CONTROVERSY ENDS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23894, 23 August 1939, Page 12

CONTROVERSY ENDS

NORTH OTAGO MOTORISTS' EXPLANATION " NEWSPAPERS MADE MISCHIEF " "The newspapers made mischief out of the discussion at our meeting, and we have no more intention of canvassing in the Hakataramea district than you have in Omarama," said the North Otago Automobile Association in a letter read at a meeting of the South Canterbury Association, closing the controversy on the question of one association canvassing for members in the territory of the other. At the previous meeting (states the Timaru Herald) members took exception to a statement made at a meeting of the North Otago Association and reported in a newspaper and in the Motor World, that a representative of the South Canterbury Association had been canvassing for members in the North Otago district, and the secretary was instructed to explain that the few South Canterbury members, in the North Otago district were members of long standing and that no canvass had been made.

"It is recognised that every association has a few very loyal members residing in other districts, and it is not our job to dictate to these people which association they should belong to," the letter continued. "Our idea in bringing the matter before you at Rangitata was to suggest that while our canvasser was working the Kurow district he could easily do Raka-aramea as well, and any new members he was able to contact would be signed up to your account. We could see, however, that your executive members were not inclined to favour the idea of one, association working in the other's territory and we have no intention of doing so without your consent." A member: Very satisfactory.