Extract from the minutes of the SDNQ annual meeting held at Newton Surmaville, 23 July 1917:
‘Present: Rev. Prebendary E.H. Bates Harbin (in the Chair), The Very Rev the Dean of Wells, The Rev. S.D.M. Price, The Rev. Canon C.H. Mayo (Dorset Editor), and the Rev. G.W. Saunders (Somerset Editor)
Apologies: Rev. Prebendary W.E. Daniel, W.B. Wildman
A letter was read from Rev. F.W. Weaver announcing his resignation on grounds of ill-health of the Somerset Editorship, which he had held since 1890, succeeding Mr Hugh Norris. Rev. G.W. Saunders had consented to take the vacant post.
Canon Mayo presented the accounts for 1916: Receipts £83-16-9, an increase of £14-3-2 on 1915. Payments £66-2-11, an increase of £2-18-8. As a result, the deficit of £4-9-8½ had been turned into a balance of £13-4-1½. There was also a reserve fund in Consols, face value of certificate £130-18-0.
The printers Messrs Sawtell of Sherborne had written to say that the price of paper had increased so much that it would be necessary to raise their charge for printing each number from £12-15-0 to £14 including the usual two plates.
The chairman stated that it had been customary to vote an honorarium to the Editors for their services at the completion of each volume, but that it had been dropped since the war. It was unanimously agreed to disburse an honorarium of £5 to each editor.
It having appeared from the accounts that Canon Mayo had paid for the Dorset illustrations in the current volume, he was heartily thanked for his kindness.
A discussion took place as to the possibility of increasing the number of subscribers, at present amounting to about 240.’
(‘3 loose manuscript sheets of ruled paper, being the minutes of the annual meeting held at Newton Surmaville, Monday 23 July 1917.’)