CHAPTER 158. An Act respecting Agricultural Societies. HIS MAJESTY, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Alberta, enacts as follows: Short Title. 1. This Act may be cited as "The Agricultural Societies Short title Act." [1903(1), c. 17, s. 1.] Interpretation. 2. In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires, Interpretation (a) "Association of individuals" shall mean any association of persons who are organized with the consent of the Minister of Agriculture, having for the object of their association the holding of an exhibition, show or fair under this Act, or are otherwise recognized by the Minister as being organized under this Act for any other purpose; (b) "Department" shall mean the Department of Agriculture; (c) "Minister" shall mean the Minister of Agriculture; (d) "Society" shall mean any agricultural society organized or continued under this Act. [1903(1), c. 17, s. 2; 1913(1), c. 9, s. 10(1), 1917, c. 33, s. 1.] Objects of Agricultural Societies. societies 3. The objects of a society shall be to encourage improve- Objects of ment in agriculture, horticulture, arboriculture, manufactures and the useful arts by the following means, that is to say: (a) By holding meetings for the delivery of lectures and (c) By importing and otherwise procuring seeds, (d) By holding exhibitions as hereinafter provided at (i) excellence in the raising or introduction of Expenditure of funds Organization (ii) the invention or improvement of agricultural machines or implements; (iii) the production of grains and all kinds of vegetables, plants, flowers and fruits, home manufactures and works of art; and generally for excellence in any agricultural production or operation; (e) By offering prizes for essays on subjects relating to agriculture, including the prevention of prairie fires and the eradication of noxious weeds; (f) By taking action to eradicate poisonous and noxious weeds and to exterminate such animals as are found to injure or impede agriculture; (g) By carrying on experiments in the growing of crops, the feeding of stock or any other branch of agriculture or by testing any system of farming; (h) By affiliating and co-operating with associations organized to improve live stock or encourage grain growing, dairying, forestry or fruit growing, or promote the study of plant life or the destruction of injurious insects and plants. [1903(1), c. 17, s. 3.] 4. (1) The funds of agricultural societies, howsoever derived, shall not be expended for any objects inconsistent with those authorized by this Act. (2) Such funds shall be deposited from time to time to the credit of the society in a chartered bank or other banking house; and all cheques shall be signed by the president or a vice-president and the treasurer or secretarytreasurer of the society. [1903(1), c. 17, s. 4.] Organization of Societies. 5.-(1) An agricultural society may be formed under the provisions hereof in the following manner: (a) An application in form A in the schedule hereto and containing the information indicated as required thereby shall be signed by not less than fifty persons all being over eighteen years of age and residents of the Province of Alberta and not being members of any other agricultural society; (b) Every person signing the said application shall pay at least one dollar as or as part of his first annual subscription to the funds of the proposed society and such moneys shall be paid to and be held by one of the subscribers in trust for the society; (c) The application shall be verified by an affidavit (d) The application so verified shall be transmitted to (2) A new society shall not be formed unless the chief place of business for the proposed society is at least fifteen miles distant from any existing society in the Province. (3) The annual exhibition shall be held at the chief place of business as specified in the certificate of organization. [1903(1), c. 17, s. 6; 1910(2), c. 16, s. 1; 1913(1), c. 9, s. 10; 1913(2), c. 2, s. 3(1)(2).] 6. As soon as practicable after the formation of the First meeting society a meeting of the subscribers and of such other of members persons as may desire to become members thereof, which shall be the first annual meeting of the society, shall be held at the call of such person as the Minister may nominate for that purpose and at such time and place and with such prior public notice as he may direct. [1903(1), c. 17, s. 7; 1913(1), c. 9, s. 10(1).] 7. A report of the said meeting certified by the president Report to and secretary which shall contain a statement of the number department of members and a list of the officers elected and appointed shall be sent by the secretary to the Department within one week after the meeting. [1903(1), c. 17, s. 8.] Membership. eligible for 8. (1) Any person who would have been qualified to Persons sign an application for the formation of a society may be- membership come a member thereof at any time on payment to the treasurer of a membership fee of not less than one dollar. (2) Subject to the by-laws of the society a firm or an incorporated company may become a member of any society by the payment of the regular fee, but the name of one person only shall in any one year be entered as the representative or agent of such firm or company and that person only shall exercise the privileges of membership in the society. [1903(1), c. 17, s. 9(1)(4).] Officers appointed by Minister Officers Qualification of voters and officers Election of officers 9. (1) Payment of the said fee shall entitle the person, firm or company paying it to the privileges of membership for the year for which it is paid. (2) At the time of payment of his membership fee every member shall give to the treasurer the post office address to which all notices of meetings and other notices shall be sent. [1903(1), c. 17, s. 9(2) (3).] Superintendent of Fairs. 10. The Minister may from time to time appoint a superintendent of fairs and institutes and such other officers as may be required to carry out the provisions of this Act and may appoint an inspector to examine the books and accounts of any society and may confer on him any or all of the powers which may be conferred on a Commissioner appointed under the provisions of The Public Inquiries Act. [1903(1), c. 17, s. 10; 1913(1), c. 9, s. 10(1); 1913(2), c. 2, s. 3(3).] Officers of Society. 11. The officers of the society shall consist of a president and two vice-presidents who shall be ex officio directors, and nine or more additional elected directors as may be determined by the society, a secretary and a treasurer or a secretary-treasurer and one auditor, who shall be an official auditor. [1903(1), c. 17, s. 11; 1910(2), c. 16, s. 2; 1918, c. 4, s. 44(1).] 12. (1) The persons qualified to vote at elections of officers or to be elected shall be only those members who have paid their membership fee for the ensuing year. (2) To enable persons to join, the secretary shall be present at the place appointed for holding the annual meeting one hour previous to the hour set for holding the annual meeting for the purpose of receiving membership fees. [1910(2), c. 16, s. 3.] 13. At the first annual meeting all of the officers except the secretary and the treasurer or the secretary-treasurer shall be elected by ballot. [1903(1), c. 17, s. 13.] Term of office of president 14. The president, meeting and president, vice-presidents, directors elected at first auditors elected at the first or any subsequent annual meeting shall hold office until the next following annual meeting. [1903(1), c. 17, s. 14.] Secretarytreasurer 15. The board of directors may from time to time appoint a secretary and a treasurer or a secretary-treasurer who may be a director or directors and who shall hold office during pleasure. [1903(1), c. 17, s. 15.] treasurer 16. (1) The secretary and the treasurer or the secre- Security by tary-treasurer of any society or exhibition association within one month after his appointment shall furnish a bond for such an amount as the directors may deem sufficient, and such bond shall be renewed yearly and shall be sent to the Minister. (2) No grant shall be paid to any society or exhibition association under this Act unless and until the said bond has been forwarded to the Minister. [1913(2), c. 2, s. 3(4).] office 17. In the event of an officer of an agricultural society Vacancy in dying or resigning his office, or in any other way vacating his office during the period for which he has been elected, the board of directors shall appoint an eligible person to fill the office for the unexpired term of the person so vacating his office. [1903(1), c. 17, s. 17.] 18. If at any time there are no officers of a society or if there is an insufficient number of officers and they do not act the Minister may authorize any person to call a meeting of the society for any purpose or to take such other action as the Minister may deem proper in the interests of the society. [1903(1), c. 17, s. 18; 1913(1), c. 9, s. 10(1).] Meetings of Society. meeting of 19. Every society shall hold its annual meeting between Annual the thirtieth day of November and the eleventh day of society December, at such time and place as may be determined by the board of directors. [1921, c. 48, s. 2.] annual 20. At least two weeks' previous notice of the time and Notice of place of holding an annual or other meeting of a society meeting shall be given by the secretary by written or printed notice mailed to each member of the society, and such additional notice as the directors may decide. [1903(1), c. 17, s. 20.] meeting 21. In case any society shall, through any cause, fail Substituted to hold its annual meeting within the time appointed the Minister may appoint a time for holding the same, and the meeting shall be called by the secretary, or by some person appointed for that purpose by the Minister in the same way as the regular annual meeting and this meeting shall in all particulars be taken as the annual meeting of the society. [1903(1), c. 17, s. 21; 1913(1), c. 9, s. 10(1).] business 22. The following shall be the order of business at Order of annual meetings of agricultural societies: (a) Reading minutes of previous meeting; (b) Addresses and reports of officers; (c) Reports of committees; |