The County Fund

Horowhenua Chronicle, 14 December 1916, Page 2

The County Fund

» A HOROiWHENUA PATRIOTIC AS- ■ SOCIATIO.X FORMED. A cmforence of representatives of tli?' ramus Patriotic Societies in the county was hold in the Council Chambers yesterday afternoon in order to further consider the proposal to form a IDoimty Fund and put the wlicla .'-xlieine on a permanent footing under ;ni incorporated society. The Mayor (-Mr C. lllcnkhorn) presided, and there Tverc present- Mes-r.s P. W. ! 'Goldsmith, C. S. Kcedwell, W. Hughes '(Levin), J. Iveibbell (Ohau), G. Kilsby (Koputaroa). H. St. George ; and W. F. Khvards (Otaki), G. Silbery (Manakau), G. Stephenson and Mrs T. I ( \ Gibson (Shannon), C. J. j ."'pi; :.s ,vu\ A. Me'Dongsill (To 'Hero), j 1?. Me Lean and "W. J. Howell (Paraparaumu), G. A. Monk. (County Council and AVaikanae). > T'le mayor outlined the present position of affairs and indicated briefly the business to be discussed. Ho moved: "That an association be fn-rm-i ed for the relief of wounded soldiers, their dependents, and l : ke patriotic purpose, and that the district to Iw covered by its operations to be the Horowhonua county, the borough of Lovin. the town district of Otaki, an-.l the "Wharevoa riding of Unit oounty, and that the association be incorporated under 'The War Funds Ac 1 ., 1915.' " Mr Edwards seconded the motion and it was carried unanimously. Mr J. Kebbell proposed that the name of the association be the Horowhonua County Patriotic Association. This was agreed to. It was moved by Mr Howell and seconded by Mr St. George, "That the management and control of affairs cf the association be vested in an executive committee of twenty-s •veil members, to be elected by the follow ing districts in the proportion named, three to represent Levin, three to represent Otaki, three to represent Shannon, and two each for'the following centres: Tokomaru, Koputaroa, Ihakara, Ohau, 'Manakau, Te- Horo, A\aikanae, Paraparaunm and Paekn.tariiii. and such twenty-seven members when elected shall hold office for the first twelve months, and shall vacate office in accordance with rules hereafter laid down." ( After some discussion this was agreed with and then much time was spent on the following motion in relation to membership of the society, especially on Clause 11, which was not regarded from the same standpoint by the delegates. The motion read :—(a) the first members of the association shall comprise the manaffoniont committee when elected and all executive committees of the various patriotic societies now in office in the district covered by the ass-ciation. (b) Future members of the association sliaU be tlirevs-ns who shall have contributed to the funds of the association the £um <f not 1..s than £1 per annum and members who for the time being are holding office on the executive of any existing patriotic societies in the

district covered bv the association."

Mr Howell did not think it right to have any fixed sum for subscription to admit of membership to the society.

llr Blenkhorn said the £1 subscription siavo the member a right to vote The executives of all the district societies -would he placed on the executive rf the new society.

Mr Stephenson suggested that all members of existing societies be made members of the new society.

■Mr Howell, continuing, considered the society should be an amalgamation el' the present societies which would nominate their own representatives on the head executive. Any one who paid a certain amount could be made life members of the chief society.

Mi- Goldsmith said that in view of the fnot that a large sum would be raised it would be necessary to have u membership. After the war it was likely that a lot of smaller societies would cease to exist.

Mr Howell moved that Clause A be adopted. This was seconded ly Mt Kebbell and,, agreed to.

Mr Howell then moved that Clause B be held over for further consideration. He felt that he wanted more time to' go into the matter before committing bis society. Mr Spiers seconded Mr Howell's motion. The mayor explained that it wa«. made necessary by Government regulation for the society to state the basis of its membership before It bo registcrod and be would like to get it through so as to have as little delay as possible.

Mr St. George though the difficulty could be overcome if each society paid in a fixed sum per ,vear and bo given the right to send forward two or three representatives.

Mr McLean this seemed to him to be the best suggestion yet. He was sure that if they Went round and told the people of his district that they would have to pay a fixed sum to become a member of the new society, few would join it.

Mr St. George moved that all members of existing societies be made members of the head society and that all who become members in future pay a fixed subscription, say, ss.

■Mr Howell expressed his agreement with this.

The mnyou then added to the clause: "Also all financial members of existing patriotic societies operating in. the

district which shall have contributed £25 or more to tho funds of the association with rights of membership and representation." It was also added that the subscription for new members bo ss. With this addition the clause wat> moved by Mr St. George, seconded by Mr .Howell and carried. It was decided that each district elect its own 'representative on the management committo by the votes of tho members of the association in each district. If (society fails bo elect representatives the management committee shall appoint them.; such representatives to he residents of tho district in question. The annual meeting of the society w to be held in the month of May in each year. Mr Keclwe'l was appointed secretary, pro tempore. A quorum is to consist of from five to seven members as agreed, when the management committee meets. The trial motion was: "That tho c-unty clerk, the mayor of Levin, the l:on. secretary (pro tem) 'have power to draft nnrl settle the rules and proceed with incorporation of the association." This was carried and the meeting adjourned after pausing a vote of appreciation of the work done bv Mr Blenkhnrn and -Mr Keedwell and to the la lies f<-r providing refreshments. The next meeting will be held in Levin towards the end of January.