STRATFORD RETAILERS’ ASSOCIATION.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 72, 2 April 1913, Page 3

STRATFORD RETAILERS’ ASSOCIATION.

ANNUAL MEETING. i ’ ' The annual meeting of the Stratford Retailers’ Association was held last evening, Mr Robert Masters, president of the Association, presiding over an attendance of nearly fifty tradesmen.

The annual report stated :—“Your executive have to report that the year’s work has been of a fairly satisfactory nature, although there are certain matters which need your immediate attention. In the first place, as our town is growing, there are coming into it business men who do not deem it expedient to consider the existence of the Association, and who refuse to abide by the decisions of the executive, if it does not meet with their approval. The executive have endeavoured at all times to do that wJiich it considered to be in the best interests of our town generally and the tradesmen in particular. However, as you are aware, the Association is a body without any legal authority, and can only hold together by the mutual consent of its members. The matter is open for you to decide tonight whether the conditions are such that the Association should continue its existence. Should you decide in the negative, conditions will revert back to the old unsatisfactory method of everyone for himself, at any rate in the matter of holidays, which state of affairs is very unsatisfactory to the public, and we take it to the town as a whole. The usual executive will need to be elected, according to the rules of the Association, should you deem it necessary to continue the activities of the Association.” The balance sheet showed small outstanding liabilities. In moving the adoption of tli(? Annual report, the Chairman said there seemed to be an impression abroad that the Association was not doing exactly what it should do. This matter, however, was fully dealt with in the report, and the question as to whether the Association should continue or not was entirely in their hands. Mr R. H. White seconded’ the motion. When,he caraejp Stratford he was exceedingly pleased to find that such an institution was in existence locally. He thought the Association did its best, and while it did not please everybody, it certainly pleased the majority. ‘ ; ,1 Theelection of officers resulted as follows: President, Mr Jonas Masters; vice-presidents, G. W. Mills 'and W. MaCDfmald ; secretary,, Mr'R. •B. Anderson; 1 executive, Messrs *T. Mercer, G,jLiddington, F. Mullen, R*. H. White, H. J- Hopkins, J. Petifie, and T. D. Colson. The annual subscription was fixed at 2s 6d.

■A. vote of thanks to the chairman, retiring officers, and the press concluded the meeting.