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APPENDIX I. Wellington Working-men's Club. The Registrar, Friendly Societies. I have to report that, in terms of section 73 of the Friendly Societies Act, 1909, a special general meeting of the club was held on Friday, 21st December, 1917, at 8 p.m. About 106 members were present. The first business of the meeting was to elect a chairman. Mr. MoCann moved and Mr. Finucane seconded the nomination of Mr. Bruce. Mr. Guyton moved, and Mr. Guppy seconded, That Mr. Lew Brown be chairman. After a division Mr. Bruce was declared chairman. Mr. Bruce then assumed the chair, and thanked the members for the honour they had conferred on him. Mr. Bruce then moved, That Mr. Hayes (Registrar) be requested to stay until the business of the meeting is finished. This was seconded by Mr. George Lindsey and carried. Tho chairman read to the meeting a memorandum addressed by the Registrar, and the notice calling the meeting, also the following : — " Draft Amendment of Rules on Wellington Working-men's Club and Literaby Institute suggested by the Registrar of Friendly Societies to be passed by the Special Meeting called by the Registrar to be held at the club's rooms on the 21st december, 1917. " New Rule. "An election to fill the offices of president, vice-president, treasurer, and committee-men shall be held on the 14th day of January, 1918, and the officers then elected shall hold office until their successors elected in August, 1918, come into office. The result of tho said eloction shall be declared by the chairman of the special meeting called by the Registrar of Friondly Societies under section 73 of the Friendly Societies Act, 1909, and such special meeting shall appoint tho scrutineers and other officers necessary for conducting tho said eloction. Kxcopt as to the mattors herein provided for, the provisions of Rule 12, as amended, shall apply to the said election. " Fbed. Marsh, Secretary." This was formally proposed by Mr. Willmott, and seconded by Mr. Dolling. Mr. Hennessey moved as an amendment, That tho following be inserted between the words " election " and " except " : " Also, for the purposes of this (flection, any candidate for the offices of president, vice-presidont, or treasurer shall be entitlod to count as valid services as a committee-man any period during which he has acted as a committee-man, whether validly elected as a committee-man or not." Mr. Harrup seconded the amendment. Mr. George Lindsey opposed tho amendment, as it was trying to make something legal which under their rules was illogal. Mr. Douglas stated that he would oppose the amendment unless the mover of same was prepared to alter it so as to give a wider scope to the members in the selection of eligible candidates, for it was very undesirable that the club should bo limited in its choice of officers in the way proposed. He also intimated that he intended to move a further amendment to tho motion, because the date named for holding the eloction did not permit sufficient time to elapso for holding a valid election. Tho further amendment which he intended to propose would avoid that difficulty. Mr. Finucano supported the amendment. Mr. Naughton opposed the amendment, and said he was quite in accord with Mr. Douglas's suggestion, and had supported it when it was proposed by him, to enable any member to bo eligible'as a candidate for these offices, hut Mr. Honnessey, tho mover of the present amendment, had then fought most bitterly against it. Mr. Reidy supported the amendment, Similar views being expressod by Messrs. Bolton and Barnes, — In answer to Mr. Barnes the Rogistrar, through the chairman, intimated that the new rule would cease to be effoetive after August, 1918. Tho amendment was then put and carried. Mr. Douglas then moved, as a furthor amendment, Tha.t the date of election be the 21st January instead of tho 14th January as proposed, and he indicated that the nominations would have to close on the Saturday—nine days before tho election to comply with the registered rules. As the new rule could not bo registered before the 4th January, 1918, an election on the 14th January made no provision for the period required for receiving nominations of candidates. This usually extended over from eight to ten days before nominations were closed. The chairman stated that the reasons given were ample and gave no grounds for debate, and on Mr. Girling Butcher seconding the alteration it was adopted unopposed. The motion as amended was then put and carried, and stood as follows : — " New Rule. 35. " An olection to fill the offices of president, vice-president, treasurer, and committee-men shall be held on the 21st day of January, 1918, and the officers then elected shall hold office until their successors elected in August, 1918, come into office. The result of the said election shall be declared by the chairman of the special meeting called by the . Registrar of Friendly Societies under section 73 of tho Friendly Societies Act, 1909, and such special meeting shall appoint tho scrutineers and other officers necessary for conducting the said election. Also, for the purposes of this olection any candidate for the office of president, vice-president, or treasurer shall be entitled to count as valid service as a committee-man any period during which he has acted as committee-man whether validly elected as a committeeman, or not. Except as to the matter herein provided or, the provisions of Rule 12 as amended shall apply to the said election." As tho next business, nominations for the position of returning officer were called for. Mr. Barnes was nominated by Mr. Gibbs, and seconded by Mr. Harrup. Mr. Barnes raised the question of his own eligibility, as he hold office as a club auditor. Mr. Douglas was nominated by Mr. Naughton, and seconded by Mr, H, Williams,

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