PROPOSED OBJECTS AND RULES OF THE NEW PLYMOUTH TRADESMEN'S COMMERCIAL ASSOCIATION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 32, 6 February 1903, Page 4

PROPOSED OBJECTS AND RULES OF THE NEW PLYMOUTH TRADESMEN'S COMMERCIAL ASSOCIATION.

o OBJECTS. To encourage and foster unanimity of opinion and action amongst employers, and to endeavour to improve the relations between employers and 'iVees. |

-te public opinion as to the em lf" - , "s»ct on the welfare of j I ° s of the district trend and the euv.. the industries and trauw

of labour legislation. To exercise a close supervision 0,~ proposed labour legislation and the operations and effects of existing laws and awards; to make representations in the proper quarters with a view to influencing and amending present and prospective legislation, and to take such other action as may be necessary to conserve the legitimate interests of i employers, and to protect and advance the industrial progress of the district. To advise and assist, when called upon, in preparing cases and presenting the same before the Boards of Conciliation and Court of Arbitration, or other Courts, and to take such other steps as may from time to time be deemed expedient or necessary to protect the interests of the Association.

RULES. 1. The Society shall be called " The New Plymouth Tradesmen's Commercial Association," and the headquarters of the Association be situated in the town of New Plymouth. 2. Executive: The Association shall be governed by a President, Vice-Presi-dent, Treasurer, and not less than six members (five to form a quorum), who shall be elected by ballot at the annual j general meeting, who as far as possible shall represent the various branches of trade connected with the Society. I £_ BuiUiess of tUe Executive : ■ The

business of the Executive shall be to discuss and determine all matters in which the Association is interested, and (except in cases which to the Executive seems urgent) shall be subject to the directions of the Association. The Executive shall have the power to endorse the appointment of sub-com-mittee acting in the interests of any branch included in the Association, and shall wherever practicable be represented on the Executive. 4. Membership : An entrance fee of ss. shall be paid by any person becoming a member of the Association, the same to be paid on the night of proposition. The annual subscription to be paid by members shall be as follows:—Members employing less than three hands, 10s. 6d.; for any greater number of hands than three employed by a member the contribution shall be £1 Is. per annum. The members shall consist of tradesmen or their appoiutees.

i 5. The Association may at any time make a call upon its members for a I special subscription to meet financial emergencies, provided that the resolution ordering such call to be made shall be passed by a majority of at least three-fourths of the members present at a special meeting called for the purpose, of which seven days' notice shall j be given to each member, and at which not less than 20 members shall be present; such subscription shall be calculated proportionately in the manner provided by Rule 4, provided that the total calls upon each membfer by way of special subscriptions shall not in any one year exceed the amount paid or payable by him as annual subscription for the ...une year. In the case of firms or companies the provision of Rule 4 shall apply also' as regards special subscriptions.

6. The executive may at any time admit honorary members from other parts of the colony, and being then members of similar organisations to that of the Employers' Association. Such honorary members must be nominated and seconded by two members of the executive. Honorary members shall be accorded the privilege of a seat at the executive table.

7. The members of the Association are not partners, nor intended to be in any way liable for each other. • 8. The annual general meeting of the members of the Association shall be held in the month of March in each year for the purpose of receiving the annual report and balance-sheet, and i electing the Executive Committee and auditor for the ensuing year. General meetings may be held at any time by order of the president, or by a request signed by five members of the Association, and the secretary .shall, upon receiving such requisition, call a meeting at the earliest date possible, of which every member of the Association shall receive at least seven days' notice. 9. President and Vice-President : The duties of the President shall be to preside at all meetings of the Association, to preserve order, and give an impartial report upon all votes. He shall have a deliberate and a casting vote, and shall have power of his own motion to call meetings of the Association if he considers it necessary tr> do so. The Vice-President shall assist i'' T>pesideiit, and in his absence tic. :.i his stead. 10. Secretary: The Secretary shall be elected by the general meeting of the Association, and shall perform the duties of the Association, subject to the

directions of the executive on such salary as may from time to time' be determined. The duties of the Secretary shall he to attend all meetings (general and executive) of the Association, and enter all minutes. He shall receive all moneys,and pay the same to the Treasurer, who shall forthwith place the same in a bank to the credit of the Association. The Secretary shall also keep a true and correct account of the receipts and -expenditure of the Association, prepare a correct balancesheet, and submit same to the auditor (yearly or half-yearly). He shall also keep a register of members, and prepare such lists as are required for the Registrar, and conduct the correspondence of the Association. He shall have the custody and use of the seal, which shall not be altered or renewed except by a resolution of the Board of Management, and shall recover all debts due to the Association in any competent Court of jurisdiction, and shall be sued on behalf of the Association. The Secretary may be suspended by the President of the Association, and subsequently removed by a majority of the members of the Association present at a meeting specially called, to consider such removal, or by a majority of votes by correspondence. 11. Auditor: An Auditor shall be appointed annually, who shall audit the accounts of the Association once in every year, or oftener if required (by the executive), and shall have access to all books, papers, vouchers, etc., con- ' nected with the Association. He shall also examine the annual balance-sheet, and report thereon to the annual meeting.

12. At any meeting of the executive new members may be elected by a majority of thoso present. The executive shall also have the power at any of its meetings to expel any member or members of the Association, provided that the resolution of expulsion shall be carried by a vote of not less than three-fourths of the members of the executive present, and the vote thereon shall be by ballot, and that notice of j the intention to move such resolution shall have been served by the Secretary, in writing, upon such member not less than seven days before next meeting. Provided, however, that any member so expelled may appeal to the next general meeting of .the members of the Association to have his expulsion

•"d. No expelled member shall reverse. "'"''est in or claim upon the have any inw- -Mon. funds of the Associa- "»tire from 13. Any member may ,: "erthe Association at any time by den.. |ing to the Secretary a written notice , i signed by himself or his attorney, and i thereupon he shall cease to be a memI ber, and shall have no interest in or , I claim whatever upon the funds of the Association. •

14. At any general meeting any of the rules of the Association may be repealed or altered, and any new rule made, by a majority of the members of the Association present. Provided,however, that fourteen days' notice, in j writing, of the intention to repeal or I alter any existing rule, or to make any new rule, shall be given to the Secretary, who shall notify each member of the proposed alteration. i 15. Fifteen members present at any; general meeting of the Association shall constitute a quorum. | 16. All questions arising at any general meeting shall be determined by a majority of the votes of the members present and by a show of hands, unless a ballot be demanded by five member* present. 17. Each member of the Association Tshatt be "entitled one -vote at all general meetings. Any member being three months in arrears in the payment of the annual subscription may be disqualified to vote or take part in any meeting.

18. Any member becoming an employee, other than in accordance with Rule 4, shall thereupon cease to be a member of, and shall have no interest in, or claim whatever upon the funds of the Association. 19. The Treasurer is empowered to draw cheques on the said account for sums payable by the Association, and authorised by the Executive to be paid; but every such cheque shall be countersigned by the President, or, in his absence, by a Vice-President, of the Executive, or two members of the Executive who have previously been appointed. 20. The books of the Association shall be kept by the Secretary and Treasurer under the supervision of the Executive. 21. The financial year of the Asso-