CAMBRIDGE FARMERS' CLUB.

Waikato Times, Volume XVII, Issue 1409, 14 July 1881, Page 3

CAMBRIDGE FARMERS' CLUB.

The usual monthly meeting of this institution took_jjlace at the Club-rooms, Cambridge, on Monday evening last. There were present — Messrs John Fisher (Vice-President, in thochau), X Maclean, R. Reynolds, A. A. Fantham, T Wells, Biooks, R B. Walker, Hicks, James Hdlly, I")r. Waddington, and Captain liunuman. The minutes of the previous meeting weie read and oonfiuued. The Chairman icul a telegram which had boen received liy the secretary (Mi Scott), from Mr Clarke, at New Plymouth, regretting hi& inability to attend the meeting. Mr Buttles motion, of which he gave notice at the last monthly meeting of the Club was then laid befoie the meeting. Mr Buttle, speaking in reference to the resolution winch he had placed before the Club, said it was unnecessary lor him to remark at length on the matter under consideration, as it h.ul been discussed pretty often already. Everything, he thought, Mas in favor of his resolution being passed. He was, however, sorry to have such a duty to perform as that in which he was now engaged — the winding up of an institution, the existence of which was mainly due to the exertions of himself and a few others, they being the piomoters He was fully awnie th.it otber members differed fiom him in their opinions as to the cause of the present position of the institution, some thinking that they had built a too costly building for club purposes. He for one was iuchned to believe that they had made a mistake in this matter. But this he would impress upon them was not in his opinion the real cause of their finding themselves in the pohition in which th^y now stood. I was mainly due to the want of interest manifested by the Cambridge distriot farmers in the welfare of the Club, and had it not been for this th° Cambridge Farmers' Club would have been an institution worthy of thename. Comparatively speaking, the Club had received no support whatever for the farmers of this district. He would therefore move "That' stop* be taken to wind up the institution, and that the Secretary be empowered to advertise for tenders for the purchase of the property in one or more lots," When this resolution was carried into effect they would still find themselves figuring on the wrong side of the ledger in money matters, and as there were some members standing trustees at the Bank for the overdraft of the Club, and consequently responsible for tho Bame, he thought it would be improper for the oth.fr member') to look towards those men to make {rood the deficiency , therefore he would further propose that what the assets failed to realise should be equally contributed by the members of the Club. Tho motion was seconded by Mr Reynolds. Mr Maclean did not think th*t the Club should be wound up. He for one would be sorry to see the building parted with, and consequently would be quite willing to take his share in paying off its liabilities, and thus continue to hold the property. Those gentlemen who were responsible at the bank, if they were called on to meet the liabilities of the,, institution, should do bo and fake, over j the property, He understood there had been au offer made for the property of £1200, the three acres being valued at £500, and fche house and acr,e £700. He himself, rather thgtji seie the^' house sold, would give £700 for it; Tfye three acres

could bo sold to clear off the liabilities and mortgages on the property. His idea was that those who took an interest 'in the Club should join together and take over the whole concern in shares of, say £5 or £10, or perhaps less, and every man who took a shaie should be a member ot the committee. All the members should pay an annual fee ot three or four guineas, and the committee who raised the money should have the management of the institution. He would propose that they go into committee to consider this matter. The Club then went into committee. Mr Maclean then proceeded : If Mr Walker would take five shares at £10, he would take five shares, and he was certain Mr Clarke would take at least < three shares, and other gentlemen a similar number. If these sums were raised in the shape of shares they could pay off the bank. He deplored the apathy manifested by some of the leading members of the Club in the matter of attendance. The meeting on that day had been called for 3 o'clock, and he was sorry to see that some of the best supporters were not present. He did not care to see the club-house pass into the hands of private individuals, though he was of opinion that the institution should continue to exist on a reformed basis, and he was certain they would feel its value in tune to come, Mr Fantham, speaking in reference to what Mr Maclean had &aid, thought that a considerable amount of that gentleman's argument was very good. He believed that if the Farmers' Club was permitted to fall through it would be the greatest blow the district— in an agricultural point of view— ever sustained. As he was a bud of passage himself it was immateiial to him how the alF.ur terminated, but he would certainly feel soiry to see tho institution fall through ; but, notwithstanding this, he w.is convinced of tlu> folly of tho Club continuing in debt. Members he knew were disinclined to come there night after night to be boicd for subbcuptions, and tins it w.is that frightened them away. He would ask: Mr Biooks how many names were on the bill as security for the overdraft of the Club. Mr Biooks replied that lie was not the holder of the bill, but speaking from memory he could say there weie originally three membets responsible to the bank for the amount of the overdraft. Subsequently, however, it had been arranged that a larger number should be responsible, and consequently thiee other gentlemen had also signed the bill. Mr Fantham remarked that it was understood that wlun he signed the bill eleven other members were to do likewise. Mi- Maclean thought it was very unfair and a gio&s injustice that those who had promised to sign the bill had failed to do so. He would propose that the membeis buy the Club-houbO and acre, and raise tha necessary money on shares and the sale of the other three acres, and pay oft' the Hank. Mr Buttle then urged that his motion should be put to the meeting. Mr Maclean then moved as an amendment, "That the members interested in the future welfare of the Club purchase the house and land adjoining, taking shares of a specified number of pounds each, to be paid to the Bank in reduction of the ovei draft." Captain Runciman seconded the amendment. To Ins mind this was a very senous matter, and he felt sure that nothing had ever transpired in the Waikato that would be more damaging to the fanners in the district, and he was therefore sternly opposed to the selling of the property tor -01200. At the same time he thought it was most undesirable that the Club should be continued with its present liabilities without some sweeping reform being effected. Mr Biooks thought the Club was divided into two factions, both pulling different ways. He would recommend that those who weie responsible for the overdraft, and who were liable to be called on at any time should take over the property and rent it to those who sought the use of the building, and leabse upon the acres as soon as it was profitable to do so. The Chairm m thought it utterly impossible to entertain Mr Maclean's proposition on such short notice. Mr Biooks thought that as the present state of affairs had been before them for thopist two months fhat they hhould settle it without any further delay. Mr Wells thought that something practical would have to be done bcfoie any substanti il relief could be effected. They might shift the debt fiom the Oiouldeis of one to that of the other, but their liabilities still icmained intict. If the debt was to be got rid of and the club and especially tho-e puticul.irly responsible relieved from their present deoidcdly unsatisfactory fin ineiai potion something positive .and decisive must be done, n nd unless they made up tho deficiency out of their own pockets by voluntary Mib-ciipfions or el.se that some p'hiJantrapliio mdivi iual took over the liabilities mtoio^t and all, nothing definite could be done. He thought it would be very unfair that any half-do/en gentlemen should have to take over the liabilities of tho Club which the members as a whole were entitled to discharge. Mr Fantham informed those present tnat if tho Bank called upon him tomorrow to pay his share ho would certainly refuse to do so, as he had signed the bill on condition that eleven others were to do likewise, but several of them he was aware had not as yet done so. Mr Maclean recommended the adoption of tho second part of Mr^Buttle's original motion, which referred to the property being advertised for sale by tender. In reply to some suggestions, Mr Buttle remarked that he had no intention whatever of withdrawing his motion relative to the winding up of the Club. He carae there with the fall intention of pressing his motion, and seeing the last of the institution that day. He could not see his way to endorse the suggestions made by Mr Maclean, for were the Club continued it would only be involving them in additional expenditure, which they could not affoid. He had come there with the determination of seeing the last of the Club, and unless Mr Maclean had some definite proposition to submit he would ask to ha7e his motion put for adoption or rejection. It was alike to him whether it was rejected or adopted for he would never appear in the Club again. A discussion was then entered into between Messrs Wells. Buttle, Reynolds, and toe Chairman, relative to the granting of an adjournment for the consideration of Mr Maclean's proposition, and^he adoption of that measure. Mr Walker was in favor of sellins; of the three adjoining acres by public tender, and the Club still retaining the other acre and the house. The Chairman was in favor of some time being given to Mr Maclean to enable that gentleman to work out his scheme. Mr Wells' thought that' they were discussing this matter solely from a point of view most unfair to the gentlemen who had been good enough to become liable to the bank for the money. He thought these gehtlemen should be relieved from their liability before any other steps were taketi in the matter. l > ' * ■' '' Mr Walker would propose that the whole of the property be offered for sale, and that the three acres be sold in several jots by tender; tenders to be in on or before that 1 day fortaigh" t. ' Mv Buttle then withdrew the first part

of his motion conditionally that the second part should be put and carried. The motion, which read as follows, was then put, and, on being seconded by Mr Walker, was unanimously carried :—: — "That the secretary be empowered to advertise for "tenders for the purchase of the whole of the property of the Club, either in one or more lota. Tenders to be in not later than noon on the 23rd inst." Mr Maclean withdrew his amendment. Mr Bnttle then moved, " That a meeting of the Club be called for Saturday, the 23rd inst., at 2 o'clock, for the purpose of receiving tenders for the property. " — Carried. This terminating the proceedings, the members separated.