THE CLELAND CASE.

Feilding Star, Volume I, Issue 219, 19 March 1907, Page 2

THE CLELAND CASE.

PEILDING CAPTAIN DISQUALIFIED. CANNOT TAKE~ANY PART IS DEMONSTRATION. [By Telegraph.] (Our Own Correspondent.) Christchurch, March 19. At ike Fire Brigades' Conference last evening a clause in the annual report was discussed. It read aa follows : — ' ' Your executive regret having to report what they consider to be a wilful breach of your rule* by the Hawera Brigade, and have notified them that this matter will be fully enquired into at this Conference. We recommend that a committee be set up to enquire into this case, and report to the delegates." This clause had reference to Captain Cleland, who was expelled by the New Plymouth Brigade, and subsequently admitted into the Hawera Brigade, thd latter giving him a clearance for the Feilaing Brigade. A committee was set up as suggested, and enquired into the matter. At the meeting of that committee last evening an apology was read from the Hawera Brigade, and it was admitted by the Brigade that they had committed a breach of rule 12 in allowing Cleland to become a member, and deeply regretted their error. However, the Brigade were led into the error more out of a desire to do what they thought would assist Mr Cleland to lay his case properly before the Association, rather than any wish to transgress the rules of the Association. The report of the committee was submitted to the Conference, recommending that the clause in the executive report referred to above Btani, and that the apology from the Haivera Brigade be accepted. The report of the committee was discussed in committee and on the committee resuming ordinary business the report was adopted. In reply to a question the president ruled that Mr Cleland could net be admitted a mmber of the United Fim Brigade Association until he obtains a clearance from the New Plyn.outh Brigade. The president's ruling was challenged, but it was upheld by an almost unanimous vote. It was announced that Mr Cleland could not compete at the demonstra* tion.