WELLINGTON BOWLING CLUB.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1790, 1 July 1913, Page 6

WELLINGTON BOWLING CLUB.

ANNUAL MEETING.

A LIVELY GATHERING.

Mr. C. ( Smith (president) occupied tho chair at the annual meeting of the Wellington Bowling Club, held in tho club's pavilion Inst evening. The great .interest taken in the senior club's affairs was evident from tho very large attendance of members. ■ ' Before the minutes were passed Mr. Holden asked whether anything had been done respecting a recommendation made at the last annual meeting concerning the election of the Match Committee. Tho' chairman ruled tho question out of order, and the minutes were adopted. In moving the adoption of the report ?i l the president stated that the position cf the club was satisfactory. During the year itlio overdraft had been increased, and a sum of ,£289 had been spent in improving the green. He also congratulated the prize-winners of the year, singling out the winners of tho northern Bowling Association's championship banner. Mr. C. W. Tannor questioned very much if the overdraft could lie reduced ouit of members' subscriptions, and offered the suggestion that the club should issue debentures, which would be taken up at a less rate of interest than had to bo paid on the overdraft. On the whole, he thought the directors had dono good work during the year. Tho election of officers resulted as fellows: President, Mr. J). M'Lean; vicepresident, Mr. H. Moult; honorary secretary, Mr. W- Brunskill; honorary, treasurer, Mr. I. Salek;-auditor, Mr. H. F. Allen; directors, Messrs. C. Smith, A. Voitch, H. L. Ledger, P. D. Leslie, and J. Russell. A vote of sympathy was' passed to Mr. Brunskill (tlio secretary), who was unable to be present on account of illness. A Censure Motion. Mr. J. D. Sievwriglit, being called on to move a vote of censure on the directors, which motion stood in his name, said that since ho had forwarded the notice of motion he had been given explanations by the directors and others (with regard to a recommendation of tlio last annual meeting to appoint a match committee outside the directorate), and fie begged leavo to withdraw tho motion. Tho president (Sir. D. M'Lean): I won't accept your withdrawal. Mr. Sievwright: Well, I won't move it— that's all! Mr. Skinner: Then I move a motion of censure on Mr. Sievwright for wasting the time of tho meeting. Mr. Smith (ex-president): I will second the motion. I think it very unfair and mean for Mr. Sievwright to bring up such a motion, and then withdraw it at the last moment'. Hero is a motion that has gone forth to tho world, and I know some peoplo think wo have been 'tinkering with the finances. It is not fair— A voice: What motion is before tho meeting? Tho president: Mr. Sievwright's. Mr.. Sievwright: I haven't moved it. Mr. Bell: When a member gives notice in writing of a motion, and it is seconded it must bo taken as a motion. Mr. Sievwright (growing warni): I object to Mr. Smith hurling epithets at me. I havo a perfect right as a shareholder to givo expression to an opinion in a wajr that suits me, and I object to him saying that it was mean. I ask him "to withdraw tho word "mean." Mr. Smith: I said a mean action, arid so it was, after it had gone forward to the world. It was very unfair. Mr. Bell: It is niontks since I havo come to the club, and' I only came to the meeting to see what this motion of Mr. Sievwright's was. I thought tho directors had dons something wrong. MiySievwright l have not moved.this motion. On account of tho exnlanations givon to mo by the directors, and in deference to them and thn peace of the club— (cries of "Oh! oh!")—I think it best to withdraw it._ It was the expression of personal feeling I had in the directors not acting on the recommendation of the last annual meeting, and it required moro than a curt answer. I was quite within- my rights. I submit that the motion has been withdrawn. Amidst considerable clamour, the presi-, dent put the motion, and declared it lost." The Club's Directors. Mr. Sievwriglit then moved:—''That tho word 'nine' in article 53 bo altered to eleven." This referred to the number of directors to bo elected. Tho mover stated that when tho articles were drawn up the club membership was only about 60. There were ithen nino directors, including the officers. Jf tho number was arranged on a basis of membership it would bo now twenty, but he recognised that that number was out of all proportion, but thought that tho number should be increased by two. Tho club had been moving in i circle, and it had become a habit to elect past presidents and vice-presidents to the directorate, which might not always 1m in the best interests of tho club. It was easy to handle five, bflt members would agree with him that it was not so easy to handle seven. It was pointed out by Mr. Geo. Remington that there had been occasions when two directors had been absent from New Zealand, and tlieTe must have been times when they had experienced a difficulty in obtaining a quorum at their meetings. On the motion being put it was declared carried on a show of hands. ' Mr. Sievwright proposed Messrs. Bush and Webb as directors. This was moved out of order. Mr. Sievwriglit then moved: "That, three now Articles, 70a, 70b, and 70c, re tlio election and duties of tho Match Committee be inserted in the Articles of Association." The effect of this motion was to mako it possiblo for the club to elect a match committee outside of tho directors. He pointed out that Uy acting in this way tho directors would bo relieved of duties that have proved onerous in tho past, and in order that the club should have proper representation in pennant matches, which lie inferred had not been tho case in the post. ~ Mr. C. W. Tanner opposed tho motion. Ho said it was utterly absurd to have two responsible bodies. The motion was lost on a show of hands. . ' Mr. Sievwright, after paying a tribute to Mr. Brunskill's work as secretary, moved that the directors consider the appointment of a paid secretary. Ho thought that the work was becoming very heavy, and tho club could afford to pay Mr. Hill thought it would bo much better if a bonus were paid to the secretary. In the course of the discussion it was , stated that the directors had voted a j bonus of twenty-five guineas to the sec- ; rotary. : Mr. N. 'Bell moved that tho amount bo fifty guineas, _ 1 .The motion was eeoonded and carried. ' Votes of thanks were passed to the • ladies and the press for their services ; during tho last Eeason. I During the evening Mr. T. Bush, on be- ] half of l the executive of tho Northern ( Bowling Association, presented a hand- J (•omely-framed photograph of tho mem- ( bers of that body to the club, which was ' suitably'acknowledged by the outgoing i president (Mr. C. Smith). Later on a meeting will 1)0 called to confirm the resolution respecting tho increase in the membership of th#, dlreotorato, and to elect two more members.