RATEPAYERS’ ASSOCIATION.

Putaruru Press, Volume VII, Issue 281, 28 March 1929, Page 5

RATEPAYERS’ ASSOCIATION.

RULES CONFIRMED. A general meeting of the Putaruru Ratepayers’ Association was held in the Oddfellows’ Hall on Friday evening, the president, Mr. J. W. Barr Brown, presiding over a good attendance.

The first business was the consideration and adoption of the constitution and rules. The president said the executive had had before it copies of rules of outside associations and as a result of deliberations the proposed rules were submitted for approval.

After the rules had been read by the secretary, Mr. L. E. A. Root, Mr. Francis asked how many it would take to constitute a quorum at a general meeting when alterations of these rules were being discussed, and on the president saying “ Six, the same as for an executive meeting,” Mr. Francis remarked, “It is too small a number to alter rules.” The chairman remarked that this was so and perhaps it would be best that there should be a new rule, whereupon Mr. Francis moved that for a general annual meeting or a special general meeting 12 shall be a quorum.

Mr. McLeod moved as an amendment that 10 constitute a quorum. This was seconded by Mr. Scholz, and on a show of hands it was defeated, only four voting for it. The motion was then carried unanimously on the voices. When the rule for the length of time a notice of motion must be in was being discussed Mr. H. K. McDermott gave it as his opinion that seven days as proposed in the rules was not sufficient to enable a notice of motion to be advertised. The chairman took it that the notice of motion must be in the hands of the chairman and secretary at least seven days and the executive would see that the meeting was properly called. Mr. Lindsay moved that the rules be taken clause by clause and discussed but the motion lapsed for want of a seconder, one member remarking, “ We will be’ here all night if you do that.”

Reverting to the question of the rule governing notice of motion, the chairman said the rules provided for a special committee whose duty it was to deal with any urgent matter that might arise. Mr. McDermott thought 10 days’ notice should be given and in saying so he said he only mentioned it in case the association was caught by someone who might try and upset things. He moved that the clause be amended to read that 10 days’ notice be given to the executive of any notice of motion, and on being seconded by Mr. Scholz the motion was carried unanimously. The rules as amended were adopted on the motion of Messrs. A. J. Tongs and J. Francis. Officers. The election of the president and other officers made at a recent meeting was confirmed. When nominations for two vice presidents were called for, Messrs. F. C. Barnett and H. W. Lindsay were elected. Mr. J. G. Gawith was elected treasurer.