RETAILERS' MEETING

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 30, 28 September 1931, Page 5

RETAILERS' MEETING

STRONG ASSqCIATION REVIEW OF PAST YEAR'S WORK AND PLANS FOR FUTURE ELECTION OF OFFICERS There was a large attendance of members at the annual meeting of the Rotorua Retail Traders' Association last Friday evening. The president, Mr. J. Higgins, who decupied the chair, gave a summary of the pkst year's working. The hon. seeretary, Mr. H. S. Kingon, read the financial statement, which showed that the Association is in a very sound position. The chairman said that during the year the Association had been unfortunate in losing through death two of its most valued members in Messrs. Hodgson and Kirkby. The sympathy of the Association was extended to the relatives.

On the motion of Messrs. E. Pratt , and W. R. Harris it was decided to | reduce the membership subseription I to 5s. Speaking to the motion, Mr. Pratt said he did not wapt the members to think that the matter was a j "pet hobby" of his because twice previously he had moved for a reduced subseription. However, times had changed and he maintained that with a 5s fee the whole of the traders in the town cduld be induced to join the Association. On the motion of Messrs. Kingon and Musgrave the chairman >and seeretary were elected a sub-committee to deal with press matters and at- a later stage of the meeting, on the motion of Messrs. Musgrave and Ewert, Mr. Pratt was elected PresS representative. I The election of the executive resulted as follows: — Messrs. Mathias, Pratt, Ewert, Stonehouse, E. T. Harris, Higgins, Garriock, Spear, Mus-

grave, W. R. Harris, and Robinson. Mr. W. R. Harris was elected president and Mr. Ewert vice-president. Mr. Kingon was prevailed upon to take the secretaryship for another year. On the motion of Messrs. Pratt and Kingon the proposed advertising scheme was approved and a sub-com-mittee comprising Messrs. E. T. Hapris, Higgins, Ewert and the chairman was set up to further the scheme. On the motion of Messrs. E. T. Harris and Coates, a vote of thanks was passed to the out-going committee, to Mr. Ryan (hon. auditor),_.nnd to Mrs. Kingon for the use of the Dolly Yarden Tea Rooms for meetings. Messrs. Pratt and Ewert stressed the need of funds for the local unemployment committee. Mr. Higgins thought the wishes of the subscribers to the shopping week'fund would be met if the balance of that fund were donated to help local distress, and on his suggestion a special meeting is to be called to deal with the matter.