R.S.A.

Wanganui Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 160794, 30 October 1920, Page 5

R.S.A.

AMENDING THE RULES. AN AMICABLE SETTLEMENT. A special general meeting of the Wanganui branch of the Ii.S.A. was held last evening for the purpose of amending rule 20. Mr E. P. Pridham piesided over a fair attendance. The Chairman stated that he was sorry the meeting was not more representative. He believed for once in their lives that they were a united body on one point, namely, the passing of the resolution to amend the rules. Before proceed in" with the business of the meeting ne wanted to make his position quite clear regarding the difficulties which had arisen some few weeks ago. There were two aspects from which that position must be viewed: firstly the legal* and secondly the moral. In regard to the recent general meeting at the Druids’ Hall only one aspect could bo considered. That meeting had been called for the specific purpose of discussing the validity of the present committee. He thought that they would admit the legality of the committee holding office was beyond all question of doubt. The meeting, as they were aware, came to a dead end, and he (the speaker) had felt it his duty to leave the room. An informal gathering was held, and he noticed by reading the reports in the newspapers, to his surprise, that the committee had beep referred to by one speaker as having stolen a motor-car and gone for a joy ride, and the policeman was on the track. Personally he had nothing to fear from the police. 'Hie position legally might be right and morally wrong, or vice versa. He did not want to hold oCTce just because he had won on a technical point. His morals were equally as high as some of those who had stated that he could, not win legally. Without a‘ shadow of doubt the legal position was clear and open, and the committee had done the right thing as it appeared to thejn. The committee had done what they considered to bo right, which was the oply attitude they could take up according to their rules. Now the question had arisen as to whether the rules should be altered. Ho heartily endorsed the suggestion that the rules should be amended. The Association should have the very best rules it was possible to frame. They had some of the finest men in the Dominion in the Association, and the only one regrettable feature was the presence of the “green-eyed beetle” element. That was the element that was endeavouring to break the Association up. The members would know what bo meant, and' the fair name of the Association was being brought into ridicule and contempt by the actions of some members of the Association, Ho would ask thetn now to carry the resolution to amend the rules unanimously, and he would heartily support it. He hoped that this would be the opening of a new era. He hoped a happy state of affairs would prevail in the future, and that members would sink their little petty grievances and work harmoniously in the best interests of the Association. The secretary then read the resolution, which has already been published, and explained that it referred to the alteration of rule 20, and provided that where the committee was reduced to loss than five members that the committee will go out of office and a fresh one be elected. Mr W. Cunningham stated that the alteration was a simple one, and should meet any emergency in future. It would also provide that when below five the committee would go out of office and the secretary muet call a general meeting within throe days to elect a new committee. IJe (the speaker) considered it was a very excellent provision to have in the rules, and would prevent a recurrence of the recent difficulty. He desired to congratulate the chairman on now seeing the moral side of the question. He (the speaker) understood that as soon as the proposed alteration to the rules was approved of by the chairman of incorporated societies the present committee would hand in their resignations. He then moved the motion. This was seconded by Mr W. H. Smith The Chairman took exception to Mr Cunningham's remarks regarding recognising the moral obligation. He stated that the committee recognised its validity. Their moral obligation existed. Their validity had been chal lenged, and it was only at the present meeting that the committee had had an opportunity of coming before members and discussing the moral aspect. Mr W. H. Smith said that the' committee had had an opportunity of proving the validity, and was not prepared at the previous meeting to do so. They had taken up the attitude that they held office legally and had refused to give up. The Chairman replied that at the previous meeting they had only one opportunity open, and that was to discuss the legal aspect. He thought members would agree that the meeting had been fairly conducted. If they did not consider he had put the position fairly and squarely before them then ho asked them not to vote for him at the coming election. Mr Smith replied that he did not think Mr Pridham had an enemy in the Association. , Mr Lovogrove, referring to the moral obligation, said he recognised that the committee did not have the confidence of the Association behind them, though they had gone in by a constitutional rule. Personally ho welcomed the coming election and felt that only a committee elected by members could have the confidence of the Association. A member asked for Mr Cunningham’s letter to the president a few weeks ago to be read. The Chairman: I rule the request out of order. Mr Lovegrove: It is quite unnecessary to read the letter, and is an absolute waste of time. Mr E. J. Foster, vice-president, said no one was more pleased than he (the speaker) that the rules were about to bo amended. Personally he would offer no apologies to anyone for having accepted office on the committee. At the coming election he would again be a candidate. The resolution was then carried unanimously. Mr Cunningham then made a personal explanation regarding the episode at the previous meeting regarding the secretary and the Druids’ Hall, and stated that ho had since learned that Mr Beckett had attempted to engage the hall and had approached Mr Hylton, but had not seen the caretaker. The President said he was sure members would accept the explanation as full and ample. A member suggested that a proper poll should be held for the election of the new committee, so that members could vote during the day if they desired. and so that country members could send ip. their votes. Mr Brown. said it would mean a revision of the rules to conduct the suggested poll.