“MOST AUTOCRATIC.”

Gisborne Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 4964, 3 September 1918, Page 2

“MOST AUTOCRATIC.”

MR D. W. COLEMAN ANGRY

HEATED DISCUSSION AT CITIZENS’ DEFENCE MEETING.

A somewhat involved and heated discussion ensued at a meeting of the Citizens’ Defence Committee yesterday afternoon- —Mr H. Ivenway presiding in the absence of Mr W. G. Sherratt —as the result of an endeavour by Mr D. W. Coleman to alter the rules of the Committee by increasing the number of representatives of the Gisborne Returned Soldiers’ Association from one to three. When the re-constitution of the Committee was decided upon allowance was made lor the appointment of four additional members to he nominated by the Committee and there is still one vacancy. This accounts for. the references at yesterday meeting to the suggestion to fill that vacancy by appointing Mr Lange, secretary of the Returned Soldiers’- Association. In accordance, with notice Mr Coleman moved that instead of one representative the Association should have three. Mr Stock mentioned that the number of members representing the Returned (Soldiers’ Association directly had been decided upon and could not. be altered until the reorganisation meeting. The Chairman said that lie would rule Mr Coleman’s motion out of order. Mr Coleman: I move that your ru'iag ho disagreed with. The Chairman: I am not going to take that. My ruling now holds. Mr Coleman: It is a most autocratic action. The Chairman: 1 am guided by the rules of the Committee. Mr Stock: It is the chairman’s ruling on a point of order. The Chairman: Hie motion cannot be gone on with. The Chairman added that he would require notice of motion regarding the disagreement with his ruling. Mi- Wildish moved that as there was a vacancy on the Committee it should be filled by a returned soldier. The Chairman: I have given my rilling. . Mr Coleman: It is a most autocratic oue too. The Chairman: I do not want to lio autocratic but I must abide by my ruling. Only one representative c-an be appointed. Mr Coleman: Aon were out- of order according to your ruling when you moved that Air Kells should invited to take a seat, on the Board (Committee?). .’ •_ The Chairman: The principle niisos, in connection with Mr Yiddish _s motion that the proposal is directly affected by Mr Coleman’s motion. I must decline to accept it; I cannot help it. i Mr Coleman: lou have made ill your mind that you will not help lt- Mr Wildish: I move that Mr Lange, secretary of the Returned Soldiers’ Association, be appointed. Mr Stock: He is a returned soldiei and th P rules of the Committee provide that they shall he represented by one soldier. We already have that representative. . Mr Coleman: So you are going to bar returned soldiers. The Chairman: , This resolution which I have ruled out of order will This notice of motion the effect of my taking any motion of that character would be t pmitrsivene mv own ruling. Mr White: The Chain™.. W given Ills ruling; why discuss the m Mr e M».>n S : In that event I have a second motion Major Fletcher is a returned soldiei, and he elected, to the Committee. The Chairman : I will not take it. One representative only can be apP °Mi te Munns: Then Major Fletcher has no right on this Committee. Mr Coleman: Nothing was iurfcher from my mind than to be disrespectful to the chair. I respect the ruling hut disagree with it and 1 move that the ruling be disagreed with. The delegates should be the body to say whether thp ruling should be disagreed with. . , _ The Chairman: My duty is to see that the proceedings are properly conducted in accordance with the rules of the Committee. Mr Coleman : I shall move at tlie* next meeting that your lading be disagreed with. The matter dropped.