Cornell University Library HD 312.04 Acts respecting agricultural societies, 3 1924 013 929 371 Cornell University Library The original of tiiis book is in tine Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924013929371 ACTS RESPECTING Agricultural Societies Horticultural Societies Agricultural Associations IN THE Province of Ontario. .2nd SESSION, 11th LEGISLATURE, 6 EDWARD VII., 1906. AS REVISED IN 1907 AND 1908. (PUBLISHED BY THE ONTARIO DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.) TORONTO : Printed and Published by L. K. CAMERON, Printer to the King's Most Excellent Majesty. 1908. An Ad respecting Agricultural Societies. His Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Legis- lative Assembly of the Province of Ontario, enacts as follows : — 1. This Act may be cited as The Agricultural Societies Acf. short Title. 2. In the construction of this Act; interpretation. (1) "Department" shall mean "The Department of Agricul- Department. ture" ; (2) "Minister" shall mean "The Minister of Agriculture for Minister, the Province of Ontario"; (3) "Superintendent" shall mean "The Superintendent of f^P™''*™'!- Agricultural Societies" ; (4) "Society" shall mean any agricultural society f ormed ^°"®'''- under this or any previous Agriculture and Arts Act. 3. All agricultural societies organized under The A griculture societies and Arts Act, shall be continued except in so far as they may be altered or affected by this Act. 4r. The Minister may decide all matters of doubt or dispute as '^1°'^*^'' *? ''*'" 1 1- II* Pii'* -I 1 • T ' • 1 Ti ^^"® questions to the working or construction oi this Act, and his decision shall arising under be final, except that an appeal therefrom may be made to the Lieutenant-Cjovernor in Council. 5. The Minister may appoint any person or persons to inspect inspection, the books and accounts of any society in the Province receiving Grovernment aid, under or by virtue of this Act, and may empower such person to summon witnesses and enforce the production of documents before him, and to take evidence upon oath in regard to such inspection; and all officers of any such society, whenever required so to do, shall submit the books and accounts thereof to such inspection, and shall truly to the best of their knowledge an- swer all questions put to them in relation thereto, or to the funds of such society. 6. — (1) Subject to the provisions of the following subsection, organization, an agricultural society hereafter may be organized in any section of the Province. (2) An Agricultural society, hereafter, shall not be organized Limitation as within 20 miles of an existing society, organized under this Act, from^nearest or under any former Agricultural and Arts Act, unless the physi- ^"'^"^'5'. v' Vr- •,.; 'r.-r-a'' r-mi r'I-;t,-un-.,s of the adjolniug couutry, are such ty will not injuriously affect the . - >-. ;.«aTT;sT'i TOTT Bermission to organize a new society Application jor ,at a specitied point, tnat is wiimn 20 miles of the headquarters of organize'within an existing society, shall be made in writing to the Minister, and ojjj^j'lo °/gfy°" shall set forth clearly and fully the facts of the situation, and shall be signed by at least sixty of the persons desirous of forming such society, except in judicial districts or unorganized counties, where the number shall be at least 40. Upon receipt of such When Minister may decidp. Deposit to cover expenses. Mode of organization. Declaration of membership. application the Minister shall instruct the Superintendent to con- fer with, and if necessary to call a special meeting of the officers of the existing society whose headquarters are at the point near- est to the point at which it is proposed to form a new society, at which meeting said officers, by resolution, shall place themselves on record as being in favour of or opposed to the granting of said application. Should said resolution favour the granting of said application, then the Minister may, through Order-in-Council, Arbitration, grant permission for the formation of said society. When oppo- sition is expressed to the granting of said application, the Super- intendent shall call upon the interested existing society, and upon the petitioners to appoint one arbitrator each, and said two arbi- trators shall appoint a third arbitrator, and these three arbitrators, thus chosen, shall consider the granting of said application, and make a recommendation on same to the Minister. (4) If either the signers of the petition or the officers of the interested existing society refuse to appoint an arbitrator, then the Minister may grant or refuse the application of the signers, as he may deem best. (5) The parties concerned in all such disputes shall deposit with the Department such moneys as may be required to pay all expense connected therewith, such payment to be made according to the decision of the arbitrators, or a majority of them. 7. The mode or organization shall be as follows:—^ (a) A declaration in the form of Schedule A to this Act shall be signed by persons (residing within ten miles of the point designated as the headquarters of the society) desiring to organize a siciety under this Act. The number of such persons shal be at least 60, except in the case of societies organized in judicial districts and unorganized counties, where the number shall be at least 40. (b) No person shall be considered a member of any society for any year unless he shall have paid at least one dollar into the funds of that society as membership fee for that year. (c) Subject to the by-laws of the society, a firm or an incor- porated company may become a member of any society incorporated under this Act 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. (d) Within one month after the money has been so paid the said declaration, with the names and addresses of the figners of same, shall be transmitted to the Minister, who shall thereupon authorize a person to call the first meeting for the organization of the society. (e) The first meeting of the society shall be held during the third week of January next ensuing, at the point desig- nated as the headquarters of the society, of which meeting at least_ two weeks' public notice shall be given by advertisement in one or more newspapers published in the district, and also by printed placards or bills posted in local places of common resort. Qualification of members. Firms and com- panies may be members. Transmitting declaration to Minister. First meeting. (/) At the said first meeting, and at any subsequent meetings Quorum, of any agricultural society ten members shall consti- tute a quorum. {g) — {i) At the said first meeting there shall be elected a^^'='Jo°o* president, a first vice-president, a second vice-president, and not more than nine other directors, who shall be duly qualified members of the society, or who must be- come so within 14 days after their election, and who, together shall form the board of directors, a majority of which board shall reside within ten miles of the plac designated as the headquarters of the society. At the said first meeting the society shall appoint two auditors for the ensuing year. (m) On petition of any society the Minister may authorize the Directors, society to elect not more than six persons to act as di- rectors, in addition to those already provided for. (m') Societies may appoint not more than six honorary direc- ^^onorary tors, but such directors shall not have the right to vote or take part in meetings of the board of directors. Qi) The board of directors from among themselves or other- (jg"g„"J ""^ wise, shall appoint a secretary and a treasurer, or a secretary-treasurer, who shall remain in office during pleasure. The secretary or the secretary-treasurer, by virtue of his office, shall be a member of each com- mittee appointed, and may be given the power of man- aging director, acting under the control and with the approval of the board of directors. (i) The board of directors, from among themselves, may ap- Executive ' . , ,. ., , J, . XT j^ commiitee. point an executive committee of not more than five members, to whom it may designate such duties as it, by resolution, may specify. (;') A report of the organization meeting, certified by the pre- ^l^°ll^l°^' sident, the secretary and the convenor, and containing meeting to be a statement of the number of members and a list of the ment.° ^^^ officers elected and appointed, shall be sent to the De- partment within one week after the holding of the meeting. 8. — {a) Upon the receipt of such report the society so organ- ^°°an^^''^° ized shall be deemed an agricultural society, within the be deemed an meaning of this Act, and shall bear the name desig- society."™ nated in the declaration as the headquarters of the society, or by such name as may be determined by the members and approved by the Minister. (6) For the purpose of this Act, the headquarters of any so- He^^.^^"ers ciety organized under any previous Agriculture and Arts Act shall be the place at which the society held its last annual exhibition, or which it has designated by by-law or resolution, at a meeting duly called for the purpose, as its headquarters or place of holding its ex- hibition, a certified copy of which by-law or resolution shall be forwarded to the Department and the said society shall hereafter be designated by the name of the said place, or by such name as may be determined by the members and approved by the Minister. Objects of societies. Unauthorized expenditure to forfeit grant. Annual meet- ings. Notice of meetings, Wlien meeting not held at appointed time. Forfeiture of grant if meet- ing not held, 9. — (1) The objects of agricultural societies shall be to pro- mote improvement in agriculture, horticulture, arboriculture, domestic industry, manufactures and the useful arts ; (a) By awarding premiums for live stock (other than grade breeding males), for agricultural or horticultural im- plements and machinery, for the production of grain and of all kinds of vegetables, plants, flovcers, fruits, home manufactures, and generally for excellence in any agricultural or horticultural production or opera- tion, article of manufacture or work of art. (6) By organizing plowing matches, holding seed fairs, sprang stallion and bull shows, competitions respecting standing crops, and for the best or best managed farms. (c) By importing or otherwise procuring for the purpose of owning and distributing pure bred registered animals, 1 and seeds and plants of new and of valuable kinds. (d) By promoting the circulation of agricultural periodicals. (e) By offering prizes for essays on questions of scientific inquiry relating to agriculture, horticulture, domestic industries, m.anufactures and the useful arts. (/) By taking action to eradicate poisonous and noxious in- sects and weeds. (2) Societies that expend any of their funds, no matter how derived, for any purpose inconsistent with those herein m.entioned, , shall forfeit all claim to the legislative grant. 10. — (1) The annual meetings of the several societies shall be held in the third week of January of each year, at the headquarters of 'the society and at the hour of one o'clock of the afternoon. At any such meeting only those who have pai)d their subscription for the ensuing year shall be entitled to vote. (2) At least two weeks' previous notice of any such meeting shall be given by advertisement in one or more newspapers pub- lished in the municipality or municipalities in which the society is organized, and also by printed placards or bills posted in places of common resort, or by sending the same by registered letter, mailed to the last known post office address of each member of the society in good standing, such notices to be mailed at least one week previous, and to state time and place of meeting. (3) In case any society shall, through any cause, fail to hold its annual meeting at the time appointed, the Minister, on petition of the president and secretary, may appoint a time for holding the same before the first day of March in the same year the meet- ing to be called as for the regular annual meeting, and this meet- ing in all particulars shall be taken as the annual meeting of the society. (4) In the event of the annual meeting not being held as pro- vided for in this Act, or in the event of the number of members on the first day of September in any year being less than the number required for organization, the society shall not be entitled to re- ceive any further financial aid from the Legislature of the Pro- vince, and shall be deemed to have dissolved, but the directors elected at tne last properly constituted meeting of the society prior to the said first day of September shall be deemed to be the trustees of the assets of the society until the same are disposed of by the order of the Minister. (5) In the case of any society being dissolved or ceasing to Reorganiza- exist it can be re-organized only be proceeding under section 7 of this Act and in accordance with section 6. (6) Upon being notified or becoming aware of the dissolution tobe^deUTen of any society under the provisions of the preceding subsection the*°^'^|P^^JJJ'j®5 Minister may order the directors to deliver over to the Department the assets, if any, remaining after all just debts have been paid. 11. In addition to any other business the following business Business at shall be transacted at the annual meeting : meetog. (a) The board of directors shall present at such meeting a Report of report of their proceedings for the past calendar year, in which shall be stated the names of all the members of the society, the. amount paid by each being set oppo- site to his name, the amount offered and also the amount awarded in prizes for each kind of live stock, agricultural products, implements, domestic products or other objects respectively, and the number of entries in each class, together with such remarks and suggestions upon the agriculture and horticulture of the district, and the arts and manufactures therein as they are enabled to offer; (6) The board of directors shall present a detailed statement statement of .,, ., T -^T, f ±^ T receipts and of the receipts add expenditures tor the preceding expenditure, year, also a statement of the assets and liabilities of the society at the end of the year, certified to by the audi- tors; (c) The officers and other directors specified in clause (g) o^ ^4^'=*j.°° °* section 7, and to be qualified as therein provided, shall be elected by the members, and auditors shall be appointed for the ensuing year. 12. The said reports shall, if approved by the meeting, be Reports^to^e placed on permanent record in the books of the society, and shall fyied. also be sent within one month to the Department, and the Minis- ter may require all such reports to be made out on schedules to be supplied by the Department in such forms as he may direct. Fail- ure to comply with these requirements shall be sufficient to forfeit all claim, on the part of the society, to participation in the legis- lative grant. , 13._(a) The members of each society may, at an annual ^g'^i^;;^?^^^"^ meeting or at a special meeting, of which two weeks' previous notice has been given by advertisement in the manner required by subsection 2 of section 10, make, alter, and repeal by-laws and regulations for the gen- eral management of the society; subject to these by- laws and regulations, the board of directors shall have full power to act for and in behalf of the society, and all grants and other funds of the society shall be received and expended under their direction. (b) On petition of thirty members of any society, the secre- g'g\<=^?Jg, tary shall call a special meet^'ng of the society for the consideration of such matters as may be set forth in the Meetings of board of directors. Societies to be bodies cor- porate. Notice of meet- ings to consider disposition of property. Acquiring site, arbitration to fix price. Appointment of arbitrators. Powers of arbitrators. Payment of compensation. Award to be title to property. petition, the meeting to be advertised as set forth in subsection 2 of section 10, and the advertisements to set forth the nature of the business to be transacted. 14. The first meeting of the board of directors of a society may be held upon the day of the annual meeting, and the subse- quent meetings shall be held pursuant to adjournment or be called by written notice given by authority of the president, or, in his absence, of the first vice-president, or, in the absence or on the neglect of the president or vice-president, then on the written request of any three of the directors, at least one week before the day appointed, and at any meeting five shall be a quorum. 15. — (1) All societies, now or hereafter organized, shall be bodies corporate, with power to acquire and hold land as a site for fairs and exhibitions and, subject to the approval of a meeting of the society called for the purpose, to sell, mortgage, lease, or otherwise dispose of the same, or any other property held by such societies. (2) At least two weeks' previous notice of such meeting shall be given by advertisement in one or more newspapers published in the county or district and by printed placard ; and at such meeting only those persons shall be entitled to vote who are members for the current year and who were mem.bers for the two previous years. (3) — (a) If the owner of the land selected as a site for fairs and exhibitions approved of at a meeting of the society called for that purpose, refuses to sell the same or de- mands therefor a price deemed unreasonable by tTie board of directors then such owner and such board of directors shall each forthwith appoint an arbitrator, and the arbitrators so chosen shall appoint a third arbitrator, and such arbitrators or a majority of them shall appraise the damages for such land. (6) If the directors or the owner of such land selected as a site for fairs and exhibitions, shall neglect or refuse to appoint an arbitrator, the senior county judge of the county in which the district lies may appoint an arbi- trator on behalf of the party so neglecting or refusing to appoint an arbitrator as aforesaid. (c) The arbitrators so chosen shall have the power to hear and determine all claims or rights of encumbrances, les- sees, tenants or other persons as well as those of the owner of the land required for the purpose of such site for fairs and exhibitions, upon notice in writing to every such claimant or person. (d) Upon payment of the amount of damages appraised by a majority of the arbitrators appointed as aforesaid, to the owner or other person entitled thereto by 'the directors, the land may be taken and used for the pur- poses aforesaid. (e) Any award for a site for fairs and exhibitions made and published under this Act, if there be no conveyance shall be deemed thereafter to be the title of the society to the land mentioned in it, and shall be a good title thereto against all persons interested in the property in any manner whatever, and shall be registered in the proper registry office, on the affidavit of the secretary and treasurer or secretary-treasurer of the directors verifying the same. (/) The parties concerned in all such disputes shall pay allarbSuon"' the expenses incurred in them, according to the award or decision of the arbitrators or a majority of the'm. (4) The provisions of the foregoing subsections shall be exer- £5'^u\™*j^°V eised only after consent in that behalf shall have been obtained Governor to from the Lieutenant-Governor in Council by Order-in-Council. proceedings. 16. Any township society and town or village municipality J°}ot^O]™^"- that had, prior to the 4th day of March, 1868, jointly purchased grounds ana and held any lands or buildings for the purpose of agricultural ''"''*^^°^'' fairs or exhibitions, may continue jointly to hold such lands or buildings, or may sell, mortgage, lease or otherwise dispose of the same subject to the approval of a meeting of the society as pro- vided in section 15. f 17. Where two or more municipalities have been united ^^'^^"""jgygg under the provisions of any former Agriculture and Arts Act to form a township society, a dissolution of such union society may be effected in the following manner : a petition requesting a dis- solution and the organization of new societies shall be signed by a majority of the members residing in any one of the municipalities and shall be forwarded to the Minister, and if the number so sign- ing is equal to the number required for the organization of a new society as in section 7, the Minister shall direct that new societies shall be organized in the manner prescribed in section 7, and the former union society shall thereupon become dissolved and shall cease to exist. 18. On the dissolution of a un'on society the assets of the said °'g'P,s oS'Sbbo- society shall be equitably apportioned or ' divided by arbitrators, lution. or a majority of them, one to be appointed by the board of direc- tors of each of the new societies, and another arbitrator to be chosen -by the arbitrator so appointed, or in the event of the said arbitrators failing to choose such arbitrator within ten days after being appointed, then the senior county judge or the stipendiary magistrate having jurisdiction in the district shall appoint such arbitrator. In case of disagreement the matter shall be referred to the senior county judge of the county or the stipendiary magis- trate, for final decision. 19.— (1) On or before the first day of March of each year, the A"°^"p«^^/j^^^°« officers of every society shall send to the Department an affidavit, sworn to before any justice of the peace, in the form of Schedule B, annexed to this Act, stating on forms to be provided by the Department,' the exact financial transactions of the society during the previous years. This statement shall set forth plainly the number of members in good standing that belong to the society. This statement shall also give the amount of moneys that were paid in prizes for horses, cattle, sheep, swine, poultry, articles of domestic manufacture, other products 'of the farm, orchard and garden and that were expended for such other purposes as are set forth in section 9 of this Act. If a spring stallion show, a spring bull show or a combined spring stallion and bull show has been held or a spring seed fair, such statement shall set forth separ- 10 Failure to send in return. Grants of Provincial funds. Division of Provincial grant. ately and shall show plainly the number of entries, and the amounts expended in prizes. Such moneys shall be considered as having been expended for agricultural purposes. (2) Any society failing to send in this statement within thirty days shall forfeit all claim to a grant for the current year. 20. Every society organized under or recognized by this Act, shall be entitled to receive a grant out of the unappropriated money!? in the hands of the Treasurer of the Province, the grant to be paid on the recommendation of the Department, and upon the following conditions : (a) That the number of paid-up members for the currentyear is not less than sixty, except in the case of societies organized in judicial districts or unorganized counties, when the) number of paid-up members must not be less than forty. (b) That all reports and returns required by this Act have been made to the satisfaction of the Minister. (c) That the annual meeting has been held as required and officers elected, in accordance with section 11. (d) That the objects of the said society as given in section 9, have been strictly adhered to, and that none of the funds of the society, from whatever source derived, have been expended in any manner not in harmony with these objects. 21. Such amounts as may be voted by the Legislature of the Province shall be paid to the societies on the following basis : (a) Societies that have owned and maintained pure bred stock, for the benefit of their members, for a period of at least nine months during the preceding year, shall receive a grant of |50 for every registered stallion, $20 for every registered bull, |10 for every registered boar, and $5 for every registered ram so owned, and a spe- cial membership grant of one dollar for every member of the society in good standing, up to fifty. (h) Societies that hold a spring stallion show, a spring bull show, or a combined spring stallion and bull show, shall receive a grant equal to one-half the sum ex- pended in the holding of such show, but such sum shall not exceed fifty dollars. (c) Societies that hold a spring seed fair shall receive a grant equal to one-half the sum expended in the holding of such fair, such sum not to exceed twenty-five dollars. (d) Newly organized societies, the first three years of their existence, shall receive a grant each year equal to one dollar per member up to 600 members, except' in the case of societies organized in judicial districts and un- organized counties, where the grant shall be equal to two dollars per member. {e).—(i) The remainder of the grant voted for agricultural societies shall be divided among the societies of the Province, other than new societies, in proportion to the amount they expended during the preceding three years, for agricultural purposes, as shown by their sworn statements, and as defined in section 19 of this Act, and there shall not be included in such expenditure moneys used for the purchase or maintenance of pure bred stock, for the holding of spring stallion shows, spring bull shows, or combined spring stallion and bull shows or for spring seed fairs. (m) Societies in judicial districts and unorganized counties shall be entitled to receive their grants on the basis of double their actual expenditure for agricultural pur- poses. (/) A society shall not be entitled to receive a total grant ex- ceeding $800. {g) Should it be found, within one year after the receipt, by the Department, of a society's annual statement, that an officer or officers of the society, had wilfully made false returns, with an intention to deceive, such officer, or officers shall be liable, upon summary conviction before a justice of the peace, to a fine not exceeding |100 or imprisonment in the common goal of the county for a period not exceeding thirtj days. 22. — (1) It shall not be lawful to carry on any horse-racing Horseracing other than trials of speed under the control and regulation of the^™" '^ officers _of^ the society during the days appointed for holding any exhibition by any society, at the place of holding the exhibition or within five miles thereof. (2) Any person who is guilty of a violation of this section Penalty. shall be liable, upon summary conviction before a justice of the peace, to a fine not exceeding |50, or imprisonment in the com- mon gaol of the county for a period not exceeding thirty days. (3) In case any person is convicted under this section, the forlSiemTA society thus proven to have permitted horse-racing shall be de- barred from receiving any portion of the legislative grant in the next ensuing year. (4) Pros.ecution under this section of the Act may be made fo^hmse-""^ only upon the information being laid by a person who is a member racing. of the society for the current year and who also was a member of the society in the previous year. 23. — (1) The exhibition of .any society shall be held at the Exhibitions. point designated as the headquarters of the society. • (2) Whenever the members of any society have by by-law or Sea'dquafters resolution fixed upon a place as the headquarters of the society, of society. or upon any place or place for holding the exhibition or exhibi- tions of such society for any year or years, then the place or places so designated shall not be changed to any place within 20 miles ' of the headquarters of an existing society, but it may be changed to any place not within such radius upon the decision of a majority of the qualified voters as follows : — (a) A special meeting shall be called by the board of direc- tors, or by thirty members as provided in subsection (b) of section 13, for the expressed purpose of consider- ing the question. (b) At least two weeks' notice of such meeting shall be given by advertisement as in subsection 2 of section 10. 12 Place of exhi- bition to have necessary accommoda- tion. Power to with- hold prizes when fraud shown. (c) Only paid-up members for the current year who were also members in the previous year shall be qualified to vote. (d) The meeting shall be called for ten o'clock in thel fore- noon, and if a poll is demanded it shall be opened at once and remain open until six o'clock, except that it may be closed by the presiding officer of the society if at any time one hour elapses without any vote being polled. 24. The exhibitions of any society shall be held at such place only as shall afford sufficient accommodation for such exhibitions. 26. The board of directors of any association or society organ- ized under this Act, on being made aware of any fraud having been committed by any member or exhibitor in the entry of any stock or goods in competition for prizes at any exhibition, shall have the power of withholding the payment of any prizes that may have been awarded by the jud>ges to such members or exhibitors, on such fraudulent or any other entries made at any such exhibi- tion. KEEPING THE PEACE, ETC., AT EXHIBITIONS. Appointment of constables. Interfering with officers. Prohibiting certain shows and perform- ances, etc. Duty as to preventing improper shows. 26. Any justice of the peace having jurisdiction in any city, town, village or township, wherein a fair or exhibition is or is to be held, shall, on the request of the president or executive com- mittee of any agricultural society, appoint as many policemen or constables as may be required, at the expense of such society, said policemen or constables to be named by such society, whose duty it shall be to protect the property of such society within the exhi- bition grounds, and to eject all persons who may be improperly within the grounds, or who may behave in a disorderly manner, of otherwise violate any of the rules or regulations of such so- ciety. 27. If any person wilfully hinders or obstructs the officers or servants of any agricultural society in execution of their duty, or gains _ admission to the said grounds contrary to the rules of such society, he shall be liable to a'lne of not less than |1 nor more than |20; such fine to be enforced and collected as fines are usually collected, and to be paid, over to such society for its use and benefit; and in default of payment the said offender shall be imprisoned in the common gaol for a period of not more than thirty days. 28. — (1) The officers of any such society may by their rules and regulations prohibit and prevent all kinds of theatrical or circus or acrobatic performances, exhibitions or shows, and may also regulate or prevent the huckstering or trafficking in fruits goods, wares or merchandise on the exhibition grounds, or within 300 yards thereof; and any person who, after due notice of such rules and regulations, violates the same shall be liable to be re moved by the officers, policemen or constables of said society ami be subject to the^ penalty prescribed by the next preceding section ■ ^ j^ ^^f v^''®''' °\ ^'^l ^^P^ ^°°^^^^ ^^^11 prevent all immoral or indecent shows and all kinds of gambling and all games of chance, including whJeels of fortune, dice games, pools, coin tables draw lotteries or other illegal games at the place of holding the exhibition or fair, or within 300 yards thereof, and any association or society permitting the same shall forfeit all claim to any legis- lative grant during the year next ensuing. (3) The officers of any such board shall not allow any person G'l'^^Hng to exhibit either publicly or to any individual any gambling device or to bring any such gambling device into the buildings or upon the grounds in or upon which the exhibition or fair is being held. (4) No person shall carry on, or assist, or aid in carrying onGai"Mfng any kind of gambling, or any game of chance, at any agricultural, p™^""*'='^- live stock, or industrial exhibition or fair, or within half a mile thereof. (5) it shall not be lawful to sell or to have for sale on any „„ IrminX" exhibition ground during the time of holding an exhibition any proiiwted^ wine, beer or spirituous liquors, and any society permitting the same shall forfeit all clam to any grant during the next ensuing year. (6) Any person violating the provisions of this section shall ^™*"y- be liable on summary conviction to a fine of not less than |20 be- .'lides costs, and not more than |100 besides costs. (7) This section shall apply to all exhibitions held by societies ^gPf^'^J,''''™ °^ coming within the above mentioned classes whether incorporated under the said Act or noi. 29. — (1) Any Dominion or Provincial constable shall have the Dominii?n ana right of free entrance to the grounds and to all the buildings on Provincial the grounds where a fair or exhib^'tion is being held under the direction of any society or association to which this Act applies, during the time that the fair or exhibition is being held. (2) Any constable or other peace officer may, without warning ^®jj^|°|^^?J|^ or notice, immediately seize all devices and instruments used bysambiing any person in connection with any kind of gambling or games of ^"°''^' ® "' chance or immoral or indecent side show, and may arrest such per- son without warrant and take him before the nearest magistrate having jurisdiction, there to be dealt with according to law, and pvery such device or instrument after the conviction of the person concerned, shall be destroyed under the direction of the magistrate before whom the case is tried. GENERAL PEOVISIONS AS TO ELECTIONS. 30. All persons not under eighteen years of age who have paid ^ me™«ng™'^ the membership subscription for the year then next ensuing to any society to which this Act applies, shall have the r^ght of vot- ing at the election of officers, and on all other questions submitted to the annual meetings of such societies. 31. No membership subscription for the ensuing year paid ^^^f° ™^|^ after the president or presiding officer has declared the poll open received. for the election of officers shall entitle any member to vote for such officers, nor shall any votes be received earlier than one o'clock in the afternoon nor later than six o'clock in the afternoon of the same day. 32. Except as otherwise provided, a vacancy occurring by the J^^^°<^'«^ "^ death or resignation of any officer of an agricultural society organ- ized under this Act may be filled by the remaining officers thereof^ 14 Failure to elect. Special meet- ings for elec- tions. and it shall be the duty of such officers, and they are hereby empowered to nominate and appoint a fit and proper person to fill the office for the unexpired term, of the- person so dying or resign- ing; but in the event of the remaining officers being insufficient to form a quorum, or if for any reason a quorum cannot be obtained, then persons to fill the vacant offices shall be elected in manner provided in the next section. 33. — (1) In the event of an election of any officers of a society coming within the provisions of this Act not being held at the time or place herein directed, or being for any reason illegal and void, then the persons in office at the time when such officers should have been elected shall continue to be, and shall be deemed to be, the officers of such society until their successors are legally app)ointed. (2) In the event of any such non-election or illegal election, a special meeting of the members of such society shall b© called as soon as practicable for the election of such officers ; such meeting to be called (in the manner provided in subsection 2 of section 10) by the president, or, in his absence or on his neglect, by the vice- president, or in the absence or on his neglect of the president and vice-president, then by any three membfers of the society or other body; and at such meeting the election of officers shall take place, and the persons elected shall thenceforth, until their saccessors are appointed, be and be deemed to be the officers of such society. MEETINGS OF DIEECTOE.S. Special meet- ing of directors. 34. A special meeting of the directors of any society organized under this Act may be called by the president thereof, or, in his absence or on his neglect, by the vice-president, or, in the absence or on the neglect of the president or vice-president, then by any three members of such body, of. which meeting at least seven days' notice shall be given to each member; and, except as otherwise provided for, a majority of the directors of any such body shall be a quorum. SECURITY BY TEEASmER. Security by treasurer of society. Duty of board as to society. 35. — (1) The treasurer of every society organized under this Act before entering upon the duties of his office shall give such security, either by joint or several covenant with one or more sure- ties, which may be in such form as the board of directors or other managing officers may deem necessary, for the faithful perform- ance of his duties, and especially for the duly accounting for and paying over all moneys which may come into his hands. (2) It shall be the duty of every such board in each and every year to inquire into the sufficiency of the security given by such treasurer and report thereon; and where the same treasurer for any society is re-appointed from year to year, his re-appointment shall not be considered as a new term of office, but as a continua- tion of the former appointment, and any bond or security given to the society for the faithful performance of his duties under such re-appointment shall continue valid as against the parties thereto. 15 (3) Where the officers of a society neglect to obtain proper Personal re- security they shall become personally responsible for all funds of ??sT™"^ *'"" the society in the possession of the treasurer. MUNICIPAL AID TO AGRICULTURAL AND OTHER SOCIETIES. 16. — (1) The municipal council of any city, town, village, ^™n,*'-^'"'i™ county or township in this Province may grant or loan money or councus!' grant land in aid of any agricultural society formed within the limits of the municipality, or partly within the limits of such municipality and partly within the limits of other municipalities, or wholly within the limits of an adjoining municipality, when such societjr has made the returns required by this Act to be made to the Minister, provided always that the total amount or value of the monej or land heretofore or. hereafter granted or loaned by any municipality to an agricultural society under this section shall not exceed, in the case of a city, |3,000, in the icase of a town, $2,000, and in the case of a village, |1,000. (2) If such grant is a loan of money to enable the society to security for acquire lands, such municipality may hold the lands so acquired municipai'ities, or may take a mortgage thereon, as security for the amount of such grant until the amount of such grant be repaid to the municipal- ity; and any such grant heretofore made in accordance with the provisions of this Act shall be legal and valid. (3) Any of the said municpalities owning lands or buildings Agreements as J. i_t' 1.111. 1.1. J.1 J. to use of build- lor public purposes shall have the power to make agreements on mgs. such terms and for such periods as they may deem expedient with any companj now formed, or hereafter to be formed, under the provisions of chapter 196 of the Revised Statutes of Ontario, 1897, or of any amendment that may be made thereto, or with any agri- cultural society for the use of such lands or buildings, or either of them, or for the privilege of erecting on said lands (subject to such terms as may be agreed on) such buildings as they may re- quire for agricultural or industrial shows, and to give the said companies the power of renting said grounds and buildings when owned by said company to any agricultural society formed under this Act or any amendment thereto, to and for the purposes of the annual show or shows of said society, and to grant to such com- pany or society the power to collect during said show, or at other times, as maj be agreed, from any person wishing to go into or upon an^ such grounds or buildings, or for any privileges thereon, or for any carriage, wagon or other vehicle, or for any horse or other animal that may be taken thereon, such entrance fee or other charge as the said company or society may deem necessary or ex- pedient. 37. In addition to the amount divided under section 21 of this fp<=ciai aid , from Provinc6 Act, a sum not exceeding (|5,000) five thousand dollars shall be to certain ex- subject to division among The Industrial Exhibition Association '^^''°°^- of Toronto ; The Central Canada Exhibition Association of Ottawa, and The Western Fair Association of London, in proportion to the amount of moneys expended for agricultural purposes as set forth in section 9 of this Act, provided that not more than |2,500 be paid to any one society, upon the following conditions : (la) That returns similar to those required in sections 11 and 19 have been made to the Minister; Missing Page 17 48. It is hereby declared tjiat tlie Societies formerly known North NorfoUc as The North Norfolk District Agricultural Society and The Llk wsSc?"' South Norfolk District Agricultural Society which were regu- ^«47""™' larly constituted under the former Agriculture and Arts Act are now united in the Society known as The Norfolk County Agricul- tural Society, and that all the real and personal property, assets, rights and interests of the said North Norfolk District Agricul- tural Society and The South Norfolk District Agricultural Society are hereby transferred to and vested in the said Norfolk County Agricultural Society, and the said Norfolk County Agricultural Society is declared to be a Society incorporated under and subject to the provisions of The Agricultural Societies Act. 49. The Springfield Horticultural Society which, under the sprmgfleid ioTmer Agriculture and Arts Act, was a body corporate with ^ocUt™""'*^ power to acquire and hold land as a site for fairs and exhibitions, and to sell, mortgage, lease, or dispose of the same, is hereby given power to sell or dispose of its land and other property upon such terms and conditions as may be approved by the Minister of Agriculture. SCHEDULE '-'A." (Section 7.) Dbclaeation op Association. "We, whose names are subscribed bereto, agree to form ourselves into a society, under the provisions of The Agricultural Societies Act, to be called the agricultural society of (desigTiating the point that the Department will he asked to recognize as the head- quarters of the society), and we hereby severally agree to pay to the treasurer the sums opposite our respective names ; and we further agree to conform to the by-laws and rules of the said society. Names S cts. SCHEDULE "B." (Section 19.) Aphdavit as to Membership and Payments foe Agricultural Purposes. 1, of , treasurer of the Agricultural Society, make oath and say that during the year ending 31st day of December, 19 , the said Agricultural Society expended the sum of dollars, solely for agricultural purposes, as set forth in the audited financial statement of the society, and. That the number of members of the said society for the present year is Sworn before me this "\ day of 19 t Treasurer. Justice of the Peace for the County of i or a Commissioner in H.C.J. SCHEDULE -''C." (Section S8.) Know all men by these presents that we. A. B., treasurer of the society, in the County of . Esquire, and C. D., of the A. S. 18 of in the County of , gentleman, (if more than one surety is required, insert here the names of the others in like manner), do hereby jointly and severally, for ourselves and for each of our heirs, executors and administrators, coven- ant and promise that the said A. B., as treasurer of the society (OT association) shall well and truly account for and pay over to the society, or the person or persons entitled to the same, all moneys which he shall receive by virtue of his said office of treasurer, and that he will faithfully perform the duties of iiis said office. Nevertheless it is hereby declared that no greater sum shall bovrecovered under this ■covenant against the several parties hereto than as follows, that is to say : against the said A. B. in the whole of $ (the am,aunt fixed by the board of directors) against the said C. D. $ (the amount fixed by the board of directors), and if more sureties were required by the board, here a'dd the names and amounts in like manner. In witness whereof we have set our hands and seals to these/ presents, this day of A. D. 19 . Signed, sealed and delivered in the presence of (Signature) A. B. C D. An Act respeding Horticultural Societies. His Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Leg- islative Assembly of the Province of Ontario, enacts as follows : 1. This Act may be cited as The Horticultural Societies Acf . ^bormitie, 2. In i^e construction of this Act interpretation. (a) "Department" shall mean The Department of Agricul- "'^''P"'"*"'' ture. (6) "Minister" shall mean the Minister of Agriculture for " Minister." the Province of Ontario, (c) "Superinte'ndent" shall mean the Superintendent -of Hor- g^s^",pe''tatend, ticultural Societies. {d) "Society" shall mean any Horticultural Society organ- " society." ized under this Act or under any former Agriculture and Arts Act. 3. All horticultural societies organized under The A^ricwZ- " societies ture and Arts Act shall be continued, except in so far as they may be affected by this Act. 4. The Minister may decide all matters of doubt or dispute as Minister to de- to the working or construction of this Act, and his decision shall "' ^ ^^^ ^^' be final except that an appeal therefrom may be made to the Lieu- tenant-Governor in Council. 5. The Minister may appoint any person or persons to inspect inspection of the books and accounts of any society receiving Government aid, accounts. under or by virtue of this Act, and may empower such person or persons to summon witnesses and enforce the production of docu- ments before him, and to take evidence upon oath in regard to such inspection ; and all officials of any such society whenever required to do so shall submit the books and accounts thereof to such inspection, and shall truly, to the best of their knowledge, answer all questions put to them in relation thereto, or to' the funds of such society. HORTICULTURAL SOCIETIES. 6. A horticultural Society may be hereafter organized in any organizaiion. city, town or incorporated village. 7. The mode of organization shall be as follows: Sl'mberiwp°^ (a) A declaration, in the form of Schedule "A" to this Act, shall be signed by those persons (residents of the muni- cipality in which the society is organized) desiring to organize a society under this Act. In the case of a city having a population of 30,000 or over the number of such person shall be at least 125 ; in the case of a city with a population of less than 30,000 the number shall be at least 75. Societies organized in towns having a population of 2,000 or over, shall have at least 60 mem- bers, and in the case of an incorporated village the number shall be at least 50. [19] 20 Qualification of members. Firms and companies. CaUing first meeting. (b) No person shall be considered a member of any borticul- tural society for any year unless lie stall bave paid at least one dollar into the funds of tbat society as mem- bership fee for tbat year. (c) Subject to tbe by-laws of the society, a firm or an incor- porated company may become a member of any society, organized under this Act, or any former Agriculture and Arts Act, by tbe payment of the regular fee, but the name of one person only, in any one year, shall be entered as' the representative or agent of any firm_ or company, and that person only shall exercise the privi- leges of membership in the society or organization/ (d) Within one month after the money has been so paid the said declaration, with the names and addresses of the signers of same, shall be transmitted to the Minister, who shall thereupon instruct the Superintendent to authorize a person to call the first meeting for the organization of the society. (e) The first meeting of the horticultural society shall be held during the second week in January next ensuing, of which meeting at least two weeks' public notice shall be given by advertising in one or more newspapers published in the district. (/) At the said first meeting, and at any subsequent meetings of any horticultural society, ten members shall consti- tute a quorum. (g) At the said first meeting there shall be elected a president, a first vice-president, a second vice-president, and not more than nine other directors, all of whom must be members of the society, in good standing, or who must become so within fourteen days after their election, who, together shall form the board of directors, a majority of which board shall reside in the munici- pality in which the society is organized. At the said first meeting the society shall appoint two auditors for the ensuing year. (h) The board of directors, from among themselves or other- wise, shall appoint a secretary and a treasurer, or a secretary-treasurer, who shall remain in office during pleasure. The secretary or the secretary-treasurer, by virtue of his office, shall be a member of each com- mittee appointed and may be given the power of man- aging director, acting under the control, and with the approval of the board of directors. (i) A report of the organization meeting, certified by the pre- sident, a first vice-president, a second vice-president, the secretary and the convener, and containing a state- ment of the number of members and a list of the officers elected and appointed, shall be sent to the Department within one week after the holding of the meeting. M °oTto°' ^" ^P°^ ^^^ receipt of such report ^e society so organized complete shall be deemed a horticultural society, and each society so or- organization, g^^^jjed shall be entitled to participate in the legislative granl When meeting to be held. Quorum. Election of first officers. Secretary- Treasurer. Report of first meetine, 21 hereinafter provided, and to enjoy all the privileges granted by this Act. 9- — (1) The objects of horticultural societies shall be to en-object8of courage improvement in horticulture : societies. {a) By holding meetings for discussion and for hearing lec- tures on subjects connected with the theory and prac- tice of improved horticulture. (6) By holding exhibitions and awarding premiums for the production of vegetables, plants, flowers, fruits, trees and shrubs. (c) By the distribution of seeds, plants, bulbs, flowers, shrubs and trees in ways calculated to create an interest in horticulture. (d) By promoting the circulation of horticultural periodicals. (e) By encouraging the improvement of home and public grounds, by the planting of trees, shrubs and flowers, and by otherwise promoting outdoor art and public beauty. if) By offering prizes for essays on questions relating to horti- culture. {g) By importing and otherwise procuring and distributing seeds, plants, shrubs, and trees of new and of valuable kinds. (2) A society shall not expend more than one-half of its total Expenditure receipts in any one of the lines of work mentioned. No society shall hold an exhibition, or offer premiums, in connection with the exhibition of any agricultural society or societies. In the above calculation grants or donations for any specific purpose shall not be considered. (3) None of the funds of any such society, however derived. Fundi not to be shall be expended for any purpose inconsistent with those men- tioned. Societies violating any of the provisions of this and the preceding subsection shall forfeit all claim to the Government grant. 10. — (1) The annual meetings of societies shall be held during Annual the first week in November in each year at such time and place, as ™®^*"^s«- the board of directors may determine. At any such meeting those members only who have paid their subscriptions for the ensuing year shall be entitled to vote. (2) At least two weeks' previous notice of any such meeting Notice of shall be given by advertisement in one or more newspapers pub- ™®^*'''^^- lished in the municipality, and also, by printed placards or bills posted in places of common resort, or by sending the same by reg- istered letter mailed to the last known post office address of each member of the society in good standing ; such notices to be mailed at least one week previous, and to state time and place of meeting. (3) In case any society shall, through any cause, fail to hold Failure to hold its annuaL meeting during the first week in November, the Minis- regular tfme. ter, on petition of twenty members, may appoint a time for hold- incr the same not later than the 31st day of December in the same je&T, the meeting to be called as for the regular annual meeting, and this meeting in all particulars shall be taken as the annual jneeting of the society. 22 Dissolution of society if meet- ing not held. (4) In the event of the annual meeting not being held as pro- vided for in this Act, or in the event of the number of the members on the first day of July in any year being less than the number required for organization, the society shall not be entitled to re- ceive any further financial aid from the Legislature of the Pro- vince, and sTiall be deemed to have been dissolved, but the direct- ors elected at the last properly constituted meeting of the society prior to the said first day of July, shall be trustees of the assets of the society until the same are disposed of by order of the Minister, Delivery over (5) Upon being notified or becoming aware of the dissolution dipartment on of any society under the provisions of the preceding subsection, dissolution. ^^^ Superintendent may order the directors to deliver over to the Deparment the assets, if any remaining after all just debts have been paid. Annual report. 11. — (a) The board of directors shall present at such meeting a report of their proceedings for the past calendar year, in which shall be stated the names of all the members of the society, the amount of money expended in each of the lines of work open to horticultural societies, as out- lined in section 9 of this Act. "When an exhibition or exhibitions have been held and premiums awarded the report shall show t'Ee iotal amount offered in prizes at each, the amount paid in prizes, and the number of entries. (b) The board of directors shall present a detailed statement of the receipts and expenditures for the preceding year, also a statement of the assets and liabilities of the_ society, at the end of the year, certified to by the auditors. (c) The officers and other directors specified in clause (/) of section 7, and to be qualified as therein provided, shall be elected by the members, and auditors shall T)e ap- pointed for the ensuing year. 12. The said reports shall, if approved by the meeting, be placed on permanent record in the books of the society, and shall be sent not later than the first day of February to the Department, and the Minister may require all such reports to be made out on schedules to be supplied by the Department in such form as he may direct. Failure on the part of the society to comply with these requirements shall be sufficient to forfeit all claim to participation in the legislative grant. (a) The Minister may require that any of the statements referred to in the above reports shall be attested by affi- davit in such form as he may prescribe. 13. The members of each society may, at any annual meeting, or at a special meeting, of which two weeks' previous notice has been given in the manner required by subsection 2 of section 10, make, alter and repeal by-laws and regulations for the general management of the society; subject to these by-laws and regula- tions the board of directors shall have power to act for and in behalf of the society, and all pants and other funds of the society shall be received and expended under their direction. Detailed state- ment of accounts. Election of officers. Reports to be placed on record. Minister may require verification of report. By-laws. 23 14. The first meeting of tlie board of directors of a society Meetings of may be held on the day of the annual meeting, and the subsequent meetings may be held pursuant to adjournment, or be called by written notice given by authority of the president, or in his absence of the first vice-president, or in the absence or neglect of the president, or vice-president, then on the written notice of three of the directors, at least one week before the day appointed, and at any meeting five shall be a quorum. 16. Where two or more municipalities have been united under ^jj^oj^^^'^o^^o/gg the provisions of any former Act, to form a horticultural society, a dissolution of such union society may be effected in the follow- ing manner : A petition requesting the dissolution and the organ- ization of new societies shall be signed by a majority of the mem- bers residing in any one of the municipalities, and shall be for- warded to the Minister, and if the number so signing is equal to the number required for the organization of a new society as in section 7, the Minister shall direct that new societies shall be crrganized in the manner prescribed in section 7, and the former union society shall thereupon become dissolved and shall cease to exist. 16. On the dissolution of a union society the assets of the "^'eE^ot'™ °' said society shall be equitably apportioned or divided by arbitra- dissolution, tors, or a majortity of them, one to be appointed by the board of directors of each of the new societies, and another arbitrator to be chosen by the arbitrators so appointed, or, in the event of the said arbitrators failing to choose such arbitrator within ten days after being appointed, then the senior county judge or the stipendiary magistrate having jurisdiction in the district shall appoint such arbitrator. In case of disagreement the matter shall be referred to the senior judge of the county or the stipe'udiary magistrate for final decision. 17. On or before the first day of July of each year the Annual officers of every society shall send to the Department an affidavit number of that may be sworn to before any Justice of the Peace or Comm^is-™^™ *'^*' sioner for taking oaths, stating the number of members in good standing at the time of making the same. (b) Should it be found, within one year after the receipt by Penalty for the Department of a society's annual statement, that returns. an officer or officers of the society had wilfully made false returns with an intention to deceive, such officer or officers shall be liable upon summary conviction before a justice of the peace, to a fine not exceeding flOO or less than |20, or imprisonment in the common gaol of the county for a period not exceeding six months or less than two weeks. 18. Every horticultural society organized under or recognizeA ^1^'^^^^°'- by this Act shall be entitled to receive a grant out of the unappro- tnnds. priated moneys in the hands of the treasurer of the Province, the grant to be paid on the recommendation of the Superintendent, and on the following conditions : (a) That the number of paid-up members for the current year is not less than the number required for organization. (h) That all reports and returns required by this Act have been made to the satisfaction of the Superintendent. 2-1 Provincial fund in aid of societies. Exhibitions. Fraud in ob- taining prizes. Appointment of constables. Interference witli officers. (c) That the annual meeting has been held as required, and officers elected, in accordance with section 11. (d) That the objects of the said society, as given in section 9, have been strictly adhered to, and that none of the funds of the society, from whatever source derived, have been expended in any manner not in harmony with these subjects. 19. An amount not exceeding |8,000 shall be_ subject to division among the horticultural societies of the Province as fol- lows : (a) $2,400 shall be subject to division among all the societies in proportion to the total number of members of each society in the preceding year. (6) $4,800 shall be subject to division among all the societies in proportion to the total amount expended by each society during the preceding year for horticultural purposes, in accordance with the provisions of section 9. (c) In addition to the above, $800 shall be subject to division among the horticultural societies in cities having a population of SOjOOO or over, in proportion to the number of members in the preceding year. (d) Societies in the first year of their existence shall receive grants at the rate of one dollar for each paid-up mem- ber on the first day of July, said grant not to exceed one hundred dollars. 20. The exhibitions of any society shall be held within the limits of the municipality in which the society is organized, and shall be held at such place as shall afford sufficient accommodation for such exhibitions. 21. The board of directors of any society organized under this Act, on being made aware of any fraud having been committed by any member or exhibitor in the entry of any horticultural product in competition for prizes at any exhibition, shall have the power of withholding the payment of any prizes that may have been awarded by the judges to any members or exhibitors on such fraudulent, or any other entries made at any such exhi- bition. 22. Any justice of the peace having jurisdiction in any city, town or village, wherein an exhibition is held, shall on request of the president or executive committee of any horticultural so- ciety, appoint as many policemen or constables as may be required at the expense of the said society, whose duty it shall be to pro- tect the property of such society, and to eject all persons who may be improperly within the grounds, or on the premises, or who may behave in a disorderly manner, or otherwise violate any of the rules or regulations of such society. 23. If any person wilfully hinders or obstructs the officers or servants of any horticultural society in the execution of their duty, or gains admittance to the exhibitions of such society con- trary to the rules of such society, he shall be liable to a fine of not less than $1 and not more than $20, such fine to be enforced and collected as fines are usually collected, and to be paid over to such society for ite use and benefit ; and in default of payment the said 25 offender shall be imprisoned in the comnion gaol for a period of not more than 30 days. 24. All persons, not under eighteen years of age, who have at meVtin™** paid the membership subscription for the year then ensuing to any society to which this Act applies, shall have the right of vot- ing at the election of officers, and on all other questions submitted to the annual meetings of such societies. 26. No membership subscription for the ensuing year paid paidTfter pou at^ the annual meeting after the president or presiding officer has °p®°^- declared the poll open for the election of officers, shall entitle any person to vote for such officers. 26. Except as otherwise provided, a vacancy occurring by the ^ct°°'*^ '° death or resignation of any officer of a horticultural society or- ganized under this Act may be filled by the remaining officers thereof; and it shall be the duty of such officers, and they are hereby empowered to nominate and appoint a fit and proper per- to fill the office for the unexpired term of the person so dying or resigning; but in the event of the remaining officers being in- sufficient to form a quorum, or if for any reason a quorum cannot be obtained, then persons to fill the vacant offices shall be elected in manner provided in the next section. 27. — (1) In the event of an election of any officers of a society ^}J.*^^^„ not being held at the time or place herein directed, or being for any reason illegal or void, then the persons in office at the time when such officials should have been elected shall continue to be, and shall be deemed to be, the officers of such society, until their successors are legally appointed. (2) In the event of any such non-election, or illegal election, ^e'etki'gfor a special meeting of the members of such society shall be called, election, as soon as practicable for the election of such officers, such meet- ing to be called (in the manner provided in subsection 2 of sec- tion 10) by the president, or in his absence or on his neglect by the vice-president, or in the absence or on the neglect of the pre- sident and vice-president, then by three members of the society, and at such meeting the election of officers shall take place and the persons elected shall henceforth, until their successors are appointed, be and be deemed to be the officers of such society. 28. A special meeting of the directors of any society organ- S'eeUng of 'ized under this Act may be called by the president thereof, or in directors. his absence or on his neglect by the vice-president, or in the ab- sence or on the neglect of the president or vice-president, then by any three members of such body, of which meeting at least seven days' notice shall be given to each member; and except as otherwise provided for, a majority of the directors of any such body shall be a quorum. 29. — (1) The treasurer of every society organized under this g^|^ecuri*y Act before entering upon the duties of his office, shall give such security either by joint or several covenant with one or more sure- ties which may be in the form given in Schedule "C" of this Act, or otherwise, as the board of directors, or other managing officers may deem necessary, for the faithful performance of his duties, and especially for the duly acounting for and paying over of all moneys that may come into his hands. 26 Hoard to see that security given. Personal responsibility of oflficers. Municipal grants in aid of society. Repeal of in- consistent enactments. Commence- ment of Act. (2) It shall be the duty of every such board in each and every year to enquire into the sufficiency of the security given by such treasurer and report thereon; and where the same treasurer for any society is reappointed from year to year his reappointnient shall not be considered as a new term of office, but as a continu- ance of the former appointment, and any sucTi bond or_ security given to the society for the faithful performance of hip duties under such reappointment shall continue valid as against the parties thereto. (3) When the officers of a society neglect to obtain proper security they shall become personally responsible for all funds of the society in the hands of the treasurer. 30. The municipal council of any city, town or village, county or township of this Province, may grant or loan money in aid of any horticultural society formed within the limits of the munici- pality, when such society has made the returns required by this Act to be made to the Minister. 31. All sections of The Affriculture and Arts Act referring to horticultural societies are hereby repealed. 32. This Act shall come into force on the first day of Febru- ary, one thousand nine hundred and seven. SCHEDULE "A." (Section 7,) Declaration of Association. We, whose names are subscribed hereto, agree to form ourselves into a society, under the provisions of The Horticultural Societies Act, to be called the horticultural society of (naming the point that will be the headquarters of the society); and we hereby severally agree to pay to the treasurer the sums opposite our respective names; and we further agree to conform to the by-laws and rules of the said 'society Names ' ' $ ^^^ An Act respecting Agricultural Associations. His Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Legis- lative Assemby of the Province of Ontario, enacts as follows: — 1. This Act may be cited as The Agricultural AsociotioTC« short title. Act. 2. The word "Association" in this Act shall mean any one of "Association." the organizations referred to in section 3. The word "Minister" in this Act shall mean the Minister of " ^''^'^t^'"- Agriculture. 3. The following association, societijes- and organizations certain bodies shall be or continue to be bodies corporate under the provisions of oorporltioSs^^ this Act : — The Fruit Growers' Association of Ontario. The Entomological Society of Ontario. The Dairymen's Association of Eastern Ontario. The Dairymen's Association of Western Ontario. The Western Ontario Poultry Association. The Eastern Ontario Poultry Association. The Ontario Bee-Keepers' Association. The Ontario Agricultural and Experimental Union. The Dominion Sheep Breeders' Association. The Dominion Swine Breeders' Association. The Dominion Cattle Breeders' Association. The Canadian Horsemen's Association. The Ontario Horse Breeders' Association. The Ontario Vegetable Growers' Association. The Gardeners' and Florists' Association. 58 v., c. 11, s. 30; 59 V., c. 14, s. 9; 60 V., c. 11, s. 3; 63 V., c. 17, s. 6. {a) The name of the Cana,dian Horse Breeders' Association, incorporated under Th& Agriculture and Arts Act, is hereby changed to that of The Canadian Horsemen's Association. 4. The mmbership of each association shall consist of annual ^^™''®''^'''p- subscribers, and the membership fee shall be decided by by-law. 5. Each of such associations shall have a constitution and hy- a^Jj^^y-laws. laws under which the association shall be conducted, and the con- stitution and by-laws must be approved by the Minister, and any change, alteration or repeal of the same must be submitted to and approved by the Minister before it shall have force or effect. 6. Each association shall hold an annual meeting at such meeting. time and place as may be determined by by-law. 7. Each association at its annual meeting shall elect a board direstors. of directors, the number of directors, their representation of cer- tain districts or classes of members, and their mode of selection being determined by by-law. 8. The members may elect as director a person not a member ^j^<'^^°^^^^gj, of the association, but the person so elected must, within ten days, of association. become a member, and he shall be entitled to act as director only after he has become a member of the association. [27] 28 statements at annual meeting. President and vice-president. Power of officers. 9. At each anmial meeting the retiring o£Bcers shall present a, full report of their proceedings, and of the proceedings of the associations, and a detailed statement of the receipts and expendi- ture for the previous year, and of the assets and liabilities, duly audited ; a copy of the said report, a statement of the receipts and expenditure, a statement of the assets and liabilities, a list of the members and a list of the officers elected, and also such general information on matters of special interest to each association that such association has been able to obtain, shall be sent to the Min- ister within forty days after the holding of such annual meeting. 58 v., c. 11, s. 33. 10. The directors shall, from among themselves, elect a presi- dent and one or more vice-presidents. The directors shall, from among themselves or otherwise, elect a secretary and a treasurer, or a secretary-treasurer. 11. The d^' rectors shall have full power to act for and on behalf of the association, and all grants of money and other funds of the association shall be received and expended under their direction, subject, nevertheless, to the by-laws and regulations of the associ- ation. 58 v., c. 11, s. 32 (2). AtTDIT OF ACCOUNTS. Auditing of accounts. 12. The Minister may appoint a person who shall audit the accounts of any of the associations to which this Act applies, and such auditor shall present a report of the result of his audit to the officers of the association and also to the Minister. GENERAL PROVISIONS AS TO ELECTIONS. Right of voting. Vacancies in offices. DirecLorsto continue until succesiors lawfully elected. 13. The members of any association may by by-law provide that only those members who have paid their subscriptions at least one week in advance of the annual meeting shall be qualified to vote at the annual meeting for the election of directors. 14. Except as otherwise provided, a vacancy occurring by the death or resignation, or failure to qualify as member, of any officer or director may be filled by the remaining officers thereof ; and it shall be the duty of such officers, and they are hereby empowered, to nominate and appoint a fit and proper person to fill the office for the unexpired term of the person so dying or resigning ; but in the event of the remaining officers being insufficient to form a quorum, or if, for any reason, a quorum cannot be obtained, then persons to fill the vacant offices shall be elected in manner pro- vided in the next section. 58 V., c. 11, s. 38. 15.— (1) In the event of an election of any directors of any association being held at the time or place directed by by-law or being for any reason illegal and void, then the persons in office at the time when such officers or directors should have been elected shall continue to be, and shall be deemed to be, the officers of such association until their successors are legally appointed. (2) In the event of any such non-election or illegal election, a special meeting of the members of such association shall be called as soon as practicable for the election of such directors ; such meet- ing to be called (in the manner provided in subsection 2 of section 2W 10) by the president, or, in his absence or on his neglect, by the vice-president, or in the absence or on the neglect of the president and vice-president, then by any three members of the association; and at such meeting the election of officers shall take place, and the persons elected shall thenceforth, until their suc- cessors are appointed, be and be deemed to be the officers of such association. 58 V., c. 11, s. 39. MEETING OF DIRECTORS. 16. A special meeting of the directors of any association special organized under this Act may be called by the president, thereof, di?lctofs° or, in his absence or on his neglect, by the vice-president, or, in the absence or on the neglect of the president or vice-president, then by any three members of such body, of which meeting at least seven days' notice shall be given to each member; and, except as , otherwise provided for, a majority of the directors of any such body shall be a quorum. 58 V., c. 11, s. 40. SECURITY BY TREASURER. 17. — (1) The treasurer of every association organized under security to be this Act before entering upon the duties of his office shall give frJasure^r. such security, either by joint or several covenant with one or more sureties, which may be in the form given in Schedule E to this Act or otherwise, as the board of directors or other managing officers may deem necessary, for the faithful performance of his duties, and especially for the duly accounting for and paying over all moneys which may come into his hands. (2) It shall be the duty of every such board in each and every ^3"^ secMity"^ year to inquire into the sufficiency of the security given by such treasurer and report thereon; and where the same treasurer for any society is re-appointed from year to year his re-appointment shall not be considered as a new term of office, but as a continua- tion of the former appointment, and any bond or security given to the society for the faithful performance of his duties under such re-appointment shall continue valid as against the parties thereto. 58, Y., c. 11, s. 41. 18. Each of the said associations shall be entitled to receive i-'s^siative from unappropriated moneys in the hand of the treasurer of the Province a specified sum to be placed in the estimates and voted by the Legislature for each year on the following conditions : (a) That the number of bona fide members is at least fifty. (b) That the secretary of each of the said associations shall, on or before the 1st day of September in each year, transmit to the Minister an affidavit, which may be sworn to before any justice of the peace, or Commissioner for taking affidavis, stating the number of members who have paid their subscriptions for the current year, and the total amount of such subscriptions. (c) That the general provisions of this Act applying to such associations have been complied with. (d) That none of the funds of the association, from whatever source derived, have been expended in a manner inconsistent with the purposes of organization of the said association. 30 Forfeiture of 19. If an association cease for twelve consecutive months to Srtfler do business as required by tbis Act and by ^ll'^'l'^^^l^^'J'll laws and rules, or if, the Minister is satisfied, after an enquiry at which the association was given due notice to appear, ttiat tne business of the association is not being properly conducted, tlie Minister may declare the corporate powers of the association tor- feited. WINTER FAIRS. taoo^omi'ed 20. The Ontario Horticultural Exhibition, The Ontario Pro- mcorporated. ^_^^ ^.^^^^ ^^.^ ^^^ ^^^ ^^^^^^^ Ontario Live Stock and Poultry Show shall be corporate bodies under this Act, and tto^e Lieutenant-Governor in Council may provide that the sections o± this Act as far as practicable shall apply to these bodies, and may prescribe such constitution, rules and regulations as are deemea necessary. INCORPORATION OF OTHER ASSOCIATIONS. Admission of 21. Upon the petition of any association not subject to the other societies, p^^^.^.^^ of this Act, but formed for the purpose of advancing the interests of any branch of agriculture, being presented to the Lieutenant-Governor in Council, the Lieutenant-Governor may by Order-in-Council declare that the sections of this Act shall apply to the association or society so petitioning, and thereafter the said sections shall apply to such association or society in the same. manner and to the same extent as if it had been incorporated under this Act, and every such Order-in-Council shall be pub- lished in "The Ontario Gazette" for two weeks following the date of the passing of such Order-in-Council. ADVISORY BOARD. Advisory board 22. — (a) An advisory board for live stock may be formed to advise the Minister regarding matters of interest to the live stock industry. The Lieutenant-Governor may by Order-in-Council direct how the board shall be constituted and may prescribe the duties and powers of the board. Aiiowanc* lor] (^) Members of the advisory board shall receive an allowance expense . ^^^ time attending meetings of the board, or a committee of the board; also the necessary travelling expenses in attending such iheetings. farmers' and women's INSTITUTES. womeli-s""'^ 23.— (a) The formation of Farmers' Institutes and of Wom- institutes. en's Institutes for the purpose of disseminating information in regard to agriculture, and of improving domestic life, shall be permitted under this Act. (b) The Lieutenant-Governor in Council may, upon recom- mendation of the Minister, make rules and regulations providing for the number and location of the Farmers' Institutes and 31 Women's Institutes, for the general guidance and direction of the same, and fixing the grants and conditions upon which the grants are to be paid. 24. All the sections of The Agriculture and Arts Act having P^p^'^'j"^^^^ reference to the associations mentioned in section 3 of this Act enactments, and also to Farmers' Institutes are hereby repealed.