DIVIDED RANKS

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 18, 20 July 1935, Page 11

DIVIDED RANKS

TAILWAGGERS' CLUB

UNUSUAL POSITION

SEPARATE MEETINGS HELD

As a result of differences of opinion! on questions of policy, the. executive committee of the Tailwaggers' Club of New Zealand (Wellington) has divided into two groups- Each group .claims authority to transact the club's business, and separate meetings have been held to discuss the club's affairs. one meeting a certain, thing is done, and at a subsequent meeting of the rival faction the motion is- rescinded. It is reported that on Thursday evening, in Lambton Quay, a scuffle occurred between two rival committee members, a man and a woman, over possession of the club's minute book. After arguing the position informally at the Central Police Station the woman committee member returned to the clubroorns in possession of the minute book. The group to which she belonged held a meeting that r ,night. It is understood that the minute book has since been returned to the club secretary. The rival faction held a meeting on the previous night, and members have issued a statement pointing out that as it was impossible for the two divisions of the committee to work together they, acting on the advice of a previous chairman of the club, formed themselves into an executive . committee to carry on the working of the club. On July 17 a meeting was held and a motion passed forming those present, with the addition of one other, into an executive commit-, tee. The statement referred to the fact that it had become necessary for the Tailwaggers' Club to seek new quarters, and yesterday members of both factions, were seeking rival rooms as alternatives to the present premises in Lambton Quay. .-..'■ "SHOULD BE WOUND tP." In the opinion of Mr. D. K. Blair, president of the club, the club should be wound .up. Mr. Blair told a "Post" reporter today that a number of meetings had been held with this object in view, but it had been decided to carry on. The club, he said, had been in. existence for isome years, -'but recently, until this year, it had been impossible to hold an annual'meeting because it was difficult to ascertain the position of the club's affairs. A leading accountant undertook to go into the club's affairs for the annual meeting this year, but he found that they were so involved that he could riot bring out a balance-sheet. A statement of the position was made but it \vas not an audited balance-sheet. "My view, and I am one of the guarantors, is that the club should be wound up," said Mr. Blair. . Mr. Blair explained, that although he wished to resign from the presidency of the club his resignation had hot been accepted. .•■■■ "SERIOUS DISSENSION." ' Mr. C. W. Batten, who was Chairman of the executive until his resigna*. tion at the last general meeting, was also interviewed on the subject' by "The Post." He said that unfortunately serious dissension had arisen. Members .of both sides .had mentioned this matter to him, and he had advised that if they could not settle their differences the members of the club should-be called together in general meeting. The whole committee should place their resignations in the hands of the general meetingi'as they'must;not lose sight of the fact'that they:were only servants of the club, which expressed its will through, a general meeting. ■-,'., He .understood that a. committee meeting had been called,^ but one group refused to meet, and stated its intention to meet on/another night.- ; As urgent matters required immediate attention, he advised the secretary'to carry out the resolutions of any properly-convened and .constituted meeting. If a subsequent meet? ing, also properly convened: and constituted, rescinded the resolutions,; the. '. responsibility was on their: shoulders. Now that the matter had been made public, he had no doubt that if the executive did not call a general meeting, members of the club would do so by requisition under the rules. In the meantime the work of, the club had been carried on by the secretary, Mr. Anderson, who would see that the dogs were properly cared for. "It is a very great pity," said Mr. Batten, "that when the affairs of the club have apparently taken a turn for 1 the better, this trouble has occurred. However, the greatest enemy of any movement is apathy, and out of the present difficulty good may emerge, in that members generally may take a more active interest."