VOLUNTEER ASSOCIATION.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 223, 13 June 1908, Page 7

VOLUNTEER ASSOCIATION.

< ■ ANNUAL MEETING. The eleventh annual meeting of the Wellington District Volunteer.' Association was held in No. l.Lecturo Room, Garrison Hall, last evening,. Major C. D. 'Mackintosh presiding. Captain C.-, Harcourt Turner, and Lieutenants-' Hutchon," Simeon /Page, and Skelley, were present, and there was a small attendance of mombors.; / The Cbairinari, in'the course 1 of a few ".prefatory remarks/announced .that \ tho Garrison officors' had' the" previous evening" discussed tho; question of identifying themselves in a practical way,, .with tho affairs of the Association,', and ,evidence, of, tli'o factwas shown by thq. jresonce .of .four of tho-offi-cers at the ,.~ ' . ' . ' . : ; AN 'INCIDENT.. ■ ) ■ ■ The Chairman : asked if. all present were My qualified' membors, of tho Association, and drew-attention to the presence of a person who was _not so qualified, and raised tho juestion of his status at the meeting. Mr 1 . Madeley. (tho person referred to), es; pressed himself as being within his rights. . The Chairman: Are you a volunteer:" . Mr. Madeley; No—but I havo beon. . Tho Chairman : I aih afraid that I must givo my judgment against your presence here. It is painful to.'irie, and also to you. ' • Mr. Madeley::' It's not painful to mo. \ The Chairman: I need not givo the reason for my decision^-^-Mri Madeley: I know,the reason why. All the same T have a right to be here. ' Miv Madeley was then requested to retire, Sfhich he did, and tho incident closed. 1 'l'ho Secretary. "(Lieutenant "Bolton) thon read the; annual report. and- balance-sheet (published in our issue of y'esterday's'dato. The': report and balance-sheet were edoptod . THE CONTROL OF THE ASSOCIATION. Tho chairman then.put forward for the considoration' of thosp present a suggestion, in the direction of transferring the control of the Assooiation, to tho Garrison officers. A desultory discussion .ensued, opinion. being somewhat divided as to tho propriety ofdebating such a proposal. Qne member expressed tho opinion that the officers took very little interest in the. shooting. Col.-Sergeant Davis took exception to this statement, and asserted'that,*.number or.the oncers were keen enthusiasts.

l'nvate iM'Loan (Highlanders), moved that' the ful] control of the Association be .vested 1 in tho hands-of the Garrison officers This was seconded by Sorgt. Wakelin -(Post and Telegraph Rifles). ' ;, Speaking- to' the-, motion, Private .M'Eean caid that the past history of . tho Association, had conclusively shown that a change ir, tho management was desirablo, .if progress wero to be made in the future. It was a fact that the Association relied mainly upon tho officers for- its financial support. Without that, he contended, it would "go bung." Captain Turner pointed out that internal dissension -and -frequent - bickering had brought t}io Association to' a very unsatisfactory condition, and so long as, tho shooting men retained tho management friction would continue. THE GARRISON SHIELDS. Responding to <an • invitation from tho Chaunnan to' explain the "position as to tho Garrison Shields, which* -although competed for and won ,on three separate occasions, were still.. n'on-existent,' -Captain- Turner stated that -he had just: undertaken a per- ■ Bonal canvass :for subscriptions towards the cost of two Garrison Shields, "one for seniors and one for'-juniors, l and as tho result had collected, in a'day arid a. half, a sum of 19 guineas.'. (Applauso). This had been collected from business firms, liot individuals, and the latter would not be found wanting in practical support. "Ho would suggest that as tho financial prosperity: of tho Association depended largely upon subscriptions the officers themselves would bp better ablp to manage its affairs, being moro'in touclv. with tho business section of tho. community.' , Private M'Lcan's.motion, amended to read ■" That tho officers of tho Wellington GarriBon bo requested to tako over -tho control of the Wellington District -Volunteer Riflo Association," was:then put, and carrfod unammously-.. ' ' / The Chairman intimated that he would refor the decision of tho mooting to tho officers of the Garrison., '' i Private, Jackson (City Rifles) raised tho question of tho status of members under tho dow marfagement. 'Would it be competent for them to make suggestions, etc? Ho considered that this should be so. Members ouriit to havc.a voico at tho meetings. ' Captain Turner thought that there should bo no difficulty, oil that point. He wns of opinion that ' an : annual meeting, and other meetings, should-be held,'and that members should bo nermitted'tb voice their opinions. It was decided, on' the motion qf Private Jackson, that a recommendation ho attached to the previous motion, to the effect that a general" meeting of members be hold annually, at which an annual report and balance ba presented.