SWMMING TROUBLES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12647, 3 June 1919, Page 6

SWMMING TROUBLES.

COUNCIL AND CENTRE. ’Troubles in local swimming circles were aired at last night’s meeting of the Canterbury Centro of the New Zealand Amateur Swimming Association. At the commencement of the meeting Mr , Batcndor aslted whether delegates of clubs which had not paid fees duo to the centre were eligible to sit at tlio meeting. j -j V\ A Ricb , Mli the centre had decided to keep such clubs on the active list diiiing the war, and if the chairman ruled that their representatives could not sit on the centre it would bo a direct insult to somo 01 the soldiers who had fought' in the wax. ' ° The chairman (Mr W. Johnston), said that ho would allow iho delegates referred to to Bit on tlio centre. Mr Batchelor raid that he regretted he had to disagree with the chairman’s ruling, P. ut ,. ln i . ,° ihe decision ho would deem it his duly to personally got into communication with the council in regard to the matter. Ihe council, added Mr Batchelor, had given a ruling in direct contradiction to the chairmans. The chairman explained that the meeting had been called to consider a letter from the council to tho association, in which it was stated that the council had decided that the Canterbury Centre should bo given another fourteen days to withdraw a letter written by it to the editor of a Christchurch newspaper. In respect to tire request of the centre that tho council should fix a date for' receiving a deputation, tho council considered that no good purpose could he served by meeting the deputation, and that it would not beneficially affect the matters at issue. The chairman said that correspondence had not been placed before him as it should Have Vaon. Jtlr Hollander (secretary); Well, Mr ChairMr Batchelor: I rise to a point of order, it wo go on with this matter we shall waste our time. We wasted three hours the other evening in personal recriminations, ... t 1 tender my resignation as secretary to tho centre. A motion that the business of the meeting bo Proceeded with was carried. 8 Tho chan-man explained that a letter had been written fay the centre to the editor of a ( local lournal, asking that, as two members oi its literary staff were members of the council of the hew Zealand Amateur Swimi f oClatl °ib reporters otrior than thesa The f Cl ‘i rajXrt cou m'il mootings. Iho .otter had been written in good faith, and contained nothing objectionable. Why ,ho council. bad taken up its present atiitude he failed to grasp. The council had formed a precedent in regard to tho swimming reporter of another newspaper The newspaper concerned had been written to pointing out a similar position to that which ann'to/n 0 ° f - 4° present discussion, ana the president ot the council’ had waited upon the editor of tho paper, askhig thS the position should bo altered. So tor as ho, personally-, was concerned, added Mr Smatt. * 4 ™ rated “ Mr Rich formally moved that the letter should bo received, and the council he respectfully informed that the Centre could un. see its way to withdraw the letter to tho «ti.ox ot tuo evening journal mentioned. Iho council, ho added, had dealt with tho whole matter m committee. Tho Centro, however, was hot ashamed of its attitude. ' Air btokes seconded tho motion Mr Rich pointed out that a letter supposed to have been sent to the Contra by to© council bearing on the subject under discussioii had not been received. Perhaps the present trouble would not have occurred It the letter had been received. He thought that good would have, come of the connci* -ecciving the deputation. Mr Hollander said that the letter had been overlooked, but that be new had it intois possession. The chairman read tho letter, which was written by the then acting secretary of the council, in the following terms;—"Mr E. delegate to your Centro, 'has been notified that ho is required to appear before my association on Friday next," at 8 y.m., at tho Y.M.C.A., in connection with statements accredited to him as having been maae at a meeting of the Centro on January ‘-5 concerning Mr B. O’Neill. A copy of these alleged statements is enclosed.” Tho chairman suggested that tho council should be approached and asked to reconsider its decision to receive the deputation, in view of the new circumstances brought to light by- tho loiter just received. The matter was left to tho chairman. Mr Eldridgo moved that the council be wniton to, asking it to reinstate tie Addington and Timvald Clubs. The motion was carried. Mr Batchelor moved that application should bo made to the Bath Committee tor the use of a cupboard in the room i E which tno meeting was hold, in which to keep tho council’s correspondence, etc. The motion was carried. Mr Rich moved that Mr Hollander should be asked to withdraw his resignation. The motion wee .•ntyie.l. ?tid Mr Hollander agreed to '• cam- or.”