Tokomairiro Farmers' Club

Bruce Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 6, 2 August 1909, Page 5

Tokomairiro Farmers' Club

FORTY-THIiiD ANNUAL MEETING. The forty-third annual meeting of above, held in the County Chambers on Friday evnning, was attended by Mr T. Scott (president), and nearly forty members. ANNUAL REPORT AND BALANCE-SHEET. The annual report and balance sheet (as published in our last issue) wete taken as read. The President, before moving the adoption of them, said he would like to congratulate the Club on its sound financial position. The credit balance has,increased a little more since last year, and they should take into cons sideration the fact that the Club had a little more expense than usual. The cost of printing was double what it had been previously, and there were a few items of expenditure which, perhaps, should not have been debited to the closing year, and there was also some expense in connection with the working " b-es." The summer show had been a financial success. There was a record attendance, thanks to fine weather, exhibits were good, and everything had passed off well. The winter bhow had also been a financial success, but he was prevented from being in attendance, except for a short while in the afternoon, and therefore could not say much about it. How** ever, he knew it could have been better, more entries should have been received. A farmers' show was not not like a travelling shew. The com* mittee gets up the shew, but if the farmers and others did not assist by exhibiting, it would likely be a fa ilure. He hoped the show would turn out better; he himself thought it would. He concluded by moving the adoption of the report and balance.sheet, Seconded by Mr J. W. Petrie. Mr T. H. Russell said he had no complaint to make about the balance* sheet—it was splendidly laid out. He could not find any fault with it.— (Laughter.) The report and balance-sheet were then adopted.

OFl''lOK-BKAHISIIS. The following were elected to hold office for the ensuing year : President—Mr T. H. Hitchon. Mr Hitchon, in returning thanks for the honor conferred on him, said he was very pleased to be present. It did not come on to him unexpectedly, and it was working on for the past year. He ielt that he would not be able to fill the chair as well as the late President had, as he lived further away and was not in such close touch with the other members as he would like to be. They had had some very good presidents in the past, and the one who had just vacated the chair had done exceptionally well. The balance-sheet showed that they had a very successful year. They read in the papers about hard times, but in spite of this the Farmers' Club had come out well. He hoped there would be a good balancesheet shown* at the end of next year. Some extra expenditure might be entailed on improvements, but he would endeavor ho have the money distributed as evenly as possible. He concluded by again thanking the members for electing him president.-—(Ap-plause). Vice-president—Wm. Thornton. Before the election of a committee, a letter was read from Mr H. M. Driver, who wrote : " I do not wish to stand again for re-election. I regret having to take this step, but feel I have not the time at my disposal to attend to the Club's business, also that I am keeping some other member out that can devote more time to the Society's interests. At the same time I shall at anytime be willing to assist the good work of the Toko. Farmers' Club."

There were the incidental discussions and motions regarding the procedure and voting, and the difficulty of how to make the full complement of committee owing to the resignation of a committeeman (Mr R.Ferguson), who, according to the rules, should this year be one of ihe non-retiring members. It was agreed, on the motion of Mr M'Leod, seconded by Mr Porter, that eleven names be put on the list, the eleventh man to take Mr Ferguson's place on committee, and retire the year that that gentleman should, were he still on, Mr M'Leod asked if a life member was eligible as a member of committee, and the meeting considering that it was eligible, he nominated Mr T. Falconer. The ballot resulted : Messrs T. Scott (33), J- F rance (3°)' E ' Martin (3°) iJHeads (29), T. H. Russell (29), J. S. Inglis (28), J. M'Leod (28), J. VV. Petrie (28), T. Falconer (26), J. Parlane (23), T. Quill (16), H. Peattie (16). On a second ballot being taken on the two latter nominees, Mr Quill was elected. The new committee therefore consists of the above-elected, together with Messrs J. B. Norrie, J. Grey, R, Clark, J. M'Faul, J. Tough, J S. Fieming, W. Farquharson, J. Allison, P. Porter, M. Finch, W. Moore, VV. Grey, and T. Mills.

Treasurer-Mr W. VV. P. Hall (reelected). Auditor—Mr J. J. Lane (re-elected). Hon. Life Members—Messrs Jas.

Newbigging, R, Ferguson, G. T, Martin, H. M, Driver, Jno. Pnngle, Jno. Boyle, senr. THANKS. Mr Moore moved a vote of thanks to the retiring President. He deserved the thanks of all. He was only absent from the meetings on one occasion, and on that occasion the reason for his absence was much to be regretted.—The vote was carried by acclamation, and Mr Scott briefly returned thanks. Votes of thanks were also passed to the treasurer, auditor, retiring secretary, and Press. Mr A. Campbell, acknow* ledgmg the vote accorded him, said he resignation as secretary was not owing to him tiring of the work. He would always support the Club, and some day he hoped to be elected to the committee and help to push the Club along. GENERAL, Mr Petrie apologised for the absence of Mr R. Ferguson, who had rung him up from Waiwera on the telephone. Mr Ferguson regretted very much that he was unable to be present at the meeting, and he had asked Mr Petrie to present to the Club, on his behalf, an enlarged photograph of himself.—The President, in accepting the photograph, said that it would always serve as a bright remembrance of the man it reps resented. He had much pleasure in accepting, on behalf of the Club, the photograph, which would be hung up in the hall.—The secretary was instructed to write to Mr Ferguson, thanking him for the present. Mr Campbell moved that it be a recommendation to the incoming commute to get certificates printed, to be given to hon. life members.—Seconded by Mr Parlane and carried.

COMMITTEE MEETING. A meeting of the committee was held directly after the annual meeting, nearly all the members being present Application were received for the position of secretary from Messrs R. Grealish, junr„ J. M, Duthie, A. S, Browne, W. Moffat, junr., Jas. Christie, H, H. Wilkinson, and A. Scott. Mr M'Leod moved that the corns mittee ballot first for three, and then finally select the secretary. —Seconded by Mr Russell. Mr J. Grey moved an amendment that the names be put on board and that be balloted for on one vote. — Seconded by Mr Mills. The amendment was agreed to. Mr A. Scott was elected by an absolute majority, receiving 20 votes.

Mr Parlane moved that th<? last year's committee's recommendation that the salary be £ 25, be confirmed. — Seconded by Mr Hall and carried. The meeting nights of committe were fixed the same as usual—fir e Thursday of each month, Some discussion followed regarding the hour of meeting. It was agreed that the meetings commence at 8 p.m., this being the outcome of an amendment moved by Mr J. B. Norrie.

Mr Russell moved that tenders be called for printing and advertising, and that the contract last till September, 1910, and that the president, vice* president, secretary and treasurer deal with tenders.

Mr Hal! moved an amendment, and Mr Tough seconded, that the subcommittee bring up report, to be dealt with at first meeting of committee,— Carried. Mr M'Leod moved that tenders be called for lease of Club's paddock, the lease to be advertised in two issues of the local papers in August, tenders to be in by September.—Seconded by Mr Norrie and carried. Mr Russell moved that the Ground Commute consist of the same members as those appointed last year —viz., the president, vice president, Messrs J. B. Norrie, J, S. Fleming, J. Tough, and VV. Grey —with the addition of Mr T. Quill.-Seconded by Mr M'Leod and carried. The date of the annual summer show was fixed for the first Tuesday after the Dunedin show, on the motion of Mr Scott, seconded by Mr Porter. It was decided to hold the walking show on October 12th.