DLA017-0113  Transcription of partial item

The Annual General Meeting.

THE Annual General Meeting of the Incorporated Association of Architects and Surveyors was held at headquarters, the Institute, Wilbraham Place, London, S.W., at 2.30 p.m. on Saturday, November 29th.

In the unavoidable absence of the President and the Chairman of Council, on motion made and seconded, it was unanimously resolved that the Chairman of the General Purposes Committee (Mr. W. T. Bowman, OBE., F.IA.A., M.I.Struct.E.) should take the chair.

The Secretary read the notice convening the meeting, and also the minutes of the Annual General Meeting held on November 30th, 1929. The latter were unanimously agreed to, and were signed by the Chairman.

The next item on the Agenda was to receive and, if approved, to adopt the Council's Annual Report and the Accounts of the Association for the year ended August 31st, 1930.

(Printed copies of the Report and Balance-sheet had previously been circulated by post to all subscribing members).

Mr. Hartfree (F.), moving the adoption of the Report, said: “With regard to the section headed ‘Administrative Staff’, I should like to express my thanks to the Secretary and his assistants. I have been received most courteously whenever I have visited these headquarters, and I have received always the information I have asked for. I should like to offer my thanks for the Administrative Staff’s loyal and willing service”. (Hear, hear).

Mr. Heath (F.) seconding the motion, said: “I should like to associate myself with Mr. ' Hartfree in the observations he has made anent the Administrative Staff”.

The Chairman: “I am sure we all do that”.

The Council's Report was unanimously adopted.

Mr. Gould (F.), moving the adoption of the Balance-sheet, said: “I feel sure that all we ordinary members of the Association are gratified and pleased at the manner in which the finances of the Association have been administered and the sound financial position disclosed; It is particularly pleasing to know that

over £1,000 has been invested in trustee securities during the year.

Mr. Kidd (F.), seconded the motion, which, on being put to the vote, was carried unanimously.

A proposal having reference to the Benevolent Fund was put forward that, in future, the name of a member or widow of a member receiving financial relief from the fund should not be disclosed in the published accounts. The proposal was adopted.

Mr. Hartfree moved that the retiring auditors, Messrs. Mark C. Dalgleish & CO., Chartered Accountants, be elected auditors for the ensuing year.

It was explained that the firm had recently changed its name to "Glen &, Co."; whereupon Mr. Hartfree, on being given leave, amended his motion to read "That Messrs. Glen & Co., successors to Messrs. Mark C. Dalgleish & Co., be appointed auditors for the ensuing year".

Mr. Gould seconded the motion.

The motion on being put to the meeting was carried unanimously.

The Chairman then called upon the Secretary to table the nominations of candidates for the election to fill (annual) vacancies on the Council.

The Secretary handed in a list of the retiring members of Council together with a list of such members who had intimated their decision to seek re-election. In doing so, the Secretary stated that Article of Association, No. 26A, provides that retiring members of Council shall be eligible for re-election. The following members had offered themselves for re-election under the provision mentioned, viz.: Messrs. G. I. Biggs, F. G. Gibbins, G. B. Hartfree, P. T. Maybury, W, Mitchell and A. Tutton. These, together with the following, viz.: Messrs. W. J. L. Horsman, A. E Maader, L. F. Tapsell and E. H. Wood, were nominated by the Council of the Association.

In addition to the names mentioned he (the Secretary) had received the following nominations, viz.: Mr. James Barlow-Davies, F.I.A.S. (by the Liverpool and North Wales Branch), and Mr. Clifford. Barker, A.I.A.A. (by the London- & Home-Counties Branch).

The Chairman asked if there were any further nominations, whereupon the following names were handed in: Messrs. W. W. Begley, R. H. Cowley, J. A. Gould, A. P. Lambert, W. Priddle, C. H. Ridge and J. E. Swindlehurst.

It was resolved by the meeting that, subject to the members mentioned being prepared to stand, their names be added to the list of candidates and that voting papers be issued accordingly.

Under the item “Other Business”, a member suggested that, in fairness to the administrative staff, the Annual General Meeting in future should be held a fortnight before or after the Annual Banquet.

In reply the Secretary said: “On behalf of the staff, I appreciate the suggestion, but I believe the present arrangement is more convenient to the provincial member. Provincial members, especially those who travel from a distance, are entitled to the utmost consideration. The present arrangement permits such members coming up for the week-end to attend the dinner and the meeting the next day. From past experience it has been found that the arrangement is generally appreciated: the two events occurring near Christmas, the opportunity is afforded to our friends in the provinces to spend a week-end in London and to see the shops and do some Christmas shopping.

“Speaking for the staff, although the two functions coming together necessarily add considerably to our labours, the work has to be done, and we want to do everything for the convenience of our members. The only grudge we have is against our friends at 9, Conduit Street [the R.I.B.A.]; they might have chosen a more convenient time to re-introduce the Registration Bill. (Laughter).

Mr. Newsome (F.), of Manchester, and Mr. Barlow Davies (F.), of Liverpool, said they agreed with the Secretary that the present arrangement was more convenient for provincial members.

After further discussion, the Chairman said: “I feel sure that the opinion of the meeting is that we do want to consider our members’ convenience, and therefore it would not be wise to change whit we have done this year, to have the Annual Dinner on the Friday evening and the Annual General Meeting the next day. That seems to me to meet the case fairly well and properly; the general opinion of the meeting seems in that direction. There is a good deal to be said on either side, but the weight of the evidence seems to be on the side of going on as we have done this year”. (Hear, hear).

Mr. Gould: “I do not think we ought to pass out of this room without commenting upon our excellent banquet last evening. I think we ought to put on record how very well we were treated and what a tremendous success it was. I should like to say how thankful we are to our Secretary and to those who assisted him. I should like our thanks to be recorded on the minutes and also for our thanks to be conveyed to the speakers for the excellent after-dinner speeches”. (Applause).

The Chairman : “Last night's dinner, and the function generally, was a huge success. Our thanks are due primarily to our Secretary-Major Athoe–who was responsible for the arrangements”.

The Secretary (Major Athoe): “I rise to thank the meeting for the very kind things that have been said shall be very pleased to convey to them your thanks, which will be recorded on the minutes, that being your desire. I hope that each year you will be as satisfied as you are this year, and speaking for myself, I desire – no plaudit: I am honoured with your confidence, and it is sufficient reward for me to know that the Association continues in its progress. I am happy in having so many good friends in the Association and in receiving so much assistance from members.

“I particularly desire to thank the Chairman, Committees and the Branch Secretaries for their help and inspiration.

“It is surprising the number of letters I receive from members in the Colonies and places distant from headquarters; many from members I have never seen; but these letters are invariably couched in such language that I feel we are old friends. All these communications and expressions of goodwill are typical of the fine spirit that pervades the Association and the will to make it a great organisation based on the principles of service and fraternity.

“During my occupation of the secretarial chair you may rest assured that I shall do everything that mortal man can do to warrant your continued confidence and assistance. (Applause).

“With regard to the Banquet, I will see that your thanks are conveyed to the speakers. I am sure we are all grateful for the loan of the Hall, and that you would wish me to convey your thanks to the Officers of the Worshipful Company of Stationers. I am sorry that the Hall was not larger; I am afraid it was somewhat crowded, and I want to apologise to those members who may not have been so comfortable as I should have wished. I apologise to my friends who occupied the gallery and to those members whose applications for tickets, too late in the day, had to be refused. I