Patea A. and P. Association.

Patea Mail, 2 June 1882, Page 3

Patea A. and P. Association.

i ANNUAL MEETING IN PATEA. , • The annual general meeting of the [Patea District A. and P. Association Was :held on Thursday afternoon in the Har‘monic Hall. Just a quorum were present, namely—Messrs W. C. Symes (in the chair), J. Gibson, R. B. Hamilton, J. W. Bright, D. H. Williamson, W. Gower, D. Fleming, J. C. York, Pearce, W. Wilson, E. Jacob, Taplin, A. Drake, Hawes, Sheild, W. Derrett junr., Houghton, A. [Gower, and L. Bremer, i* The Committee’s report for the year showed;that the society’s position is better than last year ; and that the annual show was a financial success, though a loss was [caused by a ball held in the evening.

Mr Gibson, treasurer, read the financial statement.

Mr Tennent: What amount of the overdue subscriptions do you estimate to ■be good ? t .

i -Chairman : I should be sorry to say ;how much, .but the names are on the {register, and the members in arrear are hound in honor to pay. ; Mr Fleming : How would it do to summon them ? •;

{ Chairman : It is a voluntary thing, and they ought to pay without pressing. . ;

; Mr Tennent : Is it understood that they are expected to pay so long as their names are not, withdrawn ? Some may think that by signing they made themselves liable for only one year. ■ Chairman : They are liable until -their names are properly withdrawn. I know that many of those in the Hawera district whose names.are down are in a good position, but if' they don’t pay, their names may as well be off. If all paid up, we should be in a good financial {condition 1 ; and I for one should be willing to pay one or two years in advance, to clear the Society of debt. Mr Hamilton: Those members could he legally sued, and the arrears ought to he ' good assets. Give them one more chance, and let them know wo intend to sue if they don’t pay. * . ... . ~ . Mr'Taplin : If another trial were given, say a circular sent showing that on the strength of these names the society ih- ; curred certain obligations, perhaps there might be a better response, : ; : Chairman : The Secretary has sent many circulars to some, and the Committee agreed at last meeting to draw on them through the bank, and ' if they did not honor the draft they were to be sued.

That, however, was to bo left over till after this meeting.

Secretary said about 20 of those in arrear at end of March had paid since, Mr Wilson moved that all members in arrear be drawn on, and if they dishonor the draft the Committee can then sue them.

Mr Hamilton seconded, arid said many members have been in the habit of paying just before show-day. ; Motion agreed to. - The report and balance sheet were then adopted. \ . •

The election of officers was then made.

Several members were proposed for President, namely Mr Syraes, Mr W. Wilson, Mr Hamilton, Mr Sheild, and Mr Gibson.. After some talk and persuasion, all, withdrew in faypr of Mr Gibson, who was elected unanimously. , Mr Sbeild was then unanimously elected Vice-President. . , » ,

Mr Taplin was proposed by Mr Tennont as Treasurer, and seconded by Mr Gibson. Both said they did hot,know a better man for looking after the money, as treasurer of a society.

In electing a new' Committee, it was agreed to reduce the number to 15, the larger number (24) being unworkable, as a quorum of one-third could rarely be got together. It was also urged that when members living in remote parts o'f the district were elected as a compliment, they could not attend - the meetings. It was better to elect those who could be expected to attend to the society’s business whenever wanted.

The following Committee were elected : —Messrs W. Wilson, R. B. Hamilton,W. C. Syraes, D. H. Williamson, R. B' Pearbe, ,W. Gower,; Barker, Jacob, W Derrett junr., J. M. Dickie, W. Cowern } J. Hair, L. Bremer, and Honeyfield.

• A letter from Mr J. Davidson, Hawera, raised the question of a nipveable show, or to be fixed at Mokoia. or Manutahi as more central for Hawera .members.

Mr York, as a settler from; the Plains, said if members in tliait district felt much interest in the question they would have attended this meeting. As they had not, he did not like to speak for them. He would prefer a moveable show, to be held alternately : at Ha;wera, Patea, and' Waverloy. .-I'-"''','

Mr Wilson said he induced some mem;bers at Hawera’ to join, and it was distinctly understood that the show was -not to be moveable, but to be held at ■’ Pateai Some of them even made that a condition of joining.

It was considered that no resolution on the show question was necessary.

The Chairman said a code of rules had been prepared by himself and the Secretaiy, taken from the Canterbury Society ; but they needed to come before, the Oom- . mittee twice, and then before a general meeting to legalise their adoption. The new Committee could revise them, and : call a general meeting. Thanks to the retiring officers and to the I Chairman closed the business.

A letter from the President, Mr ! Chapi man, was received after the meeting. He ' explained that urgent business had caused ibis' absence, and conveyed' hie appreciation - of assistance received from tho Oom- , mittee,. and his friendly relations with the' members particularly mentioning : assistance-, received from. - the Secretary land; Treasurer. ; The ; Association; would bo in a flourishing condition but |for the backwardness of some in paying 'subscriptions/ He desired to" remain a member, though , distance will in future ;pr©veftt’his;'t4king an* active pwfc. : *