As would be expected of any professional association, the Liverpool and District Cowkeepers’ Association had its own set of rules or articles setting out how the organisation would operate and by which its members were bound. The text below has been transcribed from a copy of the Association's members' handbook published in 1919. The handbook in question is owned by Bill Frith and is in the name of someone from Bill's family tree, Simon (Sam) Metcalfe, who kept cows in Lower Breck Road, Liverpool. I am extremely grateful to Bill for giving me access to this material and for permitting its reproduction here. '
The City of Liverpool
And District
Cowkeepers Association
1919
President:
The Hon. Sir Arthur Stanley, G.B.E., C.B., M.V.O.
Chairman:
Mr. Fredk. Stoner,
29 Beaufort Street, S.
Vice-Chairman:
Mr. John W. Foster,
Newstead Farm, Woolton
Secretary & Treasurer:
Mr. Thos. Backhouse,
175 Walton Lane, N.
Telephone 3228 Royal.
Assistant Secretary:
Mr. Samuel Backhouse,
58 Tetlow Street, N.
Solicitor:
Mr. W. Rudd,
10 Dale Street, W.
Veterinary Surgeon:
Mr. Stafford Jackson,
3 Low Hill, E.
Analyst:
Mr. G. Watson Gray, F.I.C.,
8 Inner Temple, Dale Street
‘UNITY IS STRENGTH’
OBJECTS AND RULES
1– The Association shall be called the City of Liverpool and District Cowkeepers’ Association, and shall include all Cowkeepers residing in Liverpool, Bootle, Seaforth, Litherland, Waterloo, Crosby, Aintree, Netherton, Sefton, Maghull, Lydiate, Woolton, Fazakerley, West Derby, Old Swan, Wavertree, Walton, Gateacre, Garston, Speke, Knotty Ash, Roby, Huyton, Prescot, Rainhill and Eccleston. The Objects for which the Association is formed are the following:
a) To promote and protect the various interests of the Trade or Business of Cowkeepers generally, but more especially within the City of Liverpool and the vicinity.
b) To promote and support or oppose legislative or other measures affecting the aforesaid interests.
c) So far as lawfully may be, to defend and protect the Members in the lawful exercise of their Business.
d) To assist the Authorities to detect and prevent the spread of all contagious disease affecting the cattle.
e) To assist in the prevention of Milk adulteration.
f) To hold an Annual Show of Fat and Dairy Cattle. To award prizes thereat, and to do all such acts as are customary in the promotion and carrying out of public cattle shows.
g) To consider all questions which may arise affecting the interests of the Trade, and take such action thereon as may be thought desirable, and, if deemed expedient, to co-operate with other Associations for any of the purposes aforesaid.
h) To acquire a fund for the aforesaid purposes, and to do all such other lawful things as may be considered conducive or incidental to the attainment of the foregoing objectives.
MEMBERS
Their Privileges and Obligations
Their Privileges and Obligations
2. – The Association shall consist of Cowkeepers in Liverpool and adjacent districts who shall have been duly elected at a Committee or General Meeting of the Association, and any member may be expelled at Annual or Special General Meeting for any cause which such meeting may consider sufficient provided that seven days notice shall be given to such member of the proposal to expel, and of the grounds for his expulsion. The Committee shall have the power to suspend a member until the then next Annual or Special General Meeting.
Every member shall upon admission be furnished on application with a copy of the Rules, and shall be bound thereby.
3. – Every person on being admitted a member shall pay an annual subscription of ten shillings, payable on the first day of January in every year, or such other subscription as may be determined upon at an Annual or Special General Meeting of the Association. Any member neglecting to pay his subscription for three months after it shall become due shall forfeit his or her membership, but shall be re-admitted upon paying a fine of 2s 1d, together with arrears, provided, however, that any person ceasing to be a member by reason of such neglect shall not after being re-admitted a member under the provisions of this rule be entitled to receive any payment out of the funds of the Association in respect of any prosecution instituted before the expiration of three months after his re-admission except at the discretion of the Committee, but shall be entitled to all other privileges of the Association.
4. - Any new member joining after the first of July in any year shall pay only 5s as his subscription for the then current year. The Committee shall have power to admit any person who, previous to retirement, had been a member of the Association on payment of such subscription, not being less than 10/- per annum; as honorary member. He shall have the privilege of voting and speaking on all matters brought before the meeting.
5. – If the funds of the Association shall at any time be insufficient to meet the expenses thereof, it shall be lawful for the Committee with the authority of a resolution to that effect, passed at any Annual or Special General Meeting, to call upon the members from time to time to contribute rateably such sum as may be decided upon at such meeting. All moneys which shall become due from any member under these rules, may be used for in the name of the President or Vice-President or Secretary for the time being.
6. - Any member who wishes to withdraw from the Association, shall give one month’s written notice to that effect addressed to the Secretary of the Association, otherwise he shall be liable to pay his subscription for the year commencing 1st January next ensuing, and a member giving due notice, but using the Association nevertheless, on or after such 1st January shall be liable for payment of his subscription for the current year.
7. – No Member who shall cease to belong to the Association, nor the executors or administrators of any deceased member, shall have any claim upon, or be entitled to participate in any effects or property belonging to the Association.
8. – No Member shall be able to receive any assistance out of the funds of the Association, in respect of any prosecution instituted before the expiration of one month after he shall have become a member.
MANAGEMENT
9. - The affairs of the Association shall be under the management of the Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Treasurer, Secretary and twenty-three other members of the Association, who shall be elected annually and form the Committee of the Association.The Committee shall meet the second Tuesday in March, June, September and December, in each year, eight to form a quorum; the Meetings to open at 7:45 and conclude at 9:45 p.m.
All questions shall be decided by a majority, and the Chairman of the meeting shall have a second or casting vote in addition to his ordinary vote, when the votes are equal.
An emergency Committee shall be elected annually of officers and members, consisting of five in number, three to form a quorum, and a General meeting of the Association be held in the month of July each year.
The Annual Meeting of the Association shall be held on the second Tuesday in the month of February in each year, at which a report by the Committee of the proceedings of the Association during the past year shall be read; the balance sheet of the Treasurer, duly audited by the Auditors, presented, and the officers and committee elected for the ensuing year. At least five days’ notice shall be given, by circular, of the Annual Meeting.
The Chairman and Secretary may convene a special meeting of the Association at any time, and the Secretary shall convene such meeting, when so directed by the Committee, or when so requested, in writing, by any seven members, which request shall state the business to be submitted to the meeting. Such meetings shall be called by circular, in which shall be stated the business to be transacted at such meeting. Three clear days’ notice shall be given. Twelve members shall form a quorum.
All questions shall be decided by a majority, and the Chairman of the meeting shall have a second or casting vote in addition to his ordinary vote, when the votes are equal.
An emergency Committee shall be elected annually of officers and members, consisting of five in number, three to form a quorum, and a General meeting of the Association be held in the month of July each year.
The Annual Meeting of the Association shall be held on the second Tuesday in the month of February in each year, at which a report by the Committee of the proceedings of the Association during the past year shall be read; the balance sheet of the Treasurer, duly audited by the Auditors, presented, and the officers and committee elected for the ensuing year. At least five days’ notice shall be given, by circular, of the Annual Meeting.
The Chairman and Secretary may convene a special meeting of the Association at any time, and the Secretary shall convene such meeting, when so directed by the Committee, or when so requested, in writing, by any seven members, which request shall state the business to be submitted to the meeting. Such meetings shall be called by circular, in which shall be stated the business to be transacted at such meeting. Three clear days’ notice shall be given. Twelve members shall form a quorum.
TRUSTEES
10. - There shall be three Trustees to be selected by the Committee for the time being. Every Trustee respectively shall remain in office until death or resignation, or refusal, or becoming incapable to act, or residing abroad for twelve calendar months, or until a general meeting of the members shall think proper to remove him. All the property of the Association shall be vested in the Trustees, who shall hold the same for the general use of the members, in accordance with these Rules, and all securities shall be taken, stocks purchased, and purchases and investments made in the names of such Trustees, or some of them.The property, the subject of the Trust, may be dealt with by the Trustees at the request of the Committee; the request in writing of three of whom assembled at the Board, and signed by the Chairman of the day, and attested by the Secretary, shall be justification to the Trustees as to any such purchase, sale, investment or disposal. The Trustees and every of them shall be fully indemnified by the Association from all liability incurred by them or any of them, from time to time, as such Trustees or Trustee, shall, so far as regards the safety and protection of the person or persons dealing with him or them, absolutely bind the Association and every member thereof.
Trustees of the Association:
Mr. FREDERICK STONER, Beaufort Street, S.
JOSHUA BURROW, Garston
JOHN W. FOSTER, Woolton
Trustees of the Association:
Mr. FREDERICK STONER, Beaufort Street, S.
JOSHUA BURROW, Garston
JOHN W. FOSTER, Woolton
TREASURER
11. – The Treasurer shall receive all moneys belonging to the Association, and shall keep an account of all sums received and paid by him on account of the Association, and when the cash in his hands shall exceed £5, he shall pay the same into such bank as the Committee for the time being shall appoint. He shall submit the accounts and banking book to the Committee for inspection, whenever required by them and shall, prior to the annual meeting, prepare and present to the auditors his balance sheet and vouchers for audit, and act generally under the directions of the Committee. No money shall be withdrawn from the bank except by cheque signed by the Chairman and Treasurer.
SECRETARY
12. – The Secretary shall keep the books and accounts and have the custody of all papers and documents of the Association. He shall collect the subscriptions of the Members, summon all meetings, and take minutes of the proceedings thereat. He shall pay over to the Treasurer all moneys received on behalf of the Association, and attend generally to the affairs of the Association under the direction of the Committee.
SOLICITOR
13. – Mr. William Rudd, of 10 Dale Street, Liverpool, is appointed Solicitor to the Association and shall conduct all legal proceedings on behalf of the Association, at the request of the Secretary in writing, for which he will be paid the usual lawful charges.
COMMITTEE
14. – The Committee shall watch over the interests and promote the objects of the Association, and for such purposes may expend such portion of the funds of the Association as they may think necessary. They shall cause proper books to be kept, fill up any vacancies in their body, or in the officers, as they arise; audit the Treasurer’s balance sheet, and present the same with a report of the proceedings of the Association during the year, to the Annual Meeting, call Special general Meetings of the members whenever they consider it necessary, and do all other acts and things or promoting the objects of the Association which they may deem necessary or desirable, whether provided for in these rules or not.
AUDITORS
15. - At the Annual Meeting, two persons (both members of the Association), shall be appointed Auditors of the Accounts of the current year; by whom such accounts shall be audited, previous to their being submitted to the Annual Meeting.
ALTERATIONS OF RULES, AND DISSOLUTION
16. – No new rule or alteration of an existing rule shall be made without the sanction of an Annual or Special General meeting of the Association. Three days’ notice at least, of such proposed new rule, shall be sent by the Secretary to every member.
17. – In the event of dissolution of the Association which may take place, only by resolution carried by a majority of three-fourths of the Members at any Special General Meeting, duly convened for that purpose, of which ten days’ previous notice has been given, the property of the Association, after liquidation of all liabilities, may be disposed of as may be decided by the resolution to dissolve.
17. – In the event of dissolution of the Association which may take place, only by resolution carried by a majority of three-fourths of the Members at any Special General Meeting, duly convened for that purpose, of which ten days’ previous notice has been given, the property of the Association, after liquidation of all liabilities, may be disposed of as may be decided by the resolution to dissolve.
Committee rooms: St. Martin’s Hall, Scotland Road.
F. STONER, Chairman
THOMAS BACKHOUSE, Secretary & Treasurer
F. STONER, Trustee
J. BURROW, Trustee
JOHN W. FOSTER, Trustee
F. STONER, Chairman
THOMAS BACKHOUSE, Secretary & Treasurer
F. STONER, Trustee
J. BURROW, Trustee
JOHN W. FOSTER, Trustee
Established in 1873
First Rules Printed Sept. 1888
Amended and Reprinted, May 1919.
First Rules Printed Sept. 1888
Amended and Reprinted, May 1919.