INSTITUTES DIFFER

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21326, 29 October 1932, Page 17

INSTITUTES DIFFER

CONSTITUTIONAL ISSUES POINTS OF DIFFERENCE Considerable discussion centred upon llio position that had arisen between the Auckland Federation of Women's Institutes and the Dominion Federation at the annual meeting of the Auckland Federation yesterday. Mrs. S. Irwin, president, presided, and welcomed delegates and visitors to the meeting, extending a special welcomo to Mrs. Dudley Dorman, the first president of the organisation. In outlining recent events, Mrs. Irwin said that one of their charges was that tho postal vote, which had been carried at tho 1930 conference, and which assured tho participation of every institute in tho choosing of a constitution, had not been put into effect—in fact, it had been eliminated at tho conference held in Wellington in July. Another charge was that amendments to the English constitution, which was to bo brought forward, and which had beon decided upon by tho central executive committee and by the federations, had not been submitted to the final vote of the institutes. Later, it had been decided that these amendments should be placed before the July meeting of this year. When the agenda. was received two months before the conference, continued Mrs. Irwin, the amendments dealing with tho constitution of the central executive were not there. Instead the chairman had sent out a draft constitution which practically reproduced the proposals which had been rejected by tho central executive committee in 1930. This draft constitution, said Mrs. Irwin, was not the one authorised by tho central executive committee. On account of its irregularities tho committee of tho Auckland Federation deemed it advisablo to become an incorporated body to protect both the federation and the institutes, and to have its own constitution in conformity with New Zealand Jaws and suitable to New Zealand requirements. This was done with the aid of legal advice. Administrative Cost The constitution that was brought before the Wellington conference and adopted was not considered financially sound by the Auckland Federation, and based as it was on the English constitution it was not considered entirely suitable to New Zealand conditions. Mrs. Irwin further stated that sho had placed all the documents in her possession in the hands of Sir George Fowlds, an authority upon constitutional procedure. Based upon these, his opinion, read to the meeting by Mrs. Irwin, was that the procedure followed made the constitution adopted at the Wellington conference practically valueless. Mrs. Treby said that under the constitution adopted at the Wellington conference only those institutes which were able to send a delegate to conference had any voice in the management of the movement. Tho postal vote, which was struck out, had made provision for sending delegates. Another objection was-tho administrative cost of the constitution adopted at the Wellington conference. In addition to the salary of the secretary, there were the travelling expenses of a large executive, meeting four times a year. When there were eight members the travelling expenses amounted to £25. Now that, there were 12, with a possible increase to 14. they would amount to much more. In tho past 18 months, Mrs. Treby said, the central executive had spent over £220 in travelling and secretarial expenses. Mrs Treby also stated that at tho Wellington conference there were represented only one-fifth of the institutes, yet it disfranchised four-fifths in two such important matters as the adoption of a constitution and the levy of sixpence an institute by cutting out the postal vote. Election of Committee Criticism of the action of the chairman of the central executive committee was also expressed by Miss Lewis, who at. the same time, was inclined to think that the Auckland federation had been somewhat too precipitate in its action. A motion was carried that the Auckland federation remain as at present constituted until the next meeting in May, and that in the meantime tho constitutions of tho two bodies, that of the Dominion federation and of, the Auckland federation be placed before nn expert with the object of/securing amendments to be placed before the institutes for I heir consideration, these to be brought up at the next provincial meeting. A vote of thanks and confidence in Mrs. Irwin was carried with acclamation. The committee of the Auckland federation was elected as follows:—Mrs. S. Irwin (president), Mrs. Milligan, Miss Wood, Mrs. Treby, Miss Fetter, Mrs. Wyatt, Miss Lewis, Miss Hopper, Mrs. Lewis, Mrs. Robb, Miss E. Chilwell,.Mrs. Matheson. Mrs. Stuart, Mrs. Teapc and Mrs. S. Phillips.