A. AND P ASSOCIATION.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLIII, Issue 118, 17 May 1909, Page 5

A. AND P ASSOCIATION.

COMMITTEE MEETING,

A meeting of the Committee of the A. and P. Association was i held in Mr Corry's office on Saturday, when there were present: Messrs R. J. Bell (President), Chaytor, Sharp, Bishell, Weld, Meehan, A. McCallum, Morrin, Dick, £k)leman, Pike, Storey and Neville. " ■ ■■:

LEAVE/OF, ABSENCE-. Leave of absence was granted Mr Vavasour.

CONDOLENCE

The President said that before commencing the business it-would be well to pass a resolution of,, sympathy with Mrs Albert, Gifford in; her recent bereavement. He was ;s,ure the Committee would regret : : the fact of Mr Gifford's death. H©,> would, move: "That the Society place on record its appreciation of Mr Gifford's services to the Association for a period of 22 years without a breakj and that the same be conveyed to Mrs s Gifford with the sympathy and condolence: of the Association in her great loss." Mr Storey seconded, and spoke feelingly of the great sorrow feltTsy all at Mr -Gifford's death. ■■<■>, ... :

Mr.Meehan, in speaking to the motion,: said he would like to express his deep sympathy. He had probably been associated longer than anybody ■else with Mr Gifford,; with the exception perhaps of Mr Storey:; They had worked together in volunteer circles, and in other departments of Spring. Creek public life, and it was an impossibility even to attempt to find a more loyal or gentlemanly colleague that Mr Gifford. He hoped some more tangible form'of appreciation of Mr Gifford's services would come from the Association. !'• • Mr Chavtor had seen a great deal of Mr Gifford's work.' No member paid more attention tofhis duties than he. Mr Gifford's position at the polls showed the High appreciation in which he was held, and it was a compliment of which any it- ember might well feel proud. He "wks pure all present were in sympathy wi':h the motion. The motion wns passed, all standing ;as a mark of respect. OBJECT OF, MEETING. The President explained that it was the custom to meet'on the first Saturday in the month, but Mr Neville and he had-agreed that it was best to' call them together and get on with the schedule at once.. : TLe Quibell prize had created great interest,/ and "he trusted many1 Brlore such donations would be forthcoming-. NEW MEMBERS.

The s following/ new members were elected: Messrs J. H- R- -I'ripe, Albert Cock, IT. H. Brittain, and C. J. Teschemaker-Shute. ,' .

SUBSCRIPTIONS. ', Mr Bishell referred to the subscriptions outstanding, ■ aaid. raised the question of payment oft nomination. Mr Sharp pointed - out that that matter was already provided for. in rule 2. Mr .Bis"hell's idea i was, no doubt, that the rule be enforced. ~ The President called, the nleeting to order, and ih^ 'Committee then considered the; . ■ r',...; :. ■". •.;"■■■

CdRRESPONDENCE. The resignation of Mr Wheaton Soper was accepted. '

The Rugby Union wrote accepting ihe terms for. the TeSse of the Show Ground. Mr Neville^'spoke of boys clinibing on' the roof of the 'buildings during football\ matcJiesl and it was decided to request' the Rugby Union tojprevent :th'e same. , , SUB-COMMITTEES. : The following subcommittees were appointed: Ground Committee: Messrs Bishell, Ohaytor, A. MpQallani; Schedule Committee, Messrs Bishell, Chaytor, Storey, Sharp, Morrrn, and Coleman; Finance Committee, Messrs Chaytor, McCallum and Sharp; -the President, Vice-President, arid. Treasurer to be ex-offick> members of all Committees. • ... .. vacancy* .. ■•"-, ;•. ■ ;. , The: President■>. reported that owing to the death of 'Mr Gifford san extraordinary vacancy had'occurred on the Committee, and- moved that Mr A. Mackay :be appointed thereto. ; , Mr Weld seconded, and it was car^ried unanimously, Mr Meehan remarking that Mr Mackay's services were indispensalhle. *, BAND CONTEST. It was decided to fall in with the' outgoing 'Committee's recommendation that the .Band Contest h& granted the use of , the Show Ground free of charge for,tiie,^mai;ching contest, subject to the usual indemnity for damage. .- OUTSTANDING SUBSCRIPTIONS.

The Finance Committee and the Treasurer were appointed to go into the' matter of the outstanding subscriptions, and devise the best means of collecting the same; also that they look through the accounts and report to next-meeting. •■.<."'• - It the discussion of this motion Mr McCallum protested against the wording of the mottfLon. .. •■: ■ Mr Sharp said that,he did not take Mr McCallum's view. He (Mr Sharp) had been a member Of'the Finance Committee last ..year, but they had never been called together and did not go into matters. He thought they should be gone into fully and a report furnished. Mr Meehan would like the Finance Committee to recommend in their report that defaulters be'prevented from becoming members for at least a; considerable time. BY-LAWS. v ; The recommendation. take steps to. alter the by-laws to permit the number of Committee to be raised to at least 20 members" was brought up, ! and Mr Meehan formally^ moved '.'That j a sub-oommittee, consisting of Messrs McCallum, Storey, Vavasour, and the ex-officio members go into the matter and report at next meeting." Mr Neville in seconding said that there were many ciiniculties to overcome. He would suggest thai 20 members within certain^ailotted boundaries—viz., Waihopaiy "' Havelock,: Flaxbourne, Ure, andvthei1 Sounds, be allowed to nominate a committee-man to represent their districts respectively. Mr Weld.did not approve of the personnel of the proposed committee, who would be practically all iown members. The matter was a^burning: "one amongst country members. He favored the idea of the province being cut into wards so that each ward would have representation, and 24 members in such circumstances would not be tod many. S ■■<..■:>■■ ■••• Mr Meehan agreed to include/Messrs Weld and Dick on the sub-obininitt'ee. -Mr Sharp was : ., heartily _ in^accord with the granting of>?facilities^o, otltjside districts, and believed $b;e>.t solu-' tion of the difficulty, was the division' into wards. This yeould, ensure each district being properly represented. Mr Dick was not against the idea, provided they got good live members.

He could-see no good in the ward system. Looking at the Committee he found that the outlying districts were fully represented. The Awatere had five members out of six nominations, and Mr Parsons was close up. This did not look as though the town voted for all town members. -Under the ward system the same interest would not be taken as now when they elected a Committee from the whole of the members. . Mr McCallum had not any objection to the ward system, provided the distribution was made equitably. Mr Chaytor was against the suggestion. Previous Committees had been fully representative of the outlying districts. The Committee should thoroughly consider the question and not take everything for granted. They should consider whether the outlying districts had been 3«5% treated or otherwise at the ballots. Mr Meehan, in reply, said he only wanted proper investigation or the question. It seemed to be a grievance that a committee of twelve was not sufficiently large to represent the membership. They could decide what to do when the sub-committee brought down their report. The town was not sufficiently represented. The coast and the Sounds had no member.' ihe Coast was not loyal to the Association.: The motion was carried. Mr McCallum suggested the appointing of past-Presidents on the Committee by virtue of having held that office. t» - The President thought so too. Personally he would like to see Mr McArtney on the Committee. The" President said he would like to see the sub-committee get to work. He proposed giving a prize, and would prefer to see it allotted to the farmers' classes. The Vice-President notified he would donate a .prize of £5 5s for the best' pen of merino ram;hoggets. It was decided to get the schedule out at once, and Messrs Bell, Weld, and McCallum were appointed t^> canvass for special prizes. < ', Various recommendations were considered. , for the guidance of the schedule committee, and the condition s. of the QuibelFs cup competition gone into. It was decided to try and arrangefor the'Seddon train, to leave on Saturdays at 4 p.m. to 4.30 p.m., the present time of 3.15 p.m. being useless. . The' following special prizes were promised in the room: President, £10 10s; Vice-President, £5 ss; Clifford Bros, £5 "ss; Dalgety's, £5 ss; F Coleman, £3 3s; J. R. Sharp, £2 2s; E. Weld £2 2s; W. D. Pike, £2 2s; J. Dick, £2'2s; D. Bishell, . £2 2s, J. Storey, £2 2s; P. Meehan, £2 2s; and T. Morrin, £2 25..