Pacific Islands

Association

Draft Constitution

Important Meeting In

March

THE plan to form a Pacific Islands

Association is being proceeded

with steadily.

The provisional committee, set up by the general meeting in July, ap pointed a sub-committee to draft a constitution. This was submitted at

a meeting of the provisional commit

tee in Sydney, on October 7, at which Mr. W. Bruce Rainsford presided and,

with amendments, was accepted.

It is now proposed to hold another general meeting in November, to which all persons interested in the project are invited. This meeting, it is hoped, will definitely form the As sociation, adopt the constitution and proceed with organisation. It is hoped that the first annual meeting or Pacific Islands Convention—may be held in Sydney in March, during the Harbour Bridge Carnival.

It is not proposed to appoint a full Council at the meeting in November.

Instead, there will be only sufficient office-bearers to carry on; and, as soon as there is sufficient organisa tion to permit of it, members will be sought throughout the Pacific Islands, and representative residents in the different territories will be asked to join the Council. It may not be pos sible to get a full Council until the annual meeting is held in March.

The proposed Constitution is as fol lows: 1. The name of the Association shall be the “Pacific Islands Association.”

Objects.

2. The objects of the Association are: (a) To provide an organisation that will further the interests of Pacific Is lands residents and provide means of enabling ex-residents to retain their associations with the Islands. (b) To disseminate information relative to the Islands, and seek the estab lishment of an information bureau in connection with the Association, (c) To help to bring before the travel ling public the tourist facilities be tween the Islands, Australia and elsewhere. (dt To promote periodical conventions, at which there may be an inter change of opinions and experiences on matters affecting administrative, commercial, industrial and social conditions in the Pacific Islands. (e) To generally protect and advance the interests of all countries and territories in the Pacific and of the peoples residing therein; to assist wherever possible in the develop ment and progress of such countries, territories and peoples; and to pro mote peace, amity and a spirit of co-operation among all of them. (f) To encourage and stimulate the growth of trade and commerce be tween the Islands of the Pacific and with Australia, New Zealand and elsewhere. (g) To form and maintain Club rooms, literary and reading rooms and other facilities for the use and benefit of members of the Associ ation. (h) To acquire any rights or privileges which the Association may regard as necessary or convenient for the purposes of the Association or for promoting the interests of its mem bers. (i) To purchase, take on lease or ex change, hire or otherwise acquire any real or personal property which may be required for the purpose of the Association. (j) To do all such other things as are incidental or conducive to the attainment of the above objects.

Qualification For Membership.

3. Membership of the Association may he sought by any person who is interested in the Pacific islands. Persons eligible for member ship and desiring to join the Association shall lodge an application with the Secretary on the prescribed form, accompanied bv the amount of the subscription The committee shall have nower to accept or reject any application for membership without assigning any reason therefor.

Subscription.

4. The Annual Subscription shall be 10/6 in the case of members domiciled in the Paci fic Islands, and £ 1/1/- in the case of mem bers resident elsewhere, or such other sums as may be fixed from time to time by the Association at a General Meeting, The subscrintion, which shall be payable in advance, entitles members to the full privi leges and facilities of the Association. Sub scriptions shall become due and payable on the first day of January in each year. Mem bers admitted during the second half of a calendar year will pay only one half of the subscription for that year.

Any member who is at least three months in arrears in payment of any moneys due to the Association may be removed from mem bership by the committee without notice.

Expulsion Of Members.

5. It shall be the duty of the committee if at any time it shall be of the opinion that the interests of the Association so require, to request by letter any member to give a written explanation of his conduct in connection with any matter, and if he fail to make such explanation within a stipulated time, or if the explanation given is not deemed by the com mittee to be satisfactory, to expel such mem ber.

No Claim On Assets.

6. Any person, upon ceasing to be a mem ber of the Association, shall not have any claim upon the Association, its property or funds.

Election Op Council

7. The entire management of the Associ ation and the .control of its property and funds (including the expenditure thereof) ex cept as otherwise provided in these rules, shall be vested in a council consisting of a presi dent, vice-presidents and not more than twenty other members. The whole of the council shall retire at each annual meeting but shall be eligible for re-election. The

council shall meet as and when it deems desirable, but at least once a year.

The council shall have power to appoint a member to fill any casual vacancy thereon until the next annual general meeting.

Six members shall form a quorum. 8. The first council shall be elected at the first general meeting of proposed members convened to adopt the constitution, with power to add to its numbers.

Management.

9. The council shall have power to delegate any or all of its duties to an executive com mittee elected from its members and to con sist of not more than ten members who shall elect a chairman and vice-chairman from among themselves. Any vacancy on the executive committee will be filled by the com mittee. Three members of the executive com mittee shall form a quorum.

Alteration Of Constitution.

10. This constitution, including the objects of the Association, may be added to, amended or repealed by resolution of an annual or special general meeting, provided that no such resolution shall be deemed to have been passed unless it be carried by a majority of at least three-fifths of the members voting thereat in person or by proxy.

Auditor.

11. An auditor shall be appointed at each annual general meeting.

General Meetings.

12. The annual general meeting of the association shall be held on a date and at a time to be fixed by the council for the fol lowing purposes: (a) To receive from the council an audited revenue account and bal ance sheet for the preceding finan cial year. (b) To appoint a council and auditor for the ensuing year. (cj To consider any resolution relating to alteration of the rules of which due notice has been given, as pr vided for in rule 13. (d) To consider any other business which any member may desire to bring forward. 13. A member wishing to bring before any general meeting any resolution to amend or make additions to the constitution shall give notice thereof in writing to the council; such notice to be in the hands of the secretary not later than 14 days preceding such meeting. 14. At least seven days’ notice of all gen eral meetings and of the business to be trans acted thereat shall be sent to every member, and such notice may be either delivered or posted to him. 15. At all general meetings of the associ ation the president, or, in his absence, a vice president, or in the absence of the vice-presi dents, a member of the council elected by the meeting, shall take the chair. Every finan cial member present in person or by proxy shall be entitled to one vote on every motion.

In case of an equality of votes, the chairman shall have a second or casting vote. 16. The Council may at any time and for any purpose call a special general meeting and they shall do so within twenty-one days of the receipt of a requisition in writing signed by any twenty financial members stat ing the purpose for which the meeting is required.

Quorum.

17. The quorum at all general meetings of members shall be ten financial members pre sent in person or by proxy. 18. At any meeting should no quorum be present, such meeting shall stand adjourned for seven days at the same place and time and no notice of such adjournment need be sent out to members. At any such adjourned meeting the business (but no new business) shall be transacted and for such adjourned meeting a quorum consists of two personally present.

Proxies.

19. Proxies must be lodged with the Secre tary at least forty-eight hours before the meeting concerned.

Bank Account.

20. All cheques shall be drawn on behalf of the association by two members of the council and countersigned by the secretary.

Cheques may be endorsed on behalf of the association by one of the council, or other person authorised by the council.

Secretary And Other Officers

21. The executive committee shall have the power to appoint and remove a secretary and other officers from time to time and to fix their remuneration.

Winding-Up.

22. In the event of a resolution winding up the affairs of the Association being car ried by a three-fifths majority of those mem bers present either in person or by proxy, and entitled to vote at a special meeting, the property, books and records then available shall be disnosed of in such manner as such meeting shall decide.

The secretary, pro tem., is Mr. J.

W. Baldie CP.O. Box 3408 R., G.P.O., Sydney), who will gladly furnish any further information.