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In a letter to committee members of Puhoi Community Forum, the Editor of VillagePRESS expresses concerns that a clause in the proposed Constitution provides the potential to destroy the basic element of a healthy community - freedom of speech..
He writes...
We are concerned that the Constitution should NOT include clause 4.EXPULSION OF MEMBERS The Puhoi Community Forum is not a club or religion but a place where any member of the community may express his or her opinions without fear of retribution. If the "community" expelled a resident ratepayer then this would in effect be "sending (that person) to Coventry" . Such an action could well result in a law suit against both the Forum and those administrators involved. Let us take, for sake of illustration, the Editor of the Wairarapa newspaper who criticised the "culture" of the people of Featherstone. Particularly at the time of the death of the little girl, emotions are naturally running very high. Most people are dealing with grief but that Editor appears to believe that this is the time to draw attention to the negative behaviours within the community with the intention of having the community deal with these problems (as is happening in Murapara). Was that Editor to be a member of (say Featherstone) Community Forum, then Rule 4 could be manipulated against him -- with disastrous effect on all involved. Freedom of speech is an essential element of a healthy community.
That proposed Rule reads... 4. EXPULSION OF MEMBERS (Refer this to Solicitor for comment)
Members may be expelled for bringing the
Forum into disrepute. The committee may convene a Special general meeting of
the Forum for the purpose of passing a resolution to expel the member or
members. Notice of the Special general meeting shall be sent to the member or
members who is/are the subject of the meeting giving particulars of the
complaint, and advising them of the place, date and time of the meeting so
that they may attend and offer an explanation.
The rules clearly state that...
The Chairperson shall be the spokesperson
for the Society. No other person may make public statements on behalf of the
Society without the Chairperson’s specific approval.
...so no-one else
represents the Forum in any public utterance or behaviour.
Rule
8 states...
8. COMMITTEE.
There shall be a committee consisting of
one (1) elected representative from each club/group/society that wish to be
represented on the Forum,
Would
a representative of another group be "expelled" ?
Would any Resident-Ratepayer in the district be attacked under clause 4?
We would be interested in hearing of any
circumstances where such a clause might be fairly
used.
We
call on the Committee to delete the proposed clause 4.EXPULSION
OF MEMBERS in total.
Peter E Rodgers Managing Editor
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