Rotarians have dropped an anti-discrimination motion which was to be tabled at Hamilton Rotary Club.

Jim Brock ventured the motion last month, after fellow member Joy Lusher claimed Sandys Rotary Club did not allow female members.

Mr. Brock argued no Rotary club should be allowed to discriminate against any potential member on any grounds, and gave notice of the motion intended to be discussed at a Hamilton Rotary Club luncheon Tuesday.

However, the matter was withdrawn from the agenda.

President Neville Tyrrell said: "Within Hamilton Rotary Club the matter has died a natural death."

He did not give a reason why.

Secretary Doug Lewis said: "It was dropped from the table not even brought forward, so nothing was done about it.

"The members who brought it forward withdrew it from the agenda so it was not discussed."

Members of Sandys Rotary Club have refuted the claim that it bars female members.

Rotarian Jack Durner said last month: "The statement that Sandys Rotary Club does not allow women members is incorrect. There is not, and there never has been, a policy excluding women from the club.

"There is no need for it (this motion) because there is no policy excluding women."

The international Rotary movement was founded in the 1900s. Women have been allowed to join since the late 1980s.