MANAWATU SMALL FARM ASSOCIATION.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXI, Issue 2388, 14 July 1866, Page 6

M ANA WAT U SMALL FARM ASSOCIATION.

A public meeting of the members of this Association, convened by placards and advertisement, was held in tho Market Hall, To Aro, on Thursday evening last, at 8 o'clock, and notwithstanding the inclemency of tho weather, thero was a very fair attendance of members. Mr. Wood-

ward was culled to the chair. The Chairman said that it would bo remembered that at a. largo meeting of subscribers held in the Odd Fellows' Hall, some months previously, certain propositions had been assented to as the bases of tho Association. Subsequent event 3, over which the Committee had had no control, had so interfered -with tho proposed arrangements that it had been found impracticable to carry them out. The Committee had spared no effort to accomplish the object that had been entrusted to them, but the action that tho Government of the province had deemed it right to take, rendered all their efforts abortive. Ho begged to be understood as not intending to cast any reflections on the Q-overnment, who, he felt assured, had only acted with a sincere desire to conserve the interests of the province ; but, at the same time, the course which tho Government and Council had taken, rendered it necessary for the Association to review its whole proceedings, so as to see how it might best meet the altered circumstances of the case, as although the resolutions of the Council were not law, strictly speaking ; yet they must be regarded as having practically the same -effect as if they were. In view of this, those who had been acting in this matter from the beginning, had determined to submit certain propositions to that meeting, but before doing so he thought it desirable that they should have tho Treasurer's balance-sheet read, in order that they might see how the accounts stood, and be better enabled to understand tlie proposals that were to be submitted. He therefore called upon Mr. McKenzie (the Treasurer) to read tho balancesheet . Mr. McKenzie then read the following :— Balance-Sheet of the Manawatu Small Farm j Association, from 12th March to 14th July, 1866 :— i RECEIPTS. £ B. d. To 1,782 shares, at 2s Gd each .. 222 15 0 EXPENDITURE. William Lyon, books and stationery... 4 9 0 To hire of Odd Fellows' Hall ... 3 0 0 To hire of Athenamm 2 11 0 To hire of Odd Fellows' Hall ... 3 0 0 J. H. Williams, bill-sticking 10 0 Advertising, printing, &c 13 4 10 Retaining feo to solicitor 2 2 0 Miscellaneous— Postage, 2s 4d; bags, 2s 0 4 4 Honorarium— Secretary 5 0 0 Lighting Market Hall 0 10 0 i Amount deposited in Mutual Investment Society 181 1 6 Balance in hand 6 12 4 £222 15 0 Thomas McKenzie, Treasurer. Examined and found correct — GEORGE HAET. July 12, 1866. The Chairman then resumed and paid that the expenses already amounted to between 4d and 5d per share, so that if it were determined to dissolve tho Association, each member would have to receive about 2s Id for each ontrance fee that J ho had paid. It was, however, not proposed to dissolve the Association, but only to give every one the opportunity of withdrawing if he should wish to do so, and believing that a considerable number would continue members, it was proposed to return 2s 2d per share, thus leaving a small extra proportion of the expenses to bo borne by those -who still desired to partake in the benefits of tho Association. The proposals were as follows : — 1. " That the entrance fee be returned to all subscribers, less 4d per share for expenses already incurred, excepting one entrance fee for each of such persons as may chose to remain members in terms of clauses following." 2. " That all persons be at liberty to join the Association who are willing to subscribe to tho regulations laid down by the Provincial Council as to price and occupation, and who are also willing to wait until the 31st December next, by which time it is supposed that the land may be set apart, provided always that if the land be set apart on an earlier date than the said 31st of December, that the share list bo closed at that date and tho Association organised." 3. " That the entrance fee for the Association be 2s 6d from each person, but that no person be eligible to become a shareholder who is less than seveenteon years of ago." It would bo observed that the Association could take no legal steps until the land was open for selection, and it had been very reasonably urged by his Honor the Superintendent, that there ought to be sufficient time given for everyone to become a member who desired to do so. It was for this purpose that tho 31st of December had been named, that then the Association might know and bo able to state with certainty what the number of its members would be. He thought this was desirable also, because he believed it to be the view of the Government, that tho land that was proposed to be given should be equally divided among applicants, not applications. He (tho Chairman) for one was disposed to think this was a matter in which every man had equal rights with others, no one more.'and no one les"3, than his neighbor. It was therefore proposed that each member should leave one entrance fee to secure his interest, and then as soon as it was practicable to take any steps, the members would bo called together to adopt rules for their future guidance, and ho hoped that whenever that time came, they would show that there was a largo number of actual settlers who desired to avail themselves of the advantages to be obtained by joining a Small Farm Association.

It was then moved by Mr. Tagg, seconded by Mr. Port, and carried unanimously, " That the expenses shown in the balance sheet now produced, be agreed to."

The resolutions of the Committee were then proposed, but a desire being expressed that they should be put separately, the first was proposed and seconded, upon being put from the Chair."

Mr. Beck said that ho thought the course proposed an unwise one. Ho thought that instead of being dormant for several months, the Association ought at once to receive monthly contributions from its members, bo as to create a fund with which land might be bought, as soon as the block was set apart and declared open for selection.

The Chairman explained that ft" would not bo practicable to fix a rate of contribution while the essential element .was wanting, viz., the amount which each one would have to make up in the end, but as he agreed that it would be a very desirable thing to 'create a fund in the way suggested, ho would frame another clause to bo added to tho propositions already submitted, to carry out the suggestion made by Mr. Beck, but he would also point out, that this would render it necessary that a Committeo should be appointed to reeeiro these subscriptions and deposit them at interest until they should bo required.

Clause 4 was then read as follows: — "4. That members bo allowed to contribute five shillings, or tiny multiple of that sum per month from and after this date, such contributions to bo deposited at interest until the land bo open for selection, and to form a fund for tho payment for land for the individual contributor."

Mr. Kirby moved, seconded by Mr. Tagg — " That clause one bo adopted." Mr. J. C. Skeet moved, and Mr. Ryan seconded — "That clause two be adopted." Mr. Robinson moved, and Mr. Port seconded — " That clause three be adopted." Mr. Beck moved, and Mr. J. Smith seconded — " That clause four bo adopted." The four clauses were separately put and agreed to, Moved by Mr. Bock, secondod by Mr. Bnrrett : — " That the original Committee continue to act for the Association until the date contemplated in the second resolution." Carried unanimously. Moved by Mr. J. C. Skeet, seconded by Mr. J. Smith— "That Mr. McKenzio be requested to continue to act as Treasnrer." Carried unanimously. . , Moved by Mr. Tagg, seconded by Mr. Dodds — " That Mr. Alfred Levy be requested to act as Secretary to the Association." Carried unanimously. Moved by Mr. Tagg, seconded by Mr. Port — " That tho shareholders only recognise tho Committee now appointed." Carried unanimously. Ths Chairman then said that Mr. Alfred Levy would attend at his father's workshop, Lambton Quay, from 7 to 9 o'clock on Wednesday and Thursday evenings noxt, for the purpose of ropaying to members tho money at present paid in, deducting, of course, the charges already mentioned, and the one share for these who wished to continue membors of the Association.

Moved by Mr. Moeller, seconded by Mr. Burre tt — " That a vote of thanks be given to Mr. Woodward for his past services, and his conduct in the Chair that evening." Mr. Woodward acknowledged the compliment paid him ; and assured the shareholders of his hearty co-operation in the movement. Tho meeting then separated.