A LIVELY MEETING.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16542, 28 September 1921, Page 5

A LIVELY MEETING.

SEAMEN'S INSTITUTE TROUBLE. SETTLEMENT IN SIGHT. Another Interesting chapter was abided to the history of the Lyttelton branch of the British and Foreign Sailors’ Society at a special meeting held last night to consider among other things the findings of a special committee set. up to go into the recent upset in the society’s affairs. After nil sorts of compromises had been canvassed, and just as the meeting was breaking ,up after a session lasting two and a half hours, s motion was carried without expressed dissent providing for the formation of a new board on certain lines. Mr M. J. Miller gave place to Mr W. Machin in the presidency. Standing orders received scant respect in the conduct of the meeting. Circumstances regarding the appointment of the superintendent of the institute gave rise to a disagreement among the executive officers and the board of the society which eventually was tho subject of a lively meeting in Christchurch some time ago. It was then that, it being found that no settlement could be arrived at, a special committee was set up to go into the matter. The committee’s finding, a precis of which was published in the “ Star V was presented to last night’s meeting. THE JUDGMENT. The chaiAmm (Mr Cyrus Williams) paid it had been fully understood that the committee’s report should be accepted as final. A voice: No. The chairman said he understood it to be so. The report had expressed tho opinion that the board should resign. Certain members of the bnar<| had not resigned, but if the committee’s report were adopted the resignation of all the board would take effect. Tho meeting could then proceed with the actions necessary for continuance of the activities of the society. From a circular Hent to him he gathered that all members of the board were not. satisfied with the report. The report was not open to discussion. It was in the nature of a judgment, and was merely to lie acted upon. The contention that certain subscribers to tho society should not be allowed to vote at the election of officers of the board was not valid. Representatives of subscribing firms were entitled to vote on all matters as members of the society. Mr F. Deverell moved a formal adoption of the report. Ho said he considered the committee had been formed to settle the whole business, and that its finding should be accepted accordingly. Mr O. F. Harrison seconded the motion, saying that they should be deeply grateful for the committee's work. VOICE OF THE OPPOSITION. Air S. R. Webb asked if the chairman had a list of subscribers. Only subscribers elected as members under section 6 of the society’s rules were entitled to vote. He submitted that it was altogether irregular to allow mere unelecfced subscribers to vote. The membership roll should first be examined. After Mr Webb had made further remarks, the chairman told him that he was afraid be would have to take his dispute elsewhere. Archdeacon Hewlapd : Do T understand there is to be no discussion of the report ? The chairman: Yes, Archdeacon Howland submitted that the meeting should be allowed to discuss the report. The chairman asserted that tho committee had been set up to settle the dispute. It had done so, and if its findings were to bo cost into the melting pot what had they been set up for? Archdeacon Hewland submitted that the report was merely to bring the ■matters into handy focus. Further, lie considered unsound the contention that if tlie renorfc were adopted it would carry with It the resignation of officers of the board. Neither could the meeting dismiss the superintendent. Mr A. F. Oarey said that the matter would go on interminably unless they got to business. Mr Webb, to the chairman : Tf your report is final, why put it to a vote? Mr Deverell: Hear, hear. I think it wrong that it should be put to a vote. Wo should honourably accept tho report and play the game. REPORT ADOPTED Archdeacon Hewdand said that present discussion might save future trouble. He never saw' a cruder proposition than that all members of the board except three men should resign—and those three the ones around whom the trouble had centred. The chairman said he considered that he and the other members of the committee were appointed as final arbitrators. He would not have wasted his time on tho committee otherwise. In reply to a question, the chairman said that the committee proposed that the chairman, secretary and treasurer pf the society should carry on the society’s business until a new board was appointed. The motion was put and carried by 20 to 13 Mr W. T. Hester : Do I take it that tho board does not now exist? The cliairman : That is so. APOLOGY WANTED. Mr Lester said that before the board retired he would like an apology tendered to members of the ladies’ guira for a certain incident that had occurred. Some forty members of the guild were duly notified of a meeting to be held in the Seamen’s Institute hall (controlled by the society). AVhen they arrived the door.s were dosed, the place in darkness, ✓ arid they were denied admission. “ It is a gross insult to tho womenfolk of Lyttelton,” declared Mr Lester. If it was not w ished that tho meeting should be held m tho hall why were not tho ladies notified? The contention that there was no shipping in port to warrant the institute hall remaining open wa.s not homo out by the facts. “It was a grose insult,” concluded Mr Lester, ' and I ask this meeting to demand a public? apology from the person that ordered that the hall be closed in the face of the ladies.” lt The first I have heard of it,” said the chairman. He added that the matter could not he dealt with at the meeting, os it was outside tho order of business. WORK FOR THE COL RTS. Air Webb contended that a large number of subscribers to the society had not been notified of the present meeting. Archdeacon Hewland: T am sorry to have to soy it, but I shall consider myself a member of the board until tho end of the hoard’s usual term He indicated that the matter would be tested in the Courts. (LaughterA Mr A. W. Jamieson expressed surprise that there was not agreement to accept the committee's report, wdiich had bccD made after a full investigation. He considered that it was not playing the game to do otherwise. The Rev S. Bailey : T rise to a■ point of order. That remark is too strong. Mr Bailey said be had not understood at tho meeting at which the committee was set up that its report was

to be con si do rod as the final judgment. Mr Machin appealed to those present to close up tho breach. Especially he appealed to “ the three reverend gentlemen present.” Archdeacon Hewland said that certain matters had not been touched upon in tho report. Tlie chairman said that every word Iti and every omission from the report was deliberates. THE ELECTION. Nominations to office were called for by th© chairman. Mr Badger nominated Mr M. J. Miller for re-election to the presidency. He said that h© had withdrawn his intended motion regarding constitution of the board. Th© board at present was too large. There should be better representation of Christchurch interests on it. Mr Lester: Why go on with it? The board is all cut and dried. Elect them in a bunch and get it over! The chairman: Well, you may know that, hut I don’t. Mr Miller was elected. There were a few dissentient votes. Mr R. S. Badger was re-elected secretary, in a similiar manner, and Mr F. IV. Anderson treasurer. The chairman, to Mr Webb: Don’t you think you had better drop your legal point and come in with us? Mr Webb: No, Mr Chairman, I cannot, I wouldn't like the company. (Laughter). They will be a happy family and so shall we. We are in admirable agreement. Concerning his nomination, Mr Machin said membership of the hoard would be a thankless job. Certain people lia.d not been prepared to carry it through. He was. Protests were raised against Mi Machin’s statement. Speakers alleged that they had always been willing to act. but had been obstructed. The following were elected to the board :—Mesdames Miller, dove and Smithson, Messrs C. F. Harrison. J. F. T /ewers. A. Fairbairn, W. A. Thomas, W. Machin and J. J. Winnacot. w AS YOU WERE.” The list of members of the society was read. Mr Webb: I wish to ask another pertinent question. Are all those people whose names have been read financially sound? (Laughter). Mr Webb explained that he meant were they sound with the society as regards payment of subscriptions ? Sixty pounds had been paid into the funds of the society owing to the disturbing element which had been so noticeable tins last few months. Mr Deverell suggested that the election be annulled, and that the specia'l committee should elect a board to carry on the society’s business until the trouble had blown over. He said that if things went on aa at present they would lose a number of valuable supporters. The board elected might include some of tho 11 opjjosition.” Archdeacon Hewlarul said they felt hurt because tlie board of directors had been overridden in a high-handed way. It would do the society an immense amount of harm. They could not accept Mr Deverellks kindly suggestion. It would be better to let the thing come to legal issue. Mr Deverell then suggested that four nominees from each side should form a new board. Nothiug could l>e done unless both sides were working together, he said. Mr Machin appealed for conciliationArchdeacon Hewland said the position would have horn different had the meeting been allowed to discuss the report. But they had been treated like schoolboys. They considered that they were still members of the board, and tho appeal to them to “ come back ” did not hold good. Mr Mi/chin suggested that they should “'wash out” the proceedings of the meeting and proceed in a spirit of good fellowship to, the election of a new hoard. The Rev W. T. Tudd said that they l ad lost confidence in throe men on the executive, who had consistently thwarted them. He thought they would bo willing to go on if a new president, secretary and treasurer were appointed. Mr Norton said that they could not bow down to the treatment dealt out by tho three executive members. If these officers would apologise he and those siding with him would be willing to “bury the hatchet.” Archdeacon Her land said that if the president, secretary and treasurer went out of office he would be quite whiling to co-operate in a new election. Ho read extracts from what he said was a letter from the secretary to a person unnamed. It contained the following passage:—“A glance at their (the committee’s) findings will provide the heat possible refutation of the lying propaganda directed against the executive officers.” Later on, said Archdeacon Hewland. reference was made to “ the campaign of vilification against officers of the society.” He said that such a communication made co-opera-tion extremely difficult. Tlie Chairman: A little strong, certainly. Still, the expressions used in this room have been rather vehement. Mr Miller said he was willing to resign the presidency in favour of Mr Machin if that step would mend matters- / Archdeacon Hewland : Will the/ secretary resign also? / Voices : Oh ! The Rev S. Bailey said he bad an intense love for the society, but it was impossible to carry on “ under existing autocracy.” He would be willing to act if the president, secretary and treasurer resigned and three others were elected to their positions. After further avenues of settlement had been explored, Mr Deverell suggested that the hoard should consist of four members elected by each of the two opposing factions, and four by the special committee. Mr Badger said that none of the officers had any wish to ride rough-shod over members of the board. If they had done it inadvertently he regretted it. A large amount of the trouble had been due to members jumping to conclusions—(protests). He would be only too glad to “ bury the hatchet,” and so far as his position was concerned, lie was willing to put himself in the hands of the meeting. The Chairman : Are you willing to put yourself in the hands of the new board? Mr Badger ; Yes. Voices: That will never do! Mr Webb said that if tlie board were to consist of fourteen members and tho president, secretary and treasurer, in addition, he would agree. After this and other proposals had been turned over, the chairman said that apparently the crux of the position ■was Air Badger’s secretaryship. In view of the service he had given they might leave hirn alone. He had made as humble an apology as he could be expected to make. Archdeacon Hewland asked if Air Badger would withdraw the statements in the letter. Air H. Elliott: Well, really, I think it is time the board consisted of lay members alone, and that the clergymen were ruled out I After all that has been done, T think the time has come when we should deal with the matter with the gloves off! THE ELEVENTH HOUR. The meeting began to break up. Just, then the chairman put the motion that the 4 —4—4 formation of the hoard should be adopted, with Mr Machin iiresident, Mr Anderson treu-

surer, and Mi* Badger secretary. Tlie motion was declared carried, no dissent being voiced. “T hope that in the course of the next few day’s nominations will be sent :n by those interested,” said the chairman in conclusion-