INSTITUTE OF JOURNALISTS.

New Zealand Times, Volume LIV, Issue 9881, 12 April 1893, Page 2

INSTITUTE OF JOURNALISTS.

WELLINGTON BUANCH. The annual meeting of the Wellington Branch of the Now Zealand Institute of Journalists was held yesterday afternoon in tbo otßoo of the United Press Association, Mr E. r. Gillon (chairman) presiding. There was a good attendance. Mr O. E. Earle (bon secretary) submitted the following report :—When the first annual report of this branch of the New Zealand Institute of Journalists was presented by your committee last year satisfaction was expressed at the very rapid growth of the. branch, ita membership being ths largest in the .Colony. X.ha then committee were also able to bring forwaid a very satisfactory statement concerning the finances of the branch, and boptfl were indulged in of the coming year showing a e< ill more eaco?Bsfal state of things. These expectations have been only par.ly realised. The roll of mem. berebip still continues to be ahead of the other branches throughout the Colony despite the fact that five members were struck off for non payment of subscriptions, but the interest shown in the Institute by mem* berg is not so great as could be desired. The quarterly meetings of the branch were Very sparsely attended, and it wat difficultat times even’ to obtain a quorum for come mit’.ee meetings. This may be accounted for by the fact that the business to bj transacted at these meetings was, as a rule, of a routine and aaimpertant kind, bat year committee, nevertheless, are of opinion that better attendances should have been obtained. Io accordance with a resolution passed at a meeting of the branch held prior to the last annual meeting, a social gathering of members and their friends took place on the evening of the annual meeting, March 2Ctb. Tbs social was held at the Masonic Hall, and passed eff most pleasantly; one and all declaring it to bs an undoubted success. A second gathering of a similar kind was held la connection with the quarterly meeting in June, and was equally successful. Vour committee have no events of any special importance to bring before you a* having occurred in connection with the branch during the year. As already stated, the name? of five members were expunged from the booka as defaulters, l.ut two new members were* elected, and there are now 51 uam:s on the members’ roil. A full statement of accounts for the past year has not yet been prepared, owing to several members cot having paid their subscriptions. The receipts up to the present have amounted to £3l 10a Id, ard the expenditure to £0 6a 3d. On the sab* eoriptions received, however, a five eighths payment is due to the council of the In stitate, which will reduce the balance in hand by £9 17?. The credit balance at the present time is therefore £ls 6a lOd, The Chairman, in moving the adoption of the report, said the past year bad been aneveutfal so far as the branch and the

Institute were concerned. Th»re had been no call upon tho inauceo nor any necessity for action. The only question arising out of tho report was as to tho continuance of the social gatherings. Those held to far had proved very successful, and be suggested that one should be held daring the approach* Ing session, to which visiting pressmen should be invited. Mr W. 11. Ataok seconded the motion.

Mr H. B. Bridge suggested as a matter For consideration the expediency of utilising the branch for educational as well a-) social purposes by tin offer of prizes for essays or shorthand competitions. The motion was then agreed to. A ballot was taken for the election of officers, and resulted as follows Chairman, Mr E. T. Gilloa ; secretary, Mr C. E. Earlo ; trea nrer, Mr W. U. Atack ; committee, Messrs R. A, Longhcan, C. Hearn, H. B. Bridge, J, M. Geddis, J. R. Gibbons, R, Harding aud IT. K. Dix (city members) and Messrs W, H. J. Seffern, New Plymouth, W. F. Roydhouse, Walrarapa, and H, Price, Napier (country members). Messrs VV. H. Alack, H. B. Bridge, \V. Q. J. Heffern, C. Brans and W. F, Koydbouss were elected by ballot delegates to the council of tho Institute. -The chairman is also a delegate ex effioio. Mr J. Christie was elected a member of the branch. On the motion of Mr \V. H. Alack, Messrs Gillon, Earle, Geddis and tho mover wore appointed a sub committee to revise the rules and report to the next quarterly meeting. It was resolved, on the motion of Mr £. D. Hoboa, seconded by Mr J. M. Geddis, that a social gathering be held on Saturday the Bth of July, and that invitations be sent to all visiting pressmen. On Mr Bridge’s motion, the chairman and secretary and Messrs F. W. Weston, L. Woolcott, J. M, Geddis, Geo. Humphreys and E. P. Hoben were appointed a committee to make the necessary arrangements. It w&a agreed, on the motion of Mr Geddis, seconded by Mr Robon, that in view of Mr Joseph Evisou’s approaching departure for Chn&tchurcb to take up a journalistic position there, the eecretiry should write to him conveying the branch’s recognition of the services Mr Evison bad rendered it as one of its officers, and expressing its best wishes for hi * wel. fare and prosperity in his new sphere of labour.

In answer to a question by Mr Earle, the Chairman said a meeting of the council ot the Institute wonld Ih called as soon as pos* eihle to settle the form of the certificates proposed to be issued to members. Mr Geo. Humphreys (secretary of tho Institute) explained that he had received one design for the proposed certificate. A vote of thanks to the chairman closed the proceedings.