CORN EXCHANGE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 3655, 29 December 1879, Page 4

CORN EXCHANGE.

"The annual meeting of tr-e members of the Corn Exchange was held on Saturday afternoon. Mr T. Bruce, Prerilent, was in the chair, and among those >rpnent -were the following: — Sir J. Cracro' .'Wilson, Colonel Brett, Mensrs Sawle, Ci>- , Peryman, Job Osborne, Henderson, Bain, JJanke, Woodman, Miles, Gammack, Bourn, and Bateman. The Chairman siid he thought it would bo advisable to appoint deputies for the different districts to ascertain the probable number of subscribers for next year, and to postponi) electing the officers for a few weeks. ■' Several members expressed themselves ,in favour of the election taking p'sce at once. Mr ; 'Banks, as one of the auditors, said that only a.partial audit hai yet been made, in consequence of the Bonks being closed. There was one 1 thing 'the auditors wished to call attention to in undesirable ; the advance of £100 made by the Secretary on the security of the crops of a client. No doubt tho Secretary had acted in perfect good faith. The auditors - woidd .rocommond that the Secretary's and Treasurer's offices should -be combined, and the salary of the Secretary should be increased ; also, that tho Secretary should find a guarantee to the extent of £400. The Secretary explained how the advance of £100 had been made. 'Che client had consigned the L goods to the Exchange, and had drawn upon i&im (the Secretary) without having consulted him; at the eametimehe had abußfhnt security— pait monej and part grain — and, believed that it waa to the interest of the Corn Exchange that he had acted as he had done. (Hear, hear.) MrFawlehad no intention to throw any discredit upon the Secretary .—(Hear, hear.) — He Bugported the proposal made ~by his fellow auditor, Mr : Banks. He commented upon the remarks that had been made in the papers, which he feared were calculated to set the farmers on ill terms with the middlemen. It was .mutually advantageous that farmers and merchants should work together. Colonel Brett thought, in justice to tho Secretary, the members .Bhould express their satisfaction at, what the Secretary had done. Sir Cracroft Wilton ,k»s of the samo opinion. Mr Banks had jpoien wore for the protection of (the Seoretan than for the Society. Had the grain bem destroyed, the loss would have (fallen, upon »b© Secretary . On the question of electing the Committee, Mr Peryman expressed .tho opinion that the members subscribing for next year should have the privilege. The meeting agreed with tLis,vieir. Mr Bankß suggested that the Committee should consist of one-third buyers and twothirds farmers. This would benefit the farmers as well as tho buyers. The subject was one which he thought worth tho.'conaideration of members. Mr Peryman reminded the last speaker that the confinement of tho Committee 'to farmers was due to a njotfou of the farmers themselves. Mr Banks said that th« proposal had been — three bujers in a Committee of 21 — ono which would have given tlis buyors no voice. Mr Bateman considered every one eligible, and that the choice should be left to the subscribers. The Chairman mentioEed that one largo buyer had told him that the fanners should themselves conduct their business. Colonel Brett did not see the advisability of postponing the electi n. The present members might be taken as intending to continue their subscriptions. It was not likely that they would have a better meeting than the present. He moved — "That this meeting now elect" our Chairman and Committee for the ensuing year." Mr Bourn seconded the motion. Mr Henderson mover) n» an amendment— " That the election be .< iourned for a fortnight." Sir Cracroft Wilson attended the amendment. Mr Sawla asked how the business of the Corn Exchange iras to bo carried on in the meantime. Ho did not object to adjourn, hut could not see how it was to he done. Mr Henderson understood that the officers would hold offico till their successors were appointed. For the amendment 10 voted, for the motion 4. The Chairman declared tho amendment carried. After some conversational discusaion upon various topics, the meeting adjourned.