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The Twelfth Annual General Meeting
...was held at 3pm on Saturday the 6th May, 1916, at 16 Friar
Street, Reading.
Present:-
Major E.R.Portal, in the Chair
Capt. W. Waring
Rev. J.D. Ouvry
Dr .J. Hopkins Walters Mr.
R.H.C. Harrison
Mr. E.S. Shrapnell-Smith Mr. C.H. Dodd
with the Hon.Secretary.
1. The Minutes of the last General Meeting were read confirmed &
signed.
2. The annual report of the Committee with the audited statement of
accounts for 1915, already circulated to the Members were submitted for
approval by the Chairman seconded by R.H.C. Harrison and adopted.
3. To fill the vacancies on the Committee due to the retirement of Mr.
G.B. Tydd, Mr. S.S. Garche & Mr. J.E. Spagnolitti, nominations had
been received for Dr. J. Hopkins Walters, Capt. Waring and Dr. N. Joy,
which were put to the meeting and declared as duly elected.
4. The Hon. Treasurer, Mr E.S. Shrapnell-Smith submitted his budget for
1916 showing an estimated surplus of £50.5.6, but stating that
owing to the War some resignations were to be expected. The total
income was estimated at £137.12.6 and the expenditure at
£87.7.0. The budget was seconded by the Rev. J.D. Ouvry, and
carried unanimously.
5. The Chairman reviewed the work of the Club during the past year, and
said that the Committee formed to carry on the Berkshire T.A. Transport
Service had performed their duties to the general satisfaction of the
Club and all who were associated with it, and special credit was due to
the Rev. J.D. Ouvry, Mr. C.H. Dodd and the Hon. Secretary Mr.S.à
Court. The Committee had met on six days during the year, and the Club
had given up affiliation with the Royal Automobile Club, as the postal
vote taken of all members gave a large majority in favour of this step.
In doing this the Club had taken some responsibility on their
shoulders, and they proposed to supply all those benefits previously
received from the R.A.C., excepting only the service of Road Guides and
the Get-you-home badge, neither of which had been of any practical use.
The Committee had arranged to provide the same free legal defence of
Members and they felt sure that their Hon. Solicitor, Mr Dodd, would
render them every assitance should they have any trouble with the
Police under the Motor Car Acts & regulations.
Free touring facilities had also been arranged for through the agency
of the Michelin Tyre Company.
A letter published in "The Times" and other papers suggested that the
use of cars by privvate individuals meant helping the enemy: this
letter he considered ought not to have been written, still less
published, for without the use of these cars wounded men from the
hospitals could not have been conveyed to the entertainments provided
for them by many helpers, for which service appeals for cars were
constantly made and freely responded to.
They felt they could not object ot the increased taxation of cars, as
the money went to help pay for the War.
The Clubs new car badge, bearing the County Arms, was now ready and
being distributed free to all Members who return their old badges, and
the fact of carrying the badge on their cars was a convenience in
recognising fellow Members and afforded free Garage Accomodation at the
Club garages without further proof of membership.
6. Four nominations had been received for four vacancies on the
Committee. Capt. W. Waring, Dr. J. Hopkins Walters, Dr. N. Joy and Mr.
P.M. le Poer Trench were declared duly elected.
7. Messrs A.W. Barr & Co. were duly elected Hon. Auditors.
8. A hearty vote of thanks to the Chairman, proposed by Capt. Waring
seconded by R.H.C. Harrison, was then put to the meeting and carried
unanimously.
[E.M.Portal, Chairman]
[May 30, 1917]
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