YOUNG MEN'S INSTITUTE

Waipa Post, Volume 32, Issue 1784, 20 July 1926, Page 4

YOUNG MEN'S INSTITUTE

WHO OWSS THE SECTION 1 REPRESENTATIONS TO BOROUGH: COUNCIL. Interefet in the affairs of the organisation known as the'Young Men's Institute received a fillip a few days ago by the announcement that the original organisation-had been revived and officers had been elected to carry on actively. The matter came before the Borough Council at last evening's meeting, when the following letters were read: —

From Mr A. G. Warbur'ton: "I am enclosing herewith copy of a letter which I have directed to -Mr James Oliphant in connection with the above. You will remember that about two years ago 'efforts were made to revive the society, but without success. It was therefore decided t'o disband and io hand the assets to your Council, resolutions to that effect being entered and confirmed on the books of the society, and a deputation waited on your Council in accordance with the wishes of the then defunct institute. Subsequently Mr Oliphant, without the knowledge or consent of the old) members, interviewed you and asked for the. opportunity of a further effort to revive the society, and you granted him s?ix months, at the expiration of which time I understood you would be prepared to re-corfsider the whole question. That time has elapsed. Mr Oliphant has now held a meeting ,and he proposes to rescind resolutions of the earlier society, and I submit that neither he nor anybody 'else can interfere with the resolutions of the society, which is no longer in existence, and,, moreover, any young men's institute now formed can have no say in the d.isposal of the assets of the old society, of which I was a member at the time of its disbandm'ent. I therefore ask your Council to insist on the observance of the decision of the member's at the time of disbandm'ent." Copy of letter from Mr Warburtqn •to Mr Oliphant: "I regret that I did not receive your circular of the sth instant until my return from Auckland yesterday. As. also, I do not expect to be in Te Awamutu on the 26th July, I will'be unable to attend the subsequent meeting. I desire to take this early opportunity, of expressing my disapproval of any new society altering or in any way interfering with the minutes of the said society. You are aware that the society was disbanded by resolution, which was duly confirmed; therefore, the society passed out of existence. There can be no objection to your forming a new society, for'which you adopt the same , title, but this society surely cannot automatically take possession of the books and assets of the old society. I therefore wish to register my objection at the meeting on th'e 26th instant to ,any proposal to rescind the resolution of a society which is no longer in existence." Mr Oliphant wrote re the same subject, and stated that he had convened a meeting of all likely to be interested in the carrying on of the institute. Some,3s members were enrolled, and the name's of the officers were forwarded. The writer proceeded: "The institute is making arrangements to honour the old debts of the institute, and it is hoped to be in a position at an early date to liquidate the following accounts: Borough rates. £BO (approximately); C. G. Downes, £3 3s; Waipa Post, £6 2s lOcl; and land tax, £1 12s 7d. A notice of motion has been given to rescind the offer of the institute's section of land to the Council under section 302 of the Municipal Corporations Act, 1920, as it is essential to the future working of the institute that the offer to the Council should be withdrawn. The meeting to deal with this notice of motion and other important general business connected with the life of the institute is called for Monday, '26th July, and to this meeting the Mayor and councillors are cordially invited. I may point out that it is possible for a body corporate such <als yourselves to be a miember of the institute, and I would, respectfully suggest that the Council as a body join as a member and appoint one councillor, whose voting power, according to the Incorporated Societies Act, 1908, Avould be equal to three votes, to be representative of the Coujncil on the executive of the institute. I feel that the need of an active young men's institute in Te Awamutu was never greater than it is at the present time, and that with proper guidance and control the institute will successfully fill that need. I may mention that the roll number of the institute now numbers 65. W'e opened our bank account with a deposit of '£6 10s." The borough solicitor's opinion on the proposed transfer of the institute property nearly two years ago was read to refresh the memories of the councillors. It was shown that on Ist ■ September, 1924. a deputation from the institute waited on the Council offering to hand, over the property free of any condition. At that meeting the Mayor remarked that it was unique in his experience for a valuable section to be banded over to, the Council, but he would be glad to move that the present offer be accepted. The Council agreed, and the borough solicitor wa s instructed to carry out the formalities to accept the gift without restriction. 'Later Mr Oliphant and) others, representing the institute, waited on the Council.

Cr Downes maintained that the Council had 1 accepted the section, and the new organisation could not rightly take possession of it. The delay in executing the actual transfer wals no fault of the Council. The delay was due to the rules of the institute not being available, but these were produced by Mr Oliphant when required. It was noteworthy that when Mr 'Oliphant was making his latest move he did not, in Convening the- meeting, send notices to the members of the old institute, who were present at the con■firming meeting. He nanred five of those present on that occasion who .had not received notices of this latest meeting. He argued that Mr Oliphant could not revive the old institute, nor could a new organisation interfere with the assets of the old society. The only way was to convene a meeting of all those present at the winding-up meeting and ask them to rescind the resolution to close down and then approach th'e Council to hand hack the

aslsets. Personally he (the speaker) did not want to block any movement for the welfare of the youth of the town, but the Council had no power to hand over the, property to any neworganisation, which might only carry on for a few months, and then allow . the valuable section to pass into the hands of a private individual. There was a right and 1 a wrong way to negotiate, and Irs thought Mr Oliphant had chos.en the wrong way. Cr Montefiore thought that if there was a chance of the institute being resurrected the Council should not stand in the way. Cr McCarroll said Cr Downes' statement of the position seemed to be the correct one. Cr McOechie agreed, addling those who were present at the winding up of the Young Men's Institute should first he called together. It was stated that theCoitficfl was at present in possession of the section, and, was using it as a dumping" ground. Cr Downes then gave a brief resume of the institute's activities iri the past flew years, leadling to the offer of the assets to the Council. At the meeting of members of the institute all present had 'been in accord with his suggesthat the property should be handed oyer to the Council without restriction. The confirming meeting duly certified the matter, and all.pre'sent signed the minute book. He added that lately Mr Oliphant borrowed this, minute book from the town clerk, arid , now refulsed to return it. Cr Jeffery pointed out that there \? was nothing to prevent the Council \ from hanging over the property to a new young men's institute. The old society was out of existence. Cr Downes pointed out that the latest organisation convened a meeting,, and one item, of business stated was to .rescind the old resolution. That was a clear indication that the new organisation posed as the old society. The Mayor isaid that when the Council Avas convinced that the new society was on definite and sound lines, likely to continue, it could consider the matter of handing over the section. Cr Jeffery moved, that the Council decline to further consider the uiatter until the minute hook borrowed by.Mr Oliphant from the town clerk was returned.—Agreed to, the Mayor in supporting stating that he considered the attitude of Mr Oliphant was very wrong.