OTAGO HUNT CLUB.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15707, 8 March 1913, Page 4

OTAGO HUNT CLUB.

A DISCORDANT MEETING,

The first Annual" meeting of the Otago Hunt Club was held last evening in the Dunedin Jockey Club's room, Mr 0. 8. Myers jiresided", and there were about '60 members present, including several ladies. The Chairman, before proceeding with the ordinary business, moved a resolution expressive of regret at the untimely end ot Capttiin Scott and his comrades and of sympathy with' Captain Scott's relatives and 'friends. He said everyone deplored the loss of auc.h a brave man. —The motion was carried by those present standing. The Chairman, in moving the adoption of theireport (already published) and the balance sheet, said he was pleased to meet members with' such a good report and balance sheet after their first season in the field. They had jpeut close on £500 since the formation of the club, and they owed only £23, which was more than represented by assets Naturally, at the end of a hard , season they had lost some of the hounds and they had .had to destroy others. .They had still 17 over a year old and 29 puppies, which he thought was very satisfactory. Some of these puppies would be running at the end ot the coming season. They had inaugurated a steeplechase,. but while this bad, been enjoyable it had not been a financial success. They could not, however, expect -it to be financially successful unless they had the tofalisator or bookmakers. ■ The question of receiving some financial assistance from the Government should receive serious attention at the hands of the incoming committee, and he suggested that; the acting Minister of Defence might be waited upon in this connection. He. pointed out that some return could be •made by the club inviting members of mounted corps to participate in the hunt, and tiiat the sport if encouraged would be the means of providing remounts. The Government had received £76,611 from the totalisator last year, ar.d 'tiiat would probably be increased to £100,000 this year. He was ploased to know.that Sir .John Sidey, who had always been a good sport, had attained his ninetieth birthday, and he thought the secretary might communicate with him and convey the club's, hearty congratulations. The secretary (Mr Divers) really deserved more than passing notice. He had, the speaker believed, done more work than any other lion, secretary connected with any. sporting institution.

Mr A. .Slinger seconded tile motion, which was carried. 1 1 ; Mr S. S. Myers was re-elccted president. and Mr B. S. Irwin vjee-president. Mr H. J. Gourlev was appointed master of hounds and Mr J. A. Gordon deputy master, Mr A. Smith was elected treasurer. On the Chairman calling for nominations for the position of lion, secretary Mr. H. Divers and Mr I!. Hogg were proposed. / The Chairman said he thought .it was only right for him to say that but for Mr Divers there would not have been any Hunt Club in Dunedin, for some time at any rate. i • j A ballot was taken, -which resulted in the election of Mr Hogg by 13 votes to 10, and on the Chairman making the announcement Mr H. J. Gourney rose quickly to his foet, and said: " I will resign as master. 1 have been in a lot of sports in my time, and there has never Been a secretary, who has worked like Mr Divers." Mr Divers: It is very good of you to saj that.. I would not feel justified now in having anything to do with the hunt';' because my ardour is damped. 1 am not upset in the least; but i will tell you how this came about. There lias beep during the season a certain amount of personal feeling introduced. That has been caused by some members because 1 "turned them down.". They were not' in the sport for the sake of the sport itself, but for what they could get out of it in the way of notoriety in the papers. They have gradually worked this up. I have done everything I could in the interests of the sport; but because I have fallen foul of some of these members they have brought matters to a head, and have got me out. lam very sorry that Mr Gourley should find it necessary to resign. If you were to give ma £300 for the past year's work it would not pay me, and the position of secretary has cost me £30 or £40. I don't know what more you could expect, and you turn me down. ;

Mr J. Muir: I am surprised that the position of secretary went to the vote. Nobody but the few who have been with him knows the work Mr Diyers has done, He has actually gone and cleaned out the dog boxes. I am absolutely surprised at what has happened, and I think it is a disgrace to the club.

Mr T. T. Ritchie: I endorse Mr Muir's remarks, because I know the work Mr Divers has done. Some people have had a spite against him. He may have been rather abrupt at times, and that has upset some members. Speaking for myself, I think this action to-night is the deathknell of the Hunt Club.

Mr A. Slingeru I am very sorry to see such discord here to-night. It means disaster to our club. I consider this club would never have been existent to-day had it not been for the energy of Mr Divers. He has been the life and soul of the club, and I cannot let this opportunity pass without thanking Mr Divers for the great amount of work lie lias put into his office.

Mr B. S. Irwin; I endorse the remarks of the previous speakers. Air Divers has carried out his duties very faithfully, and it is unfortunate that members present should have turned him down. The fact that lie is turned down is 110 reflection on him, because those who know him know he has been a splendid secretary. Mr Irwin, went on to speak in a manner calculated to throw oil on the troubled waters, and to urge Mr Gourley not to resign. Mr Divers: Information was given me to-day. that they were going to shift me out of .the position of secretary. Mr Irwin: 1 heard something of the same sort. I heard tiiat some members had an objection to Mr Divers. I wish the election of secretary had como before tlie election of vice-president.

A Member; You would not have stood? Mr Irwin: I would not. •

Mr A. Smith; I must say it Kvill bo a very hard matte indeed for me to part with a man who has done the hard, honest, energetic work Mr Divers.has done as secretary. I am very sorry at the result of the vote. • '''■

Mr J. A. Jordan: I reckon Mr Divers lias been a credit to the club and a man we should look up to and admire. Ho lias carried on the work like a man, I know -where the first dissension came from in the club,

Mr A, Hastie: I will. tell the reason why I seconded Mr Hogg's nomination. I would like to add my meed of praise to Mv Divers. At an executive meeting something wis brought forward by Mr Divers, but we were unanimous in throwing it out, and -Mr Divers;, got up- and said, " If that is your opinion, I am done with it. I cease to be secretary." I don't think we should put ourselves in the hands of a man like. that.

Mr Ritchie; I would like to ask Mr Irwin,' as chairman of that meeting, whether that is a fact.

Mr Divers: No; it is not a fact. . Mr Hastie: It may not be remembered, but it is a fact.

The Chairman expressed the hope that Mr Divers would take his defeat in good part. Mr Irwin: I think we should place on the records of the club a very hearty vote of thanks to him for his work in initiating the club, and in carrying his work to a successful issue. Mr Hasie said he would second that, Mr Divers pointed out that Mr Horg was not a member of the hunt. lie did not wish to upset anything, but he thought Mr Hogg's nomination was, not in order. The Chairman said it was necessary for liim to give a ruling on. the point. There was nothing in thc ; rules dealing with the matter. He must say 1 he felt tlie election was legal.

Mr Irwin: I don't think there "is' anythin" against appointing Mr Hogg. Mr Smith: _ There is nothing to prevent us going outside our members for a secretary. The Chairman: I. have to declare Mr Hogg elccted as, secretary. The appointment of a committee of eifht' .was then entered upon, but almost.

everyone named declined nomination for some time. Finally Messrs J. Muir, H. Divers, J. Brown, A. Hastie, A. Slinger, H. W. Allan.. A. D. Edgar, and J. A. Jordan were appointed. Mr W. Forrester was elected 'auditor. A Member expressed a desire to give notice of, his intention to move that in future all ballots be taken by a show of hands, but the Chairman said lie could not accept that. The Member; Well, I don't believe in hitting a man behind his back.