RECHABITE “WRANGLE”

Evening Star, Issue 22595, 12 March 1937, Page 13

RECHABITE “WRANGLE”

QUESTION OF HEADQUARTERS APPEAL TO SUPREME COURT [Per United Press Association.] ■ WELLINGTON, March 11. What ono counsel described as a wrangle between factions of the Rechabite Order was discussed in the Supreme Court to-day before Mr Justice Reed. Alfred Martin, a brassfounder, of Christchurch, suing on behalf of himself and others of the New Zealand District Independent Order of Rcchabites, proceeded against district officers of the order, asking for a direction from the court to enforce the decision of a district conference of the order to move the head office from Wellington to Christchurch. The defendants contended that the District Council had no power to make suoh a decision. The case occupied the whole day, and will be resumed to-morrow. Application for a stay of proceedings was mad© for the defendants on the ground that the general triennial meetmg of the District Council, the governing body of the society, was to be held at Easter. It was claimed that the souncil could deal with and settle the question advanced in the proceedings. His Honour said he could not adjourn the case, and would have to hear evidence. Counsel, outlining the case for the plaintiff, said the two issues were: Had the District Council overriding authority over the district officers it elected and was the office of the society properly removed to Christchurch at the conference in 1934? He said the case involved the control of assets worth over £IOO,OOO and concerned 5,300 members, 3,400 being in Canterbury, Otago, and Southland.