LIVELY EXCHANGES

Evening Post, Volume CXVII, Issue 125, 29 May 1934, Page 8

LIVELY EXCHANGES

A NOTICE OF MOTION

WAS IT PERSONAL ?

Lively exchanges attended the defeat of a notice of motion at' the annual meeting of the.Wellington Acclimatisation Society, last .night. Mr. Frank Willis moved as an addition to the rules, notice having been given, "That no person shall hold the position of chairman of. the council of the Wellington Acclimatisation Society for more than two years in succession, this to operate retrospectively." - The motion, said Mr. Willis, 'was moved with the idea of preventing the appointment' of a bad chairman, yet one towards whom the kindliest of feelings mighf > exist. Such aji important position should go round. There was no feeling in the matter, i- . ,j_

Mr. Butler seconded the motion. '. Mr. F. C. Brockett: Why make it retrospective?

Mr.. Willis said that if the motion were not made retrospective it would not take effect until 1935. By making it .retrospective..it, could take effect sooner. ,

Mr. W. F. Hogg said that if; was of no use. trying to camouflage,matters by any banalities.. .'.'We must face the situation, and know exactly what it is about, " he said. "This motion has a personal direction.' •

Mr. Willis: I take deliberate exception to that statement.,. I met him here and gave him my word' of honour that it was not done from any feeling whatever, nor from any organisation whatever. _; Dr. Anson will agreed Voices: Apologise. Mr. Willis: I-.do not intend to..

Mr. Hogg: It is obvious from the form which the motion takes that it must have a personal effect.

Mr. L. Rothschild: Not necessarily. Would you not takehis word of honour?

Mr. Hogg: A house divided against itself must fall. The motion can only have the effect that old sores will be opened and new , antipathies created. It is the duty of members of the society to reject it;

Mr. E. V. Mason: I. do. not intend to support, the' motion, but I take strong exception to the remarks of the las* speaker.

Mr. Hogg: I accept - Mr. Willis's statement, but the form in which the motion is put must have that effect. A member remarked that however innocent in intention, the motion meant that they would be deprived of the''services of an officer who had served them well and faithfully for years. Mr. Boyes .thought that they should be careful about passing such a .motion. Mr. A. Seed moved as an amendment that the motion >be deferred until such time as the. new council brought down amendments to :the rules generally.. The rules-of the society were due for overhaul, and draft rules had formerly been attempted, but such a_ thing was of too wide a scope to be discussed at. an-annual meeting. ;• '■■:-'■' Mr.: ~W.Gr. Talbot seconded the. amendment. '•■■'. .■• : ...■':-.... • -;..: •.-;■'■.;... '-■

Mr. Willis said that that would take a long time. In spite of what.had been said he had nothing against the present chairman.

Mr. Talbot; queried the correctness of making a notice of motion or a new rule retrospective,- " ■ . Mr. L. O. H. Tripp, who presided, said that, generally, speaking, they would have the power to do so, but under the. constitution of acclimatisation societies new rules had to be referred to the Minister, of Internal Affairs. Ho;would not like to' rule- it out. of order.

Mr. Talbot contended that the motion was out of order if it definitely proposed to do something that' could not be done.

The amendment was."' carried by 69 votes to 27, put' as: the !, substantive motion, and carried: '. .