ACTIONS CRITICISED

Taranaki Daily News, 30 November 1934, Page 3

ACTIONS CRITICISED

SOCIAL COMMITTEE WORK EAST END PAVILION CONTROL. DISBANDMENT RESENTED. “That in view of the implications made at a meeting of the reserve committee on Wednesday and in the apparent absence of any precise reason for disbanding the social committee the committee forward the books to the borough treasurer for audit,” was the text of a motion passed at a meeting of the social committee of the East End Beach Reserve Committee last night. It was the sequel to the decisions of the parent committee to disband the sub-committee. “During our absence at a community sing the reserve committee dismissed us without stating any grounds or giving any reasons whatsoever, and no charge has been made,” said Mr. R. H. Henderson in explaining the reason for the meeting.

Mr. Henderson said the social committee had received advice that a notice of motion that the minute or minutes with reference to the control of the hall by the social committee be rescinded had been given by Mr. F. A. Coleman. He had sent the following reply to the reserve committee: “This matter was discussed to-night (November 27) by my co-dele-gates from the reserve committee, and it is considered that the motion, of which notice has been given, is so confusing and far-reaching if carried, that we wish you to place the actual position before the meeting, and to convey our request that a special meeting be called as soon as possible, when the matter now under review, and other features of the social committee’s activities, may be discussed in dur presence.” SUCCESS OF GATHERINGS. Notwithstanding this the business was proceeded with without warning or intimation, he alleged. There was no suggestion that the gatherings were not a success or that the committee had committed a breach.

“It is a glaring insult and not the first time we have been insulted,” he added. At no time had the social committee had control of the hall. The statement that there were no financial statements was contrary to fact. Every detail of the expenditure on the hall was submitted to the committee. In one case the report consisted of three pages of typewritten matter.

Mr. H. Bulmer, treasurer, agreed. At one meeting he placed all the books before the committee for inspection by members. He also suggested that two committee members should audit the books.

The profit from the hall the previous year was £4 and to date the social committee showed a profit of about £7O, said Mr. Henderson. Mr. Bulmer said the reserve committee had three statements in eight months. That was fairly good. The reserve committee had been told the position even if it had not had a balance-sheet. Mr. Henderson said that, acting in accordance with instructions from the reserve committee, he had taken the books to the borough treasurer for audit but the treasurer had told him he would ask him for the books when he wanted them and the committee should “box on.” The books had always been available for anyone to inspect at a moment’s notice. When the meeting night of the reserve .committee and the community singing nights clashed owing to an increase in the meeting nights the committee did not assist the social committee. Mr. Henderson said four motions concerning the working of the sub-commit-tee passed at the previous meeting of the reserve committee were communicated to the social committee two days after the meeting, but no mention was made of the notice of motion until two days before the meeting at which it was to be tabled. He alleged the reserve committee knew the social committee would be engaged at a social gathering. Mr. Henderson said that except on the first night the reserve commitee had boycotted the gatherings. Mr. Draper: What the committee has done is bordering on an accusation and we should make a public statement. Mr. Henderson said the borough treasurer’s staff would audit the books and prepare a report. He thought the powers of the parent committee should be ascertained—whether it could disband a sub-committee.

It was agreed that the secretary interview the borough treasurer and town clerk with a view to ascertaining whether steps taken by the reserve committee in disbanding the social committee were in order. A motion condemning the attitude of the reserve committee in allegedly ignoring the request of the social committee that a special meeting be called to discuss the notice of motion in the presence of the committeemen, who were engaged in conducting a gathering, was passed. Those present were Messrs. J. Lowe (chairman), H. Bulmer, A. B. Allen, L. Remington, J. Henderson, N. Goldsmith, H. gharroch, P. C. Draper and R. H. Henderson (secretary). SECRETARY’S STATEMENT. The decisions of the East End Beach Reserve Committee in connection with the control of the hall of the pavilion were strongly criticised by Mr. R. H. Henderson, secretary of the social committee, in a statement to a Daily News reporter yesterday. “The reserve committee has been kept fully acquainted with the activities of the social committee,” said Mr. Henderson. “During the six months of the committee’s existence two written reports, including financial statements, have been handed in and verbal reports have been given at every meeting. “The statement made by Mr. F. A. Coleman differed from the actual position, Mr. Coleman being well aware that the committee spent an amount almost equal to the bank balance shown in preparing the pavilion for social gatherings, and details of those expenses are in the records of the reserve committee. Mr. Coleman must have known this, as he was paid for work by the social committee, which gave its services voluntarily. Mr. Woods also accepted payment for work out of the social committee’s funds. The social committee’s books are to be handed to the borough treasurer for audit. Compared with the reserve committee’s gala day the social committee’s turnover must be considered satisfactory. At the annual gala day the turnover was about £l3, showing a loss of Ils. The social committee has not involved the reserve committee in any expense whatsoever, but has a satisfactory bank balance.