While training at St Bart's Hospital I learnt "The All or None Law" and this I have tried to practise ever since.
It has certainly stood me in good stead during my years as an activist in our Federation even if at times it has
done nothing for my popularity. Having been privileged to hold office at every level I have never forgotten
that I was there for one reason and one reason only and that was to listen and fight for our grass root members.
We must surely realise that without them we would have no Federation and secondly that we must all
accept that no one person is more important than our Federation.
Last August I received a copy of the report commissioned by the Disputes and Disciplinary Committee to assist
them with changes to the Committee's rules. Shortly after this I was given a copy of Counsel's Opinion
obtained by the Federation's Solicitors Wallace Robinson & Morgan. Aubrey Craig's Opinion was SENT
TO THE HONORARY NATIONAL SECRETARY IN MAY 1999. BUT NOT DISCLOSED TO
NATIONAL COUNCIL UNTIL MARCH 2000 !
Indeed, one your National Councillor's despite a specific request was actually refused sight of this document by
the Secretary. he contents of these two documents so alarmed me that, together with my National Councillor
I showed them to another Barrister who has worked for the Federation for many years. He agreed fully with the
opinions of other two (how often do you get three legal people in agreement I asked myself).
As a member of your Executive Board I was becoming increasingly concerned at what appeared to be irregularities
in the conduct of the affairs of our organisation. I concluded it was my duty to inform National Councillors
of the legal opinions that said they were DIRECTORS/SHADOW DIRECTORS of the Federation
with all the legal responsibilities of Company Directors. In addition I pointed out that THEY SHOULD
HAVE BEEN REGISTERED AT COMPANIES HOUSE.
The uproar that followed my statement was unbelievable. Led by the National Chairman and National
Secretary, I was harassed and pressured to retract my statement and apologise. The Chairman went
even so far as to tell two members of my region at our AGM that if I was proved to be right in what I had said
HE WOULD RESIGN! However, now that the latest opinion from Michael Birggs QC
HAS AGAIN CONFIRMED WHAT I SAID - THERE HAS BEEN NO APOLOGY OR RESIGNATIOM.
I appeal to you all to vote very carefully at our AGM on Saturday. If you vote in favour of item 4 on the agenda
you will be voting to remove member rights. From the very birth of the Federation every member has
had the right to stand for election to National Council and take part in the management of our Federation. I
would earnestly beseech you to vote in respect of the needs of the membership and the Federation as a whole.
Last year present Chairman proposed to National Council that all Honorary Officers should be limited to three years
in office. On this important issue there is so much agreement nation-wide that it is essential that we encourage
new blood to take office at all levels of our Federation. A vote in favour of the Force Majeure motion
will ensure that it is not only the National Chairman who is, quite rightly, restricted to a three-year term of office.
Many thanks to all of you who have worked with me over the last 24 years and given me your support and
friendship, please accept my best wishes for a very happy and prosperous future.
