of tbo good effectsof unity, says tho ./J Star." . . For close, on; , thrco 'hours, under :th& pre6idency :pf/Mr.''tf. Davis, motipns and amendments, recriminations and invitations trf impromptu pugilistic encounters, interjections, and cries 1 .'of Order," flow about, in bewildering ..maze.. Proceedings commenced: with lan; objection to the presence of noii-members, and it tvas. thereupon decided to elect recruits to-the ranks of the League. This, /vyas done, live being nominated arid;'-agreed; to, whilo'. other persons not connected with tho organisation wero asked to leave. ; . . ' Tho next. bono .of".'contention was .tlid; legality or otherwise of: a special meeting which had been called bv "requisition a- few' days previously to discuss certain matters connected - with tho League. .'After nluch heated talk, several 'amendments; and 'frequent excursions into the rule-book; tho nieet 7 ing caino to the conclusion that this special meeting bad been illegal/ ' s'. Having got thus far, 'this 'controversy, was re-opened by a motion for a special meeting to bo held on Tuesday night,' at which-, tho wholo matter discussed at: the informal meeting could bo thoroughly ventilated, and-, a decision come to oij u&iPWShrWSHSIr qfICS-': tion. ' After much moro argument and strenuous haranguing,- -this also was' settled, and matters looked.,'m6r&-hopeful../ : . Trouble was not ended, however, for, in tho eourso of soiri'o ' further remarks, a speaker insinuated . that , one of his. fellowmembers had been lined for sweating children. This brought tho injured orio to bis foot with tho polite ' rojoinder 'that tho speaker was " a liai'," and'upori tho remark being repeated .added "atrocious", to the description. Order was finally secured, and a member expressed tho opinion that " It is a sad and sorry plight in which-tho I.P.L.L; is in tonight. Hero we arc..preaching a world-wido gospel, and. wo can't control a paltry littlo. meeting like this. Before our policy can bo carried out, I am afraid, that wo shall liavo to croato intelligence among many of our own members." After the tumult of- dissent had died away, a suitable finalo was' provided in 'a"jhember proposing a vote of censure on.tho,chairman, fho latter said''that Jio had endeavoured, to the best of his ability, to givejeach side a fair chance. His task during the ovening.' had been a most difficult one, and ho Jiad had to hold his personal feelings very much in check. Ho proceeded ,to pour out tlio vials of his long-suppresSCtt'wjMlth," and' ended up by suggestively inviting any ono' who disbelieved his statements to meet hint in the back room. On behalf of tho chairman, it was stated that his--task in' dealing: with "tho most cantankerous lot of fellows ever assembled since the Leaguo' started" had been a most trying and difficult, one'.- Moro heated words wero flung round, and another general invitation to 'fisticuffs' issued Ijv a champion of the chairman's cause. Tho motion of censure was, however, negatived by ten votes to eight.'' ' A fitting climax was reached when tho meeting carried a motion thanking both president and secrotary for their ablo conduct of':tho business, neni con.