Rushden Allotment Society
Over 200 Acres Under Cultivation - Satisfactory Finances

Last night the annual meeting of the Rushden Permanent Allotment and Small Holdings Society, Ltd., was held in the B.W.T.A. Hall, Mr. T. Swindall, J.P. (president), being in the chair. There was a good attendance.

The annual report was as follows: We are pleased to say the financial position of the society is very satisfactory. We have been enabled to pay off the remaining loans. The committee has decided to reduce the interest on the purchase balances from 6 per cent, to 5 per cent, as from Jan. 1st this year. The payments on account of the land purchased have been very satisfactory during the past year. The committee thanks all who contributed to the prize fund, which was much appreciated. The land at present under cultivation is as below: Rented from Mr. Sartoris, 76a. 2r. 29p.; rented from Mr. Clark, 27a.; purchased land, 113a. 2r. 13½p.; total, 217a. 1r. 2½p. The membership is 936.

The report was adopted.

The President spoke upon the work of the year, and said he was pleased to see a good number present, which showed they took an interest in the working of the society. He was pleased to say that the financial position was very satisfactory.

The financial statement was read by the secretary (Mr. W. Gutteridge), who also replied to various questions, and the statement was adopted. The profit on the year was £23 1s. 10d., and the assets exceeded the liabilities by £970 1s. 4d.

The election of officers resulted: President Mr. T. Swindall, re-elected; vice-president, Mr. L. Baxter, re-elected; secretary, Mr. W. G. Gutteridge, re-elected; auditor, Mr. W. C. Cattell, re-elected; committee, four required, J. Hornsby, H. Smith, E. Nichols, and T. Barker.

Rushden Allotment Association - The Purchase of Wilson’s Pits - Election of Officers
The annual meeting of the Rushden Permanent Allotment and Small Holdings Society Ltd., was held in the B.W.T.A. Hall, Rushden, on Wednesday, Mr T Swindall (president) taking the chair, supported by Mr W Gutteridge (secretary), and members of the committee.

Mr Swindall presented the annual report, stating that the committee had been compelled to consider the question of the purchase of “Wilson’s Pits” having had notice to terminate their tenancy on March 28th next. The tenants had been called together, and a large number of them were in favour of purchasing the field and had made application for plots (about half the field). In view of that the committee had purchased the field and plans and conditions would be ready shortly. The land at present under cultivation totalled 184a 1r 2½p, of which 76a 2r 29p were rented from Mr A H Sartoris and 107a 2r 13½p formed the purchased land. The membership was 958; 46 had left and 47 had joined.

It was decided not to charge for management anyone who had no land, but much dissatisfaction was expressed against the attitude of non-members, who benefited by the association’s collection of rates in lots, whereas if collected singly the rates for each man would be much greater.

The financial statement was presented by the Secretary. After various committee members and others had expressed the opinion that the Rushden Sports Ltd., were treating the association very unfairly in not paying their share of the upkeep of the short stock road, the report and minutes were adopted.

The officers elected were: President, Mr T Swindall; vice-president, Mr C S Wooding (Mr J Hornsby retiring after long service); secretary, Mr W Gutteridge; to fill the committee vacancies, Messrs W Hinde, J Smith, W Clark, and E Wrighton; judges, Messrs Childs, Cook, White and Hardwick; auditor, Mr W C Cattell.

Rushden Allotment Association - Scheme for Assisting Unemployed - Substantial Balance in Hand
The annual meeting of the Rushden Permanent Allotment and Small Holdings Society was held at the B.W.T.A. Hall, Rushden, on Wednesday evening, Mr Tom Swindall presiding.

The chairman presented a report to the effect that last season the committee took part in the Government scheme to assist the unemployed and partly employed with seeds and tools, a number of members taking advantage of these facilities. This year the Government was not taking part, but the scheme was being taken up by the Society of Friends in connection with the National Allotments Society.

Mr Swindall added that any allotment holder in the town could take part in the scheme, but all applications would have to go through the Society.

The report also stated that the Society had become affiliated to the National Allotments Society, taking two shares, and had taken part in the formation of a County Federation, which, the committee thought, would prove a very useful organisation.

The condition of the Society continued to be satisfactory. The whole of the land was let with the exception of two or three plots in “Short Stocks”, but the committee regretted that in the matter of cultivation there was room for improvement on some of the plots.

Land under cultivation exceeded 161 acres, and the membership on December 31st was 1041.

Mr W Gutteridge (secretary) presented the balance-sheet, showing a profit of £56 and a balance of £2,511. Rents amounted to £226, and the nominal value of the land was £1,493.

Reference was made to the condition of the road near the Town Football Club’s ground, and Mr Swindall stated that the committee were prepared to meet the other parties concerned, and would pay a good share towards putting the road in proper repair.

It was decided that the judging of member’s plots should take place on the last Saturday in June or the first in July.

Messrs T Swindall (president), C S Wooding (vice-president), and W Gutteridge (secretary), with the five retiring committee members, were all re-elected, as were the members of the judging committee.

Nine new members were admitted at the meeting.