AQUATICS.

New Zealand Times, Volume LI, Issue 8968, 19 April 1890, Page 4

AQUATICS.

WELLINGTON ROWING CLUB. Some weeks ago a prominent member of the Wellington Rowing Club was expelled from membership by the Committee for using fa ulting language toward the The alleged offence was committed in the boatshed, and when each of the parties was wearing the Club’s uniform. Fearing that unless stringent measures were adopted inthis instance, the general discipline of the = Club would suffer considerably, the< Committee decided on the coarse mentioned* It happened, however, that the member inquestion was not called on for an ex* planation of his conduct, the Committee’s decision being come to without hearing what the offender had to say in defence. A section of the Clnb con* sidered that the Committee had erred in expelling the man, and held that the whole question should have been referred to a meeting of the members for their consideration. Accordingly a requisition was prepared requesting the Committee to convene a special general meeting of the members of the Club to review the Committee’s action, and this gathering came off at the Royal Oak Hotel last night. The attendance was very large, about 45 members being present. At the outset the Captain (Mr A. G, Johnson) occupied the chair, and a resolution was moved to the effect that representatives of the press be excluded from the meeting. On being put, this was carried on the casting vote of the Chairman, and the representatives present retired. For three solid hours the subject was discussed, and at times the enthusiasm waxed warm, many of the members present expressing their views in somewhat strong manner. A member moved that the Committee place before the meeting the evidence on which bis fellow member was expelled, and also that the ex-member be called in and asked to give his version of the affair. This was carried by a large majority, whereupon the office bearers and committeemen present stated that they considered sn ;h a resolution nothing less than a vote of censure on them, and that they would resign their respective offices at once. They immediately vacated their seats, but wiser counsels intervened, and they were prevailed upon, to see the meeting through. The captain resigned the chair, in the meantime, in favour of a senior member who happened to be in the room, aad the business was once more proceeded with. The captain and the member who had been expelled each gave bis account of the language and conduct complained of, and several members who were in the immediate vicinity at the time also told what they knew of the. affair. Seeing that the tone of the meeting was against the Committee, the captain and his fellow officers pointed out to the members that the present issue was a most important one, and that if the member were reinstated it might be very difficult to preserve order and maintain discipline among

members in the fntnre. The majority of those present, however, refused to look at the matter in this light, and a resolution ordering the minute bearing on the member a expulsion to be expunged from the minutebook, and directing the re instatement of the member in question, was carried by 29 to 13. This concluded the business, and the meeting dispersed. It is understood that the resignation of moat of the office bearers and oommittteemen of the Club will follow the decision come to by last night’s meeting. We cannot but deplore such a step, and sincerely hope, for the credit of the champion rowing clnb of the Colony, that the little breeze will blow over, and that the Committee will reflect before they take a stop which cannot have other than a bad effahj: on the welfare of the Club. We entirely agreed with the Captain that discipline must be maintained with a firm hand, but at the same time hope that some amicable arrangement will be come to.