OTAGO ASSOCIATION.

Southland Times, Issue 586, 2 November 1866, Page 2

OTAGO ASSOCIATION.

(From the " Otago Daily Times," October 24) The adjourned meeting of the Committee for organising the Otago Association, was held last evening, in the Corporation Offices, Maclaggan-street. Mr "William Mason (the Mayor), presided, and there were present — Mr "W. H. Eeynolds, M.P.C., M.H.E. ; Eev. P. C. Simmons ; Messrs J. Barnes, T. Birch, A. Carrick. E. Chalmer, H. Driver, J. A. Ewen, E. Oliver, and J. S. Webb. The Draft Constitution was considered, paragraph by paragraph, and various amendments were agreed to, including most. of those on a copy sent in by Mr Yogel, who was unable to be present. The title was afterwards considered. Mr Biech moved, and Mr Chalmeb seconded, " That the title of the organisation be * The Otago League.' " Mr Caerice; moved as an amendment to substitute " The Otago Association ;" which was seconded by Mr Eeynolda. The amendment was adopted. The document, as agreed to, standa thus: — THE OTAGO ASSOCIATION CONSTITUTION. 1. — The objects of the Otago Association shall be to watch over and promote the various interests of the Province, by guarding against the misapplication of its revenues, protecting its interests against crude and partial legislation, securing the passing of beneficial measures, obtaining the largest possible amount of local selfgovernment, and generally following out vigorously everything necessary to the well-being and development of the resources of the Province ; and also to communicate with kindred Associations, when necessary, to secure combined action for the common interests of the Provinces. 2. The Association shall be sectionally organised ; and a section may be formed in any Municipality, or any of the Agricultural or G-oldfields Districts. 3. The business in each section shall be conducted by a local committee, appointed !by the local members at their annual meeting, the committee at Dunedin to be termed the Central Committee. Each Local Committee shall elect its own chairman and secretary, appoint sub-com-mittees, collect subscriptions, and geneI rally do everything in its power to promote the objects in view. 4. The affairs of the Association generally shall be governed by a council composed of delegates, two of whom shall be | elected by each section, at its annual meeting. The Council shall have power to make suitable arrangements and rules for the management of the Association, and shall perform generally, the duties necessary for carrying out its objects. 5. The Council shall elect its own chairman, secretary, and other officers necessary for the proper conduct of its business. All special meetings not fixed by the Council, shall be convened by authority of the chairman, who shall call a meeting at any time, on receiving a requisition to that effect signed by two or more councillors. 6. It shall be competent to the chairmen or secretaries of sections to arrange any united or concerted course of action considered advisable, at any time when a meeting of the Council is inconvenient or inexpedient. 7. The committee in Dunedin shall act provisionally as the Council, until the first meeting of the delegates shall take place, when its provisional functions shall cease. 8. The members of the Association Bhall consist of those who are willing to unite for the furtherance of the objects in view. Each member shall pay an annual subscription, in advance, of five shillings. 9. All subscriptions shall be paid over to the general treasurer, to be appropriated in such manner as the Council shall direct ; but in every case a sum sufficient to defray the ordinary expenses of the section shall be a first charge on the local subscriptions. Various Standing Orders were read, amended, and agreed to. It was resolved that the Draft Constitution, as amended above, should fee the Constitution of the Association until the first meeting of the Council.

Arrangements were made preparatory to communicating with different districts (other than Municipalities) in which no steps have yet been taken to form sections. t It was resolved that the Municipalities, and the other districts should be recommended to enrol members as early as possible, so that everything may be ready for the election of delegates on a day to be named; the probable time for the firsfc meeting of the Council being named as between the Ist and the 10th of January, in Dunedin. By one of the Standing Orders, it is declared that the Council shall meet in such part of the Province as it may from time to time resolve. | Mr Mason consented to act as ! Treasurer, and Mr J. S. Webb as I Honorary Secretary, until the meeting of j the Council.