DISPUTE AT A MEETING

Waipa Post, Volume 32, Issue 1786, 24 July 1926, Page 5

DISPUTE AT A MEETING

'CHAIRMAN’S RULING QUESTIONED

There were one or two sharp divisions of 'opinion between Mr W. G. J Worster and the chairman at the annual meeting of convenors of the New Zealand Herd' Testing Association at Hamilton on Wednesday, the former taking exception to a ruling that he could not take part in the discussion ; and protesting at the treatment meted out to him. Just before the start of the meeting. Mr Worster explained that he had not signed up for the present year, and had a proxy by a person who was not now a member of the association. Although he himself was not now a member the balance-sheet the meeting had to-consider-was for a period over which he had a financial interest, and he- was, therefore, he considered, entitled to take part in the discussion. The chairman, Mr Dynes Fulton, said Mr Worster had not signed up for the incoming season. The present annual meeting was' quite different from the last annual meeting, as the association was now incorporated under the 'Societies Act. Under the constitution Mr Worster could not take -part. The manager, Mr C. M. Hume, pointed out that the association was incorporated in November last. It was decided to carry on until the end of the season, and at the present meeting put the association on strictly legal 'lines. * :

The chairman: You had an opportunity, Mr. .Worster, to pult. yourself on side by signing up for the season, and I will have to refuse you permission to take part iff the discussion. The chairman added that Mr Worster would be given an opportunity after the clobe of .the meeting to make any suggestions or criticisms he wished.

In the meantime Mr Dynes Fulton 'had, to leave the meeting and the chairwas taken by Mr J- T. Bryant. When the agenda paper had been completed Mr Bryant declared the meeting closed.

This caused Mr Worster to make an emphatic protest. He had, he said, sat out the meeting .which had been ended without giving him an opportunity of being heard.

The chairman: I understood you were to address the meeting if you wished after it had closed. Mr Worster: I take it as a direct insult. Anything I had to say was purely construjctive criticism. You allowed me to sit here and then insult me at the end of the day. The incident then ended and the meeting closed.