Canvassing For Proxy Votes

Manawatu Times, Volume 66, Issue 264, 6 November 1941, Page 4

Canvassing For Proxy Votes

Election for A.A. President Causes Stir POSTAL BALLOT TO BE HELD An unusual development marked the annual meeting last night of the Automobile Association (Manawatu) when, following the nomination of two persons for the office of president and the making of a charge by one of them that an unfair advantage had been taken of him by the securing of proxy ■ votes for his opponent, it was decided 1 to adjourn the meeting to permit of tho rules being amended to provide for the election of the officers by a postal voto of all the members. The first indication that something of more than usual interest 1 attached to the meeting was seen in the attendance of about 130 members, a record for tho association. The business proceeded in the customary manner and when nominations were called for the office of president, the names of Mr. M. A. Eliott and Mr. W. H. Brown (the retiring president) were put forward. Mr. Eliott was nominated by Messrs. K. A. Henderson and G. I. McGregor, and Mr. Brown by Messrs. W. J. Crawford and J. Jamieson. Scrutineers for the election were appointed, and it was suggested that both candidates should briefly address the meeting before the ballot proceeded. Mr. Eliott did not desire to speak, but Mr. Brown said he felt that Mr. Eliott, as an aspirant for the office, should put his views before the meeting prior to the outgoing president speaking. Mr. Eliott thereupon said he felt the office was one that should go round, in line with the practice followed by other bodies. When the speaker had accepted nomination as chairman of the Wellington Harbour Board, he h.:d made it clear that he would not ci ntinue in office for more than a year. Mr. Brown had been president of the Automobile Association for four years. Recently, because of other duties, the speaker had not been able to give as much attention as he would have liked to, to the work of the association ifiT his capacity as a member of the committee, but he assured the meeting that, if elected as president, he would make arrangements that would enable him to give full attention to the position. Mr. Brown said that, in listening to Mr. Eliott, it was clear that he had no i criticism to make of the administration of the association's affairs over the past few years. The speaker had boen a member of the committee for .12 vears and president for four. At the final meeting of the committee during each of the past few years he had I intimated his intention to offer his services for a further term and had also requested an intimation from any committee member who was desirous of seeking presidential honours. He had told the committee that, a« long as his services were desired, he would remain in office until such time as the boundary question was satisfactorily settled between the Wellington, Wanganui and Manawatu Associations. However, no intimation had been given to him of a desire for a change until 4 p.in. yesterday, when he discovered that proxies were being canvassed for, which necessitated his doing likewise and, although he had only three-quarters of hu hour in which to work, he secured 24 members' signatures. “It was clearly indicated," Mr. Brown proceeded, “that the pther proxies had been collected for many days, which placed me at a distinct disadvantage. Surely it would have been fair to come out in the open and declare the intention to contest the office. I have no doubt that I shall be defeated to-night, but I am quite satisfied that I shall not be disgraced. Had I had an equal time to collect 1 would have been confident of a successful issue. Surely I should bo entitled to that British justice. “There is a further matter that I desire to refer to and that is the statements that have been circulating in the city that I am connected with a political organisation. I should like to give that the lie direct, and I feer that such tactics should not be indulgod in in motoring affairs. “I know that, with the proxy votes against me to-night, I have a hurdle that I can’t surmount, but I am confident that, in a postal ballot, I would have retained the confidence of the members." Mr. Brown added that, if Mr. Eliott were successful, the speaker would be the first to congratulate him. If the speaker were defeated, he would still retain, the interests of the association, for over a oeriod of years it had boen , his hobby. His appointment with the board of directors of tho N.I.M.U. continued for a further three years, and he could assure Mr. Eliott that, if the latter were elected, they would work in 1 close harmony and for the benefit of motoring. . . Commenting that an unfair position had apparently developed, a member of the association put forward the proi posal that the meeting should be adt journed for a period of seven days. The suggestion that the officers of . the association should be elected by i means of a postal vote was made by , Mr. W. Webb, who said this was the > only fair way. Mr. T. B. Lees thought that the two ! candidates might agree to a poatpone--5 ment of the election for seven days.

The only way by which full franchise could be obtained was by means of a postal vote, said Mr. G. I. McGregor. He favoured an adjournment of the meeting to enable the mles to be altered to permit of a postal vote of all the members. Mr. Brown: I am not in favour of an adjournment for the purpose of securing proxy votes. Voices: Hearl Hear! Mr. McGregor then moved: “That this meeting be adjourned to a date to be fixed by the committee later, the committee in the meantime to take the necessary steps to have the rules altered to provide for a postal vote for all officers of the association. ’ ’ This was seconded by Mr. R. L. C. Aitchison. Mr. Eliott said he was in favour of the proposal, adding that he would hate to be elected by an unfair method. “I want to make it clear that I had nothing to do with the proxy votes," Mr. Eliott said. “I knew nothing about them until an hour or two* before Mr. Brown." On being put to the meeting, the resolution was carried with only two dissentients. At a subsequent meeting of the general committee, the administration committee was asked to Tedraft the rules in the direction indicated for submission later to the general committee and a special general meeting of the associatioa.