CORN EXCHANGE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LVII, Issue 6505, 2 January 1882, Page 6

CORN EXCHANGE.

The annual meeting of the subscriber* to the Corn Exchange was held on Saturday afternoon. There was not a very numerous at* tendance. Mr T. Bruce, President of the Exchange, was in the chair* diekotob’b EirosT, &o. The followir g was read ; “ Gentlemen, —1 beg to lay before you a statement of the Corn Exchange accounts for 1881, and a roumi of the business which has been transacted during the year. We have had fifteen Commit:** meetings and twelve Sub-Committee meetings. The first item to which I will call your attention is t ho amount received for subscriptions. Last

year when the accounts were made up a sum of £196 13s was shown to be at tho credit of the subscription account. This sum represented subscriptions from 189 subscriber?. At that time the subscription was 21s. Tbi* year the number of ar'-c ibors is 187, showing a ram o? £lB7 4s at t !.o credit ot the subscription account. (It should be borne in min.) •<»« the subscription this year is onli £1) K id sequent to the making up of tho accou. :-*t Tear, five more subscriptions were collected ’ * will thus be seen that there are seven ruh;hors less this year than las*, "be next. 5 is the money earned by ct».umi»-iena on ,u\-s. Last year the account* showed a sum <•! £95 14s 9d to tho credit of tins arrow t. This year there is a credit of £l2B. During the first part of the yea>, the business done through the Exchange was very smell. This

is accounted for by reason of the low prices ruling locally, and consequent direct shipments to tho Home mart. *-. Notwithstanding this, tho amount i.i onnmission earned this year is £33 in excess of its predecessor. As these are the vital items of the Com Exchange accounts, it is unnecessary farther to enlarge upon the subject. I shall therefore now recapitulate tho measures which tho Committee of the Corn Exchange have had under consideration, and the steps which have been taken with regard to them. The first matter to which I will allude is the action which has beep taken in regard to the railway tariff. The sub-Oommittee framed a petition on the subject, and in order that it should not meet the ordinary fate of petitions and be merely laid on the table of the House, it was forwarded to our Canterbury members, namely, the Hon John Hall, the Hon E. Richardson, Messrs Bolleaton, Saunders, Andrews, Stevens, Wright, and Fisher. Replies from the Hon Mr Hall, and 2Jessrs Andrews, Stevens, Wright, and Fisher* promising their anpport have been received. Since the presentation of this petition, the subject has been kept continually before the Government. The last move relative to this matter was the action our Committee took' in drawing up a series of questions, which were printed, and forwarded to the various Farmers' dubs and Road Boards throughout Canterbury, asking them to unite in backing up our demand. I have little hesitation in saying that this movement has had the desired effect, for not only was a new tariff issued creating a redaction in the carriage of stock, but, I believe, the Government are now contemplating substantial reductions in the carriage of produce. There is no doubt that this combination of action caused the Government to accede to odr demands; and 1 claim that the benefits which the public of Canterbury have derived not only for wbac has been already done, bat the still greater ones to which we look forward, are due to the action of the Corn Exchange. The small birds question is also one which received our attention, for we were instrumental in obtaining a very numerously signed petition praying the Government to adopt measures to abate the nuisance. This also we forwarded to Wellington to the Hon John TTiill, and received a reply from the Premier stating that he had much pleasure in presenting the petition, and informing us that a Bill had already passed the House of Representatives, and was then in the Legis-

lativo Council, authorising Boad Boards to apply a part of their ordinary fnnds to the suppression of the nuisance Having gone through the subjects which called for our special attention, I now revert to the formation of the Fariperti’ Co-operative Association, which you are all aware is now located under the same roof with ourselves. The terms arranged with the Co-operative Association are £3 weekly to the end of the present year. It is not my intention to dilate on the benefits to be derived from co-operation. That, I think demonstrates itself; but merely to remark in passing that the Com Exchange has, as it were, acted as a nursery (it may be indirectly) to the development of the co-operative principle. Gentlemen, one of the objects of this meeting is for you to decide whether or not the Corn Exchange shall be continued. The present year is now the fourth of its existence, and although it has net met with the amount of support which we calculated upon, I believe were it abolished it would be felt to be a very great inconvenience. Our inability to pay a* sufficient rent for the premises has hitherto been our principal reason ■ for contemplating tbe abandonment of the Corn Exchange. This difficulty to a great extent may be overcome if the Co-opera: ive Association would join in renting the rooms. This, however, is a matter for consideration between the two Societies and Messrs Matson and Co. The interests of the two institutions do not dash in any way; indeed they are identical, for although one of the objects sought after by the Co-operative Society is the shipping of grain to the Home and other markets, yet there are frequent instances when it is more prudent to dispose of farm produce on the epot. The establishment of a club room is also felt to be s great convenience, and the

market reports published weekly, and at present supplied to eight different papers (each of these papers supply the paper to the Exchange gratis, the consideration being that (hey are supplied with the weekly report) is evidence that the reports are valued throughout tbe country. It may be mentioned that all the papeni have solicited the report, not we them. Gentlemen, having now supplied you with all the information which I apprehend is necessary for you to come to a decision as to the advisability of continuing or otherwise the Corn Exchange,! leave the matter in your hands.” The balance-sheet was read, it showed receipts as follows:—Subscriptions, £lB7 4s; commission on roles, £l2B 16s 7d ; rent from Co-operative Association, £26. Total, £842 Os 7d. Disbursements (including rent and Secretary’s salary, £229 4i; liabilities, £lO7 3s 3d ; balance, £5 13s 4d total, £342 Os 7d. Mr Henderson moved, and Mr Mathias seconded tbe adoption of the report, leaving the balance-sheet to be adopted after being audited.

Tlie motion waa carried unanimously. Mr Pcryman moved—“ That a very hearty voto of thanks be recorded in the minute book to the auditors, Messrs Mills and Banks who have acted for the last two years, and that Messrs L. 0. Williams, and W. Jameson be appointed auditors for the balance-sheet of the past year. Mr Oammack seconded the resolution, •which was agreed to unanimously. Mr Henderson proposed—“ it is desirable to carry on the Cora Exchange for another year.” Mr Same seconded the motion, which was unanimously agreed to. Mr Henderson proposed the following as a Board of Directors Messrs T. Bruce, Perymaa, Milne, Banks, Henderson, Herrick, Oammack, Leadloy, Pattison, Overton, Woodman, Bfanecck, Bailey, Baglcsome, M'Betb, Mathias, Sawlo, Ensor, Willis, W. Boag, and Attwood. Mr Oammack seconded the motion, wbiab was agreed to. . Mr Banks proposed—“That _it be an instruction to the incoming Director* to appoint a sub-Oommitlee to revise the rule*, and report at the next meeting of the subscribers." , . Mr Henderson seconded the motion, which was agreed to. A rote of thanks to the retiring Directors was unanimously passed. The President moved a very hearty vote of thanks to Messrs Matson and Co., with the compliments of the season Mr M'Beth seconded the motion, which was carried unanimous-.-- • Mr Peryroan w»» oavimously elected Chairman of Director*-, .nd President of the

Corn Exchange. Mr Jam or Qammaok war unanimously elected vice* President. A cordial vote of thank# to the retiring President and Vice-President was unani* mously carried, and wai acknowledged by Mr Brace. Thi* concluded the buiinotiof the mooting.