PLAINS VETERINARY CLUB

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4500, 6 December 1922, Page 1

PLAINS VETERINARY CLUB

THE ANNUAL MEETING. DISSATISFACTION OF MEMBERS. WINDING UP SUGGESTED. The annual meeting of the Hauraki Plains Veterinary Club, held at Turua on Monday, had, as one member expressed it, "a doleful, start,” when the report and balance-sheet was read. It was suggested in the report .that the club be wound up, but the meeting decided to continue operations and call applications fpr another veterinary srugepn. Mr J. Whitmore presided over an attendance of about 30 members. CLUB'S AREA TOO LARGE. The annual report stated : “Your committee have recommended that the balance-sheet be taken up to the above date (November 25), as it was not possible to continue the services of the club to its members beyond that date owing to Dr. Jensen’s services ! having been dispensed with and his place not having been filled. Your committee very much regret that there has been a certain amount of dissatisfaction expressed amongst some of the members, but. the committee and secretary have done aU they could to cause as little loss and inconvenience to members as laid in their power, taking into consideration the number of unfortunate difficulties they have had to contend with, chief among these being the area of country the club covered being too large and a very much larger number of calls it was found necessary to make on account of the sickness and troubles met with by the club’s members.

“Notwithstanding these difficulties and the hard times 1 experienced by the dairy farmers of this district owing to low prices for produce during the past year, it is, in the ’opinion of your committee, most satisfactory to .note from the balance-sheet that the club’s year, ends up in what might be said a strong financial position in all circumstances with a credit balance of £ll2 10’s Bd.” COMMITTEE RESIGNS. “Your committee,” the report continued,“after giving the whole matter of the club’s bperations the most careful consideration, and the difficulties met with, are strongly of opinion that the club should be wound up and closed, and, if thought desirable, an entirely new club formed on different lines. This is a matter for you to decide, and is in your hands to pass a resolution as you think fit. If you decide to close the club down, which your committee recommend, then steps will be taken to carry tlhis into effect immediately and a final statement of the club’s affairs prepared and placed before you at a final winding up meeting. “The whole of the present committee desire to resign, and if you decide to carry on the club it will oe necessary for you to elect an entirely new committee.” THE BALANCE-SHEET.

The balance-sheet showed that the subscriptions received totalled £BBB 16s. The expenditure included £lOO 8s for purchase of stock of medicines, £24 2s. for dispensary fittings, etc., £537 10s salary to Dr. Jensen, and £23 17$ to Mr Gibson, secretary. There was a tbtal of £72 8s 7d cash in bank and £7 Os Id cash in hand. The statement of assets and liabilities showed that there was an amount of £l7 17s in outstanding subscriptions. The Credit balance was £ll2 10s Bd. ’■ “COMMITTEE PESSIMISTIC.” Mr J. Mules asked if the secretary ha-.l been fairly paid for the amount of work he had done. ’.[lie Chairman: No. We don’t.think he has been half paid. That question would be discussed later. Mr A. Rogers thought, that the committee was pessimistic with the affairs of 1 the club. He knew there was dissatisfaction in the club. They should call, for .applications for a new veterinarian, who had the necessary qualifications. The financial position was satisfactory. The chairman agreed that it, was a pity that the club should cease, but it should be run on different lines. Some of the dissatisfied ones were sure to fall out. The present committee and secretary were in favour of resigning. Mr W. Madgwick endorsed Mr Rogers’ remarks and said it was a pity to let the thing drop. They would in future profit by the mistakes of the past. They should aim at getting a larger number of subscribers within a smaller area. Mr H. Brown : How many members has the club at present ? The Secretary (Mr J. Gibson) : Jus: on 180.

Mr, Rogers: How many members .are on the other side of the river ? The chairman said there were about the same number oh the other side of the Waihou River as there were on the Turua side. Mr D. G. McMillan asked if the club got full value from the veterinarian for the money expended. The chairman said the members got their full value. Mr Luke said the doleful start they had made had rattier put a damper on the meeting. Were there not any good points of the club ? In defence of the veterinarian lie said he had certainly done a certain amount of good. He thought there were plenty of settlers to form a new club on a new footing.

Mr Madgwick proposed, and Mr Luke seconded, that the balance-sheet be adopted. Mr J. A. Bennett said they were blaming the veterinarian, but he maintained that the- club was as much to blame as the veterinarian.

He thought they were a bit hard on the veterinarian. Other speakers expressed dissatisfaction at the veterinary services they .had received while in the club. The balance-sheet was adopted. SERVICES REWARDED. The chairman said the secretary and Mr Green had been more than good in the way ’they had worked for the club. He proposed that Mr Gibson be given another £4O but of the club’s funds. A Voice : Then he’s not half! paid. It was decided to vote an extra £5O to the secretary. VETERINARY LECTURES.The chairman said that Mr Green had often attended the veterinarian’; lectures and taken notes. Mr White, Kopuarahi, had also taken notes. Mr Green said that he and Mr White were agreeable to having the notes published. There were approximately 6000 words iq the notes. Mr Madgwick mov&l a very hearty vote of thanks to Mr Green and Mr White for the trouble they had taken over the notes. Mr Newman seconded, and the motion was carried by acclamation. On th? motion of Messrs Baker and Hicks it was decided to have the notes of the lectures printed and circulated free of charge among the financial members. CLUB TO CONTINUE. Mr Hicks moved that the meeting approve of the committee’s action in dispensing with the veterinarian’s services. Mr Madgwick seconded the motion, which was carried. Mr Heappey said that a new club had been formed at Hamilton on different lines to the Hauraki Plains Club, and advocated that particulars be found out about it. Mr Hicks moved that in the opinion of this 1 meeting the veterinary club should be continued and a new veterinarian appointed. Mr Rogers seconded, and the motion was carried. Mr Luke moved that a committee be elected to consider on what lines the club is to be continued. Mr Newman seconded the motion, which was carried. Mr McMillan moved that all committeemen on the west side of the river be re-elected to the committee. , Members of the committee declined re-election. Mr Rogers, seeing that the Hikutaia members had loyally supported the club, advocated that the feeling of the members on the eastern sid J of the river be ’obtained to find out if they are in favour of continuing’as members of the club, and that, a further meeting of the club be held. The suggestion was agreed to. Mr Madgwick moved a hearty vote <>f thanks to the committee for its efforts during the past year. The proposal was received with acclamation.