RESENTMENT EXPRESSED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23669, 29 November 1938, Page 6

RESENTMENT EXPRESSED

ST. KILDA LIFE-SAVING CLUB DISCUSSION AT BOROUGH COUNCIL "STATEMENTS CONTRARY TO FACT " Strong exception to the remarks made at the annual meeting of the St. Kilda Surf Life-saving Club by Mr H. H. Henderson, president of the parent body, were expressed by members of the St. Kilda Borough Council at the fortnightly meeting last night. The Mayor (Mr J. J. Marlow) said that it was incorrect for Mr Henderson to say that the council had been shameful in its attitude towards the club and to the St. Kilda Beach Improvement Society. Mr Marlow read from a cutting the remarks which referred to the council made by Mr Henderson, which were as follows:

" I am sorry that your president, Mr J. J. Marlow, is not here," Mr Henderson continued, "as I had intended to inquire from him why the St. Kilda Borough Council had not given the club more financial assistance. The St. Clair Club has had a substantial grant from the City Council, but, even so, it is unable to spend as much money as it would like."

"The St. Kilda Council has done as much for the St. Kilda Surf Life-sav-ing Club in proportion as any other body," Mr Marlow said. "We are fully cognisant of the value of the work being done, and it is unfair for anyone to. make belittling statements without first obtaining facts. I do think Mr Henderson might have inquired beforehand to learn if there was any truth in certain of his statements Cr Anderson said that the action of Mr,Henderson in making such a report available for publication was far from discreet, and some of his statements were contrary to fact. It was well known that the council had made a donation of £l2 12s five year s ago to the club for the purchase of a lifesaving reel. Cr Hinton said it appeared that representatives of, the Otago Surf Lifesaving Association had gone to the meeting to remove other grievances which the club had against the parent body. Mr Henderson had drawn a red herring across the meeting by saying that the St. Kilda Council had treated the club and the St. , Kilda Beach Improvement Society in a shameful way. Both these bodies were working well together, and Mr Henderson's remarks were uncalled for and indiscreet.

Cr Longworth also expressed the opinion that the council was fully appreciative of the work being done by the society and the life-saving club. " I think the matter has been sufficiently ventilated," Mr Marlow stated at this stage of the discussion