Huntly Medical Society

Huntly Press and District Gazette, Volume 3, Issue 6, 19 June 1914, Page 3

Huntly Medical Society

A largely attended meeting oi the Medical Society was held in the King’s Hall on Wednesday 1 night when Mr J. A. Parkes presided over a large attendance • of members. > Mr Parkes explained that the books kept by the former officials of the Society had been submitted to Mr W. R. Holmes for audit. His report which had come to hand was as follows. — “In accordance with instructions received I have investigated the books as far as circumstances permit, of the Waikato Medical and Accident Society, for the two years ended 31st January, 1914, and beg to report as follows: As far as the books are concerned as submitted, viz., Cash and Minute Books, the former is entered up in a very rough and ready way, in many instances the months or periods are not even balanced, However I take it for your purpose the transactions relating to moneys paid over to the Miners’ Union are the principal items you require ventilating. On the 15th June, 1912, a sum of £4OO was withdrawn from the cash for Miners’ Union, and at a subsequent meeting of the Trustees hold on the 19th June, 1912, sanction was given for a loan of £SOO to be raised on the Doctor’s residence. The date of the mortgage was 17th October, 1912, to one S. H. Davenport at 7%. I can only trace the receipt of one quarter’s interest shown in cash book receipts for quarter ended 30th September 1912, viz., £8 15s 7d, which I take to be due on the £SOO from Miner’s Union for first quarter’s interest. Other payment's have been made as follows to the Miner’s Union: 20th January, 1912, £SB 13s 6d, J. Wilson, Installing Acetylene Gas; 20th January, 1912, £5 7s 6d, J. Fitness, installing acetylene gas. 7th August, 1912, £SO, Miners’ Union. 24th September, £67, Miners’ Union. 15th October, 1912, £SO, Seating. Total, £B3l Is, together with the above loans. There is a sum of £125 drawn from the Bank in January, 1914, which I take covers the payments shown in cash book from Ist January, 1914, to 22nd January, 1914, which totals £125 7s 7d. As the treasurer has cash in hand, £1 5s 7d at beginning of October, 1913, the difference may have been paid from this amount. There are two items paid out on the 17th January, 1914; delegates expenses to Wellington, £6 15s ; and travelling expenses to Frankton, 7s 6d. These require further ilivestiga* tion as to whether they are a legal charge against the funds of the Medical Society. (Sgd.) W. R, HOLMES. Letters were also read from the Society’s solicitor (Mr G. M. Newton) from which it apthat £ll3l had been transferredfrom the Society’s funds towards the erection and furnishing of a hall which did not belong to the society—an illegei procedure, and an infringement of the Friendly Society’s Act which forbade the erection of buildings on land other than that belonging to tire- Society. Mr Newton was of opinion, the chairman continued, that legal steps should be taken to secure the moneys illegally transferred, and the meeting had been called in order that some decision on the matter be come to. Mr J. Dixon movod -that the society’s solicitor be instructed to take all legal sters necessary for the recovery of the money. In speaking to the amendment which he proposed—“ That the whole matter be left to the Committee to deal with”—-Mr S. Dixon was of opinion that, the society’s money was lost, there being nothing to show for it but the so called Miners’ Union and Medical Hall, which was neither a union hall nor a medical hall, but which was simply a mortgagee’s hall, tiie mortgagee being the only one reaping benefit from the building. Mrßamsen advocated a peaceful rather-than a legal settlement. Law was costly, and it would he cheaper to come to a mutual arrangement than take proceedings. Mr 11. Gavin undertood that the hall committee of five had offered to meet a committee of four appointed by the socioty, and discuss the matter fully. He opined that a conference of the kind would lead to an amicable settlement and one that would prove more binding than any legal adjustment. Another member pointed out that in the event of a conference being called the trustees would have five votes to their committee’s four, and thus the former could curry any motion they desired. Mr J. Clout favoured an immediate legal settlement, and homologated the remarks made by Mr Dixon as to the hall. Mr J. Darby urged members to consider the interests of the society, these being the most important. Tire discussion lasted for a considerable time, and when the vote was taken 35 supported the amendment and 34 the motion which was declared defeated. A large number present did not vote. The meetiiig concluded with a hearty vote of thanks to the