SWIMMING CONTROL

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 8679, 12 March 1914, Page 7

SWIMMING CONTROL

A LIVELY DISCUSSION SHOULD EXECUTIVE BUSINESS BE PUBLIC? Air hour and a half Was spent it lively discussion last evening by the Wellington Centre of the New Zealand Swimming Association, at a meeting adjourned from the previous AVednesday. There was an attendance of about twenty members, presided over by Mr D. K. Blair. AVARSI WORDS. At the outset Sir F. AAulton asked which club slr J. F. Atkins (late chairman of the committee) represented. The secretary, slr J. S. Stevenson, Stated that Mr Atkins represented the JlasteftoH Ladies’ Club. Mr Wilton then inquired Whether it Was ft fact that Mt Atkins had vacated his position in order to represent the AVelliagton Centre on the New* Zealand Swimming Centre. In reply, the chairman said that Mr Atkins had a right to sit on the centre. , . . , . Mr G. S. Hill inquired if it was true that Mr Atkins and another had. endeavoured to have a rule altered to allow Mr Atkins to sit .both on the New Zealand Centre and the AVellington Centre. . . This elicited from slf Atkins a tiiiery aS to Whether A less is AVilton alid Hill were holding an inquiry oil him, arid a dramatic pitch was ftiacbed when Mr. Atkins, addressing Mr. Bill* fight you.” ...... “I will hot associate myself with you,” slr Hill responded, and the affair was allowed to pass off In afl atmosphere of levity.. EXAMINATION OF MINUTES. The next development in the inquiry department was prompted by Mr AVilton’wanting to know what the previous meeting waft adjourned lor. The chairman replied that the meeting was adjourned in order to allow the executive’s minute-book to be inasked that the secretary should read the minutes of what was done on the previous night of meeting, but the chairman explained that the minutes had not been written, tip, as the meeting was not concluded slr AVilton: “NO; the ffiihiites of the Co T t he chairman Said that there Word two minute-books—-oile s6t th© ©Xfecu* live And the other for the ofentre. Mr Wilton Wished to know Under what rule two minute-books Were kept. He alleged that there Was a solid block Vote against Constitutionalism. He asked that the secretary read the motion carried at the previous meetbag. **l' * ’ ‘ The secretary read a motion, by Mr ■AVilton that the meeting adjourn for seven days “to inspect the .minutebook.” . . Mr AVilton said the motion was that delegates should have the right to inspect the minute-book. HO had asked the secretary _ when it would, be convenient for him to ■ inspect the book, and the secretary asked for a day or two to write the minutes up. Seven days had now elapsed, and he said the minutes were not written. In answer to the Speaker’s application to see the book, the secretary Wrote Stating that, in accordance with, advice received, his position was made clear, and ho could not allow .the executive minutebook to leave his possession; it could only he perused by an executive offiThO chairman referred Mr AVilton to Rule 6 regarding the powers Of the executive.’ Mr AVilton pointed out that that rule stated that the executive Should carry on the business of the centre till the next annual meeting Or till successors Were appointed. He maintained that successors could be appointed now. He had wired to Christchurch, to the president of the NsW-Zealand Swimming Association, Who had replied that members of the executive had the right to peruse the minutebook. , “Why did you not say the executive minute-book ?” . asked a member. “I do not recognise the existence of it,” responded Mr-Wilton, fie then asked what there'was to hide in the minute-book. The chairman: “There is nothing to hido--lay a Charge. You are only out on a fishing expedition.” - In the course of further discussion, Mr Morpeth, in criticising Mr Wilton's attitude, asked if the directors of a company would have the tight to peruse the minute-books of the' directors,

Mr. Wilton: “In some . companies they have.” , .., The chairman stated that the rules provided for the keeping of two min-ute-books.

THE SECRETARY EXPLAINS. A statement was made by the secretary, who said, that when he tbok Up the duties of the centre he found two minute-books already provided for him. He ootlld hot enter up into the min-ute-book of the general meetings the business of the executive, for which there was a separate book. A member could not see the executive book; he must bring 'along an executive official, if the latter was willing to take the risk. He was not going to-take the responsibility upon his own shoulders. Some people might hay, “You must have a lot to hide,” but the question was one of principle. Mr Blundell considered that a report of the meetings should at least be mentioned in a minute-book which the members could look at. As it was at present various things were not heard of till they leaked out. The secretary said that if the rules were rendered up to date the executive body might report even to the clubs, which would be better than rethen be open to the delegates ?” Mr Wilton: “Does the secretary mean that the executive book will then be open to the delegates?” Mr Stevenson: “Ho.” The chairman said that the executive had nothing to conceal in the minutes, but at the same time it had to deal with a lot of very private matters concerning swimmers, conduct, and so on, Which it would Uot do to publish. If a member came along and Wished to see certain minutes, he believed tbo request would be granted if it were reasonable; but if any one outside the executive wanted to peruse the whole of the minutes and perhaps make public a charge against some man, it would not be fair. The chairman paid a tribute to the thorough manner in which the Secretary kept the minutebooks and carried out his work. Mr Harris expressed the opinion that whatever happened in the executive should be notified to the clubs concerned. His club (Thorndon) was waiting to hear what date had been allotted for the carnivals. He asked the chairman to modify his views. The chairman: “Yon arc asking me to turn a complete somersault.” After further discussion the meeting was terminated by the application of the closure.