THE AUCKLAND AMATEUR ATHLETIC & CYCLING CLUB.

Auckland Star, Volume XIX, Issue 204, 30 August 1888, Page 2

THE AUCKLAND AMATEUR ATHLETIC & CYCLING CLUB.

MISSING FUNDS.

A special general meeting of the Auckland Amateur Athletic and Cycling Club was held in the Imperial Hotel last evening, to consider what action the Club should take in regard to certain matters connected with the financial position of the Club that had been discovered on* the Treasurer leaving the colony. Some thirty-three members were present, and Mr B. J. Esam was voted to the chair. The Chairman said that he could best explain the position the Committee found themselves in by reading the report they had drawn up for the Club.

Auckland.29th August, 1888. Tothemembers of the A.A.A. and G. Club: Gentlemen,;—it is witli feelings of the greatest retjret that the Committee havo called you toprother to' make the unpleasant announcement o£ the misappropriation of almost the whole of the funds or the club by the Treasurer. The discovery has been as great a surprise to the Committee as it no doubt will be to you. The following are the facts hb known to your Committee.' Last year was the first audit of the club'sucoounts. Never before have the Treasurer's accounts been open to inspection. On the occasion of the Auditors examming the accounts in September, 1587, everything appeared to be in correct order, a bank pass-book bavins: b«en presented by the Treasurer, showing a balance ol £lW.w 6d to the credit of the club. Toe recent, disclosures lead to the conclusion that this particular book must have been made up by tho Treasurer for the, distinct purpose of deceiving Uip auditors, as, on that dme, according to the account kindly furnished by the manager of the Savings Bank, the amount to tho credit of ttio club was only £56 16a'5d. The Committee being aware chat tho Treasurer contemplated a visit to the oth-r colonies, roquosted him to. havo niaaccounts audited prior to hi 3 departure. Jne audi of tho present year's accounts took piuco recently, wb«n the auditors demanded tho production of tho bank pass-book: for verincaluin, showinir the sum of £177 Oa Id to the credit of the club. Tho Treasurer replied that it was m possession of the Hon. Secretary, who was absent from the colony. The auditors then oxatniued the vouchors and found them correct, and further agreed to certify to tho correctness of tho Mance-sheet, subject to thelveasurer obtaining a certiitcate from tlie manager of the Savings Hank that the amount to tad credit ot Uto club waa as represented in the accounts. This tho Urjasurer failed to do, and on the auditors learning that the certificate was not attached as .promised, tho requisite information was applied for to the bauk, when the discovery was made that the Treasurer had diverted the funds of the club to his own ;use. The Riirprise of tho Committee was boyoud expression, as they understood the account was operated on by the Hon. Secretary and A reasufer. This appears to have boon the case as regai'ds the curreut account with the Bant of Now Zealand, and why the same courso whs not adopted with tho Bavings Bank your Committco cannot at proscut explain, »a the lion. Secretary is abaeut, and so. unable to givo the information. Tt»wt tho Tw+surer informed tho auditors and also trie Committee' that the account in tho Savings Bank was in the joint names of the Hou, Secretary and Treasurer is confirmed by the clearest evid sue. It is therefor*) evident that both auditor* and Comuiittba have been deliberately and purposely deceived by the Treasurer. Tho Committee held a meeting on Friday last, when it was decided to place before tho members the whole .particulars ni their possession, leaving them to decide what action, if any." should be taken with regard to the Treasurer. Communications have taken tdace between tho Committee mid a. member of his rdmlly on the matter, buc nothing is determined up to tho present. Mr-'Esam has heen (inpointed Treasurer pro tern, pending connrnmtiua by the members. Tho \>am books of both Bank of JSTew Zealand and Sayings Bank cannot bo found, and several other documents which would havo been of service to the Committee are also missing.—(Signed) Jambs HAlvimy, inn., acting Hon. Secre.ary ; B. J. JSsam, noting Treasurer. • ,' •.-, ■' :

Mr R. Garrett, one of tlio auditors, explained to the meeting in detail all that bad occurred at the auditing of the accounts. Ho bad had nothing to do with the management of the Society) except in connection with the auditing, and he had nob the fai a teat suspicion of the Treasurer's dishonesty. The accounts were quite cor-" reotly drawn up, and he had GODjfratulated the Treasurer <m tho subtSfcantW balance lie had. When he audited the accounts he had no idea that the Treaßurei' Virae going even on a visit to Australia. He felt very deeply the deceit- thabhad been found, because it not only placed tibe. Committee but the auditors in a false position. MrJ.J. Poland asked who was responsible for seeing that the account was in the ; Savings Bank in the joints namea, and howit was' that when the bank-book was* presented last year tho auditors did not se.a it 1 was in one natne only. !< MrEaam explained that it was decided at a meeting of the Committeel that the surplus oil the Clubs funds should be transferred from, the Bank of New Zealand to the Savings Bank, to be at a fixed deposit. It was ordered thafctho'fixod deposit should be in the two names, and it was always understood that it was go. The Comtnittee, in the absence of the Secretary, had no explanation to.ofler as to why ifc was not done. ... '

Mr Garretfe stated that the pass-book presented last year for inspeoticJri waa in two ; names, and, as far as appearances went, was quitecorrect, f ; )■■.'■ • .: ■ Tho Chairman read an account aa furnished by the manager of the Savings i Bank, showing when the money had been ; deposited and when Withdrawn. By thia it appeared that no moneya had been withdrawn since January last. If the Commit I tee had thought the Treasurer had ( any moneys with him, they would have taken steps to have had him stopped as soon as ho landed in Sydney; but knowing that ho had nono, they decided to leave it to the Club* Cpnsiderablis dlsoueeion ensuedj ib being plainly said that the Treasurei; should bo brought back as an example, but as nothing woejld be gained by Buch a courae, and the club had no funds, doubts were cast on the advisability of the course. It was also doubted if the* Club had power to prp'ae;cut«, it boinpf asserted that the account? ! were quite correct, and the Treasurer admitting by his; balance-sheet that ho owed the Club; §o .much.. M>' J. Jf. Poland then proposed, " That the Commitiee of the Club be instructed to take criminal proceedings against the Treasurer for the recovery of the misappropriated moneys." Mr B* Owen seconded. Mr M.Gallagher proposed and Mr W. Speight seconded as an amendment, "That the Committee do all in their power to recoverithe money without taking criminal proceedings." Voting was by *ballbb and resulted in, for the amendment 16,' for the motion 15, neutral 2. The following further amendment was then proposed by Mr J. J. Poland, Mr H. Davy seconding, "That the question of criminally prosecuting the late Treasurer be deferred till the aunnal meeting next week, the Committee meanwhile. t6 take legal iid v ice as to the powera Of th q Club to prosecute." This was carried unanimously; ,' .'. . Mv.B. J. Esam was, then elected Treasurer pro tein'y It was vosolved that anexplana;, Uoh should bis obtained from the.; Secretary, at present; absent; from Auckland.on business, : why he, had: permittoct •the'fundi of the Cliib'•'to bo deposited in the Savings $ank in the Treasurer's, name, only, instead of in the joint names of/the Secretary and Treasurer, as required by the Club bylaws. A motion exonerating the tiuditors of the Club, from any blame'in the matter was unanimously carried, and the meeting closed wittra vote Of thanks to the Chairman. "