CHANGE IN CONTROL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16202, 12 April 1916, Page 9

CHANGE IN CONTROL.

ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

LIVELY ANNUAL MEETING.

NEW PRESIDENT ELECTED.

MAJORITY OF OLD COUNCIL

DEFEATED.

Never in tho history of tho Auckland Acclimatisation Society has such interest been shown in its proceedings as was manifested last night at its annual meeting, held in the Society of Arts Building, Coburg Street. Out of somo 440 members on the society's roll, 344 attended. Tho president, Lieut.-C'olonel W. H. Hazard, was in the chair. It had been known that keen canvassing had taken place for and against a movement to displace from office last year's president and council, and from the outset it was evident that both, "government " and " opposition " were strongly represented by their respective partisans. The first diversion took place on the question of the confirmation of tho minutes of last year's annual meeting, which told, inter alia, of attempts by non-members to propose other candidates— Lieut.Colonel Hazardfor the presidency and of his eventual unanimous return. Tho president called for tho ayes and after a vehement response declared the minutes confirmed.

" But you didn't give the other side a chance of voting," said Mr. 0. A. Whitney. " Very well," answered the president, " wo will take the voices again." Another roar of " Ayes " and an apparently equal volume of " Noes," and the minutes wero declared confirmed. The president in moving tho adoption of the annual report summary of which lias already been congratulated the society upon its splendid financial position. „ ... Mr, P. D. Ilargreaves, lo Kuiti, seconded the motion. A Member Finds Fault, A member, who was interrupted by cries of " How long havo you been a member?" and "When did you get your license?" found fault with tho non-circu-lation in advance of' tho society's annual report, which members had not received until they reached the door of the hall. Mr. Whitney, speaking to the motion, said tho report seemed a. very fair one, and ho gave the council credit for a good year's work. Ho inquired as to the cost per bird of the pheasants reared. The president said lie could not say, nor could any man in the world. He pointed out that as the cost of equipping the new gamo farm and rearing birds went on simultaneously, it was impossible to dissect the relative portions of the cost. He thought, however, that tho cost of rearing had not exceeded 7s 6d per bird.

Shooting lor the Rich Man. Mr, Whitney agreed that if that was so it was creditable ■to the society's curator. The fault of the past, he went on, had been that the society had not got enough birds jind fish for tho money spent. At present, shooting was only for the rich man. Tho poor man could not afford to go two days' journey from tho city to get it. To show that ho was not biased, lie was prepared to hand to tho secretary now £50 towards the importation of partridges and other gamo birds during the coming year. (Applause.) Mr. F. Willis criticised the proposal to import partridges. The speaker was at one stago interrupted bv members, who were greeted with thunderous cries of " Sit down." "Absurd Place to Cartridges." Mr. Whitney pointed out that Tanpiri. where, tho partridges had been lihen!?,! ; ' Auckland society, was nn jjUtiv ?'■: the purpjto. !fa and :•!- Reynolds had imported partridges and lih-vatel them in ill* Waikato, • at thn in.-; fjn''••*"o ■■ i.^c. Mr,. < V'' I . v n- Uiri'lw said *•> ■'*{ ;••••' >mptrindges and J.:*....>' .-..•••• <■■>> Mr. Walter BucklarJV pio;'. , •; para, which was very suitable • trie purpose. As to the non-protection of Air. Reynold's birds, the society had published notices throughout the district that any person who destroyed them would be prosecuted. The motion for tho adoption of the report was carried. On nominations being invikd for,the office of president, Mr. Whitney demanded that the roll of members should I>3 called. "You have," ho said, "checked off our men as they came in, but we have had 110 means of seeing who your friends ire."

Candidate for PietSu.s&c;.

The president said the position was that tho register had been 'placed at the door, and it had been seen that only members were- admitted. " There is, he added, " no such thing as our men or your men. We have done all we intend to do."

Two candidates were proposed—Colonel W. H. Hazard, nominated by Mr. P. I). Hargreaves and seconded by Mr. F. Willis; Mr.-R. Reynolds, proposed by Mr. C. A. Whitney and seconded by Mr. Keesing. In each case the proposer" snoko at length upon tile merits of his candidate. It was arranged that tho election should bo by ballot, and Mr. H. H. Ostler took the chair while the election was in progress. Scrutineers were appointed, and after tho voting papers had been collected ono of their number, Mr. Keesing, raised tho objection that the scrutiny, to be effective, should have begun with oversight at tho doors, in the interests of both parties, of the qualifications of those admitted. Mr. Ostler stated that before the meeting opened he hadafter a number of people had been admitted, it was true—asked Mr. Whitney to put scrutineers at the door, but lie had not seen fit to do so. Ho therefore called upon the scrutineers to count tho votes.

Mr. Keesing protested, and asked that his protest be recorded.

Election of Mr. Reynolds.

Another member proposed a vote of censure upon the management "for the disorderly and unbusinesslike manner in .which'the officers are conducting the meeting," but was ruled out of order, and advised to bring the question up later on if he desired it. The result of the election was declared as follows:— Reynolds, 178; W. H. Hazard, 166. Mr. Reynolds was accordingly declared elected, and cbters wero given for each candidate- Mr. Hazard good-humouredly thanked those who had supported _ him. "My fellows," said lie. addressing his opponent, " rolled up well, but your fellows' rolled up betterthat s all about it/' Mr. F. Earl was elected vice-president, Mr. 11. H. Ostler being also nominated, and retiring in Mr. Earl's favour. The New Council.

For membership of tho council, the old council with one exception, was nominated by Colonel Hazard, viz., Messrs. J. Briglmm, R. Grayson, J. Gillett, B. Noakes, H. 11. Ostler, J. J. Walklate F. Willis, and Dr. H. A. Cliatfield, with the addition of Mr. F. Paul. Other candidates, nominated by Mr. C. A. Whitney, were: Messrs. C. H. Culpan, J. Glossing, L. Hammond, C- Hardley, W. A. Johnston, A. MgKinnon, R. Middleton, C. A. Whitney and Captain A. N. Whit-

uey. , . , . After twelve scrutineers, in three sections of four each, had been at work upon the voting papers for upwards of an hour and a-half, Mr. Ostler declared that the following had been elected as the new council:— Messrs. Grayson, Ostler, Culpan, Glessing, Hammond, Hardley, Johnston, McKinnon and C. A. Whitney. With the exception of Messrs. _ Grayson and Ostler, the council is an entirely new one. Mr. W. J.-A. Thomson waa re-elected , auditor, ' •