15Directions of branch association

15 Directions of branch association

15 Directions of branch association

(1) For all the purposes of this Act and anything required to be done thereunder, the total number of persons whose names appear as members in the roll or register of any branch association shall be deemed to be a branch association, and each of such persons shall be deemed to be a member of such branch association, and the direction of any branch association shall be deemed to have been given whenever:

(a) a resolution has been passed by a majority of not less than three-fourths of such persons being members of such branch association who shall be upwards of the age of eighteen years, and whose names have for at least six months prior to the holding of the meeting convened for the purpose of proposing such resolution appeared as members in the roll or register relating to such branch association and who are personally present and vote in respect of any such resolution at a meeting of which notice specifying the intention to propose such resolution has been duly given, and

(b) such resolution has been confirmed by a majority of such persons being members of such branch association whose names have for at least six months prior to the holding of the meeting convened for the purpose of confirming such resolution appeared as members in the roll or register relating to such branch association present, and voting in respect of any such resolution at a meeting of which notice specifying the intention to propose such resolution has been duly given, and held at an interval of not less than fourteen days nor more than five weeks from the date of the meeting at which such resolution was first passed.

(2) At any meeting mentioned in this section, unless a poll is demanded by at least five members who are upwards of the age of eighteen years, a declaration of the chairman that the resolution has been carried shall be deemed conclusive evidence of the fact without proof of the number or proportion of the votes recorded in favour of or against the same.

(3) Notice of any meeting shall, for the purposes of this Act, be deemed to be duly given whenever a notice setting out the object of such meeting and the nature of the proposed resolution, together with the day, hour, and place of the holding thereof, and signed by the president or one of the vice-presidents for the time being of the said branch association, or in case of her or their neglect for seven days or absolute refusal after request in writing made by two of the members of such branch association who would be entitled to vote at any such meeting, or in the case of there being no president or vice-president, signed by the same number of such persons as aforesaid, shall be advertised (one week prior to such meeting) in the case of a branch association in the county of Cumberland once in one Sydney daily newspaper, or in the case of a country branch association outside the county of Cumberland once in a newspaper circulating in the district in which is situated such country branch association and posted on the door of the office of the said branch association or if there shall be no such office then on the door of the building usually used for meetings by such branch association at least one week immediately preceding the day on which such meeting shall be appointed to take place, and the meeting shall be deemed to be duly held whenever such notice is given and meeting held in pursuance of such notice and the conditions next following are observed. Only those persons shall be entitled to vote at any such meeting who are members of the said branch association, and are personally present at such meeting, and are of the age of eighteen years or upwards, and whose names have for a period of six months prior to the holding of the meeting appeared as members in the roll or register relating to such branch association, and such persons shall be entitled each to one vote only, and the chairman of every such meeting as aforesaid shall be the president of the said branch association or, in case of her refusal, absence, or incapacity or there being no president, then a person chosen by the major part of such persons as aforesaid present and entitled to vote at the meeting, and the chairman of such meeting shall not have a deliberative vote, but, in case of an equality of votes on any question, shall have a casting vote.