PAHIATUA DEBATING SOCIETY.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XIV, Issue 3310, 1 May 1909, Page 5

PAHIATUA DEBATING SOCIETY.

ANNUAL MEETING,

The annual meeting of the above society was held in the Foresters’ Hall last night. There was a good attendance of members. Mr H. J. Eamcs presided. He congratulated the members on re-assembling to commence another year’s work, and extended a hearty invitation to qll visitors.

ANNUAL REPORT AND BALANGE-

SHEET.

Miss Stormont, lion, secretary, read the annual report and balance-sheet. The report was a.s follows:—Ladies and gentlemen,—The committee of the Pahiatua Debating Society have much pleasure m placing before you the annual report for the session 1908. The first annual meeting of the Pahiatua Debating Society was held in the Presbyterian Church oil April 28th, 1908, and at that meeting it was decided that the Society should meet in the Foresters’ Hall. A week later the first ot the weekly meetings was held, Mr J. Webb presiding, the committee for the session being : President, Mr Webb; vice-presidents. Miss Avery and Mr T. JJailey; committee, Miss L. Marten, Messrs Cooper, Dallaston, Bobbie and Eamcs; hon. secretary and treasurer, Miss F. Stormont. At the annual general meeting it had also been decided to raise the subscription irom Is per member to 2s 6d per member, and this resulted in a considerable increase in the Society’s funds, as £9 7s 6d was collected in subscriptions as against thirty shillings for the previous session. There was also a considerable increase in membership, 79 members being enrolled, as against 33 members during the 1907 session. Of these 79 members 41 were ladies and 38 were gentlemen, the average attendance tor the year being 31. The rules of the society were adopted at an early date of the sessicm, and a copy of these was posted in the min-ute-book. There were twenty-one weekly meetings during the session, and three of these were devoted to social evenings, the members working very hard to make these events successful. There were very tew alterations made in the order or tiie subjects for debate, as shown by the syllabus. Before the close ol the session the president, Mr Webb, and Miss Avery, vice-president, left the district to take up other duties, and the society expressed regret al their departure. A motion expressing appreciation ot the services rendered by Mr Webb and Miss Avery to the society was recorded on the minutes. The session closed on September 25th with a social held in the Olympic Theatre.

The balance-sheet showed receipts amounting to £l2 Is 6d, being the amount of subscriptions, and an expenditure ol £l2 is (id, less cash in hand of £1 13s lOd.

The Chairman, m moving the adoption of the report, said it was gratifying to observe that there was a credit balance ol £1 13s lOd, and with 1 9 members ou the roll the society was in a very satisfactory position. In 1907 there More 33 members on the roll. The satisfactory state of the society's affairs was largely due to the untiring efforts of Miss Stormont, as secretary and treasurer, and he sincerely hoped that the society would have the benefit ol her services for a long time to come. The thanks of the society were also due to tb<‘ local press for gratuitous reports and paragraphs, and to Mr Dallaston. who had gratuitously given the use ot his rooms for meetings of the society. The committee also deserved the thanks of the society for their efforts during the jiast year. Another matter upon which the society was to be congratulated was that two of its prominent members had been successful at the recent (lection of borough councillors. He alluded to Senior Councillor Norrell and Cr. Sturton, and said there was no doubt that it was largely owing to the society’s efforts that they had been elected to such important positions. (Laughter.) Mr Dallaston seconded the motion for the adoption of the report and balance-sheet, which was carried unanimously. NEW MEMBERS.

Mirs Clarke, Misses E. Little and Ayson, and Messrs J. D. Wilson, Jones, Jolly, G. S. Milne and Retie erick were elected new members, the latter thanking Mr Eamcs for his kindly references to the Pahiatua Herald, and wishing the society continued success. ELECTION OF OFFICE-BEARERS. The following were elected officebearers for the ensuing year : President, Mr A. H. Dallaston; vice-pre-sidents, Mrs Baker-Gabb and the Rev. \V. H. Speer; secretary and tioasurer, .Miss Stormont, who was requested by the society to secure, if possible, the services of an assistant m the discharge of her secretarial duties. A ballot was then taken for the committee for the ensuing year, M< 'ssi s Jones and Rethcrick being appointed st ru t hirers. The ballot resulted in the following being elected: Messrs Karnes, McAdnm. DoMiie, Cooper and Miss Robins. GENERAL BUSINESS.

It was decided to hold a mock parliamentary election at the next mooting of the Society, various members offering to contest imaginary scots as the champions of various political sections of tlie community.

Business of minor importance was transact'd, and the meeting terminated with the passing of the customary compliment to the Chairman.