The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 88

Rules of the Port Nicholson Club, established 1878

Rules of the Port Nicholson Club.

I.

The Club shall be called The Port Nicholson Club.

II.

The Club shall be a Proprietary Club, and shall consist of the present members, together with all those who may be hereafter elected within the limit of two hundred members.

III.

The entrance fee shall be three pounds (£3), payable on election. The annual subscription shall be five pounds--payable three pounds on the 1st October in each year or day of election, and the balance of two pounds on the 1st April in each year. Any member joining between the 1st April and the 1st October shall pay the entrance fee, and only half the annual subscription. The total number of members shall not exceed two hundred, and after that number shall have been elected, candidates' names shall be submitted to the ballot, upon vacancies occurring, in the order of date of their having been proposed for election.

V.

The ballot shall take place between 5 and 6 p.m., on any Monday, during which time the ballot shall be kept open in the presence of two members of Committee. No ballot shall be valid unless fifteen members actually vote. One black ball in five shall exclude. Proxies not allowed. No rejected candidate shall be re-proposed for election within the space of six months after rejection. No member whose subscription is in arrear for one month shall be entitled to vote.

VII.

The Club shall be under the management of a Committee of nine, who shall have full power to direct and manage the affairs of the Club. All resolutions passed at Meetings of the Committee shall be conclusive and binding on all the members of the Club. The present members of Committee shall continue in office until the election by ballot of their successors. Special Meetings may be called on urgent occasions by the Secretary on the written requisition of three Members; twenty-four hours notice to be given to each Member. The Committee are to meet as often as they may think proper for the transaction of business; three to be a quorum. And in order to facilitate the working of the Committee, a record of attendance at the meetings, shall be kept by the Secretary, and such record shall be placed before the Club at the annual General Meeting. Any member of Committee absenting himself more than three consecutive times from the meetings, without permission from the Committee, shall cease to be a member of the same, and the Committee may elect a substitute for his unexpired term of office.

IX.

The Committee may at any time call a Special General Meeting of the Club, on giving 14 days' notice, such notice specifying the object of the meeting, shall be posted in the Club-rooms, and sent to each member. At such Special Meeting no business shall be transacted other than that mentioned in the notice. The Committee shall also in like manner call a Special General Meeting, upon receiving the written requisition of not less than ten members of the Club.

X.

If any member fail to pay the annual subscription on the 1st October and 1st April in each year within one month thereafter, the Secretary shall report accordingly to the Committee, who shall cause the name of such defaulter to he erased from the List of Members. But the Committee shall have power to restore any member whose name shall have been so erased, if he can justify the delay to their satisfaction.

XII.

Any member giving notice to the Committee of his intended absence from the Provincial District for the whole of a financial year, may have his name place on the Supernumerary List, paying one pound in lieu of subscription, and shall during his absence be exempt from the annual subscription. Any member returning to the Provincial District whilst his name is on the Supernumerary List shall be liable for the annual subscription, but should he return during the last half of the year, he shall pay one half of the subscription only.

XIV.

All complaints must be written in a book kept for that purpose, signed by the member complaining, which shall be laid before the Committee, and their decision shall be final.

XV.

Each member shall pay any expenses he may incur in the Club House at such time and in such manner as may be from time to time decided upon by the Committee, and in case of any default for the period of one month, the Committee shall have power to erase the name of such defaulter from the List of Members.

XVI.

All servants of the Club shall be under the control of the Committee. No member of the Club shall give any money or gratuity to any of the servants. All complaints against them must be made in writing to the Committee.

XVIII.

Dogs shall not be allowed in the Club House.

XIX.

Any member breaking or injuring any article belonging to or in the use of the Club, shall pay the necessary cost of replacing such article.

XX.

No expelled or retiring member shall have any claim upon the Committee or the Club.

XXI.

No member shall, upon any pretense whatever, take or allow to he taken away from the Club, any book, newspaper, or other article, the property of, or in the use of the Club.

XXII.

No provisions, wines, or liquors shall be sent out of the Club House for the use of any member or any other person.

XXIV.

A copy of the Rules and Bye-Laws shall always be open to the inspection of members and honorary members.

XXV.

Any member or honorary member guilty of wilfully infringing the Rules or Bye-Laws, or of conducting himself in or out of the Club House in an improper manner, shall be liable to expulsion. The charge against the accused member must, in the first instance be submitted in writing to the Committee by a member, and a copy of such charge shall be forthwith transmitted to the member accused; and if upon due investigation they shall be of opinion that the circumstances require the notice of the Club, a Special General Meeting shall be convened by the Committee, and the member accused shall be informed of it. The opinion of such meeting, at which not less than twenty members must be present, shall be obtained by ballot, when, if two-thirds of the members voting at the meeting shall decide that the accused member has merited expulsion, he shall cease to be a member of the Club, and such resolution shall be notified to him forthwith by the Secretary.

XXVII.

All resolutions passed by a majority of those present at any meeting of the Club shall be conclusive and binding on all members of the Club, whether present at such meeting or not, provided that such meetings are held in conformity with the Rules.

XXVIII.

These Rules may be added to or amended at any General Meeting, if fourteen days' notice by circular to each member has previously been sent of the proposed addition or amendment.