WINTER SHOW ASSOCIATION

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 1, Issue 87, 13 November 1939, Page 5

WINTER SHOW ASSOCIATION

ELECTION OF OFFICERS ,JS T EW FEATURE IN PROGRAMME '' , • One of the features in the programme of the Bay of Plenty Winter Show Association for next year will be District Courts for farmers, modelled on the lines of the Courts produced by the Women's Division. This was decided at the annual meeting of the Association'held on Thursday evening. The retiring president, Mr W. Sullivan, reviewed the past year's activities, and the minutes of the previous annual meeting were read and confirmed. Mr Sullivan spoke then for some time on the services that the late Mr J. Arres had rendered to the Association in his capacity as ■ secretary. "Mr Arres acted as secretary of this body for six-or seven years," said Mr Sullivan, "and during that time he did an enormous amount of ' work for us. By work and personality, he assisted and he gave his services free. Not only Avas he interested in the Winter Show Association, his efforts being directed in assisting other matters of public imnortr ance." A motion of sympathy Avith Mrs z Arres was passed, the members stand ing, and the secretary instructed to write to Mrs Arres conveying the Association's condolences. The balance sheet was..considered by Mr C. E. Gibberd to be most satisfactory and Mr F. B. Cutler also congratulated the retiring president on his report. One thing he was glad to hear the president mention, said Mr Cutler, was the drive for increas«ed membership. "Difficulties may occur during the -year," said Mr Cutler, "and with a

solid membership they will be more easily overcome. I hope that membership is one of the things that the incoming committee will look after."

Officers. The Patrons, Mr A. G. Hultquist, M.P. and Mr F. W. Doidge M.P., were re-elected. Nominations for the chair produced a variety of excuses for declining the* office. Mr A. J. Canning first proposed that Mr Sullivan accept a further term but Mr Sullivan rear soned that "a change of blood was necessary" and suggested that Mr B. S. Barry would make an ideal president. This brought Mr Barry to his feet with the comment that he "had not served his apprenticeship with the Association," and he thought that Mr Canning would be more suit •able for the position. This nomination was seconded and Mr Canning took the chair. Mr W. Sullivan assumed the position of vice-president and other offiicers elected are as follows:— Treasurer: Mr C. G. Caisley. Auditor: Mr F. Prideanx, F.P.A., N.Z. Secretary: Mr L. R. Spring F.P.A.. N.Z., A.A.I.S. Executive Committee: Messrs A.-Hall, H.-G. Rand, J. Bell G. Booth, J. Waterhouse, F. B. Cutler, L. B. Savage, A. Bridger, and _B. S. Barry. Entertainment Committee. Among the business discussed by the newly-elected council was the necessity for the provision of an entertainment committee. Mr Sullivan said that the function of such a com mittee was to control dancing, concerts, etc. for the benefit of the association. Mr Sullivan stated that it was almost impossible to get firstclass outside entertainment for the show and if a competent committee was charged with that task it would be catering for that large section of

the public which considered that it was not getting it's shilling's worth entertainment was provided. Mr Sullivan-considered that the matter was not urgent, however, and •suggested that it be deferred until two months before the show. This suggestion was adopted. Agricultural Committee. The question of nominations for the Agricultural Committee, was a further opportunity for Mr W. Sullivan to praise work done for the Show Association. He referred to the outstanding contribution of Mr G. R. Taylor, Department of Agriculture, in promoting this part of the Association's activities. In addition to Mr Taylor, Messrs G. R. Kent, E. .J. Bell, F. Kirk and W. A. McCracken were appointed. Young Farmers' Courts. Mr C. E. Gibberd proposed that District Courts for farmers be instituted and modelled or* the lines of the Courts wfribli were exhibited by

the Women's Division. He said that the surrounding country could bcdivided into districts and thought further that a Maori court could be arranged. He was prepared to contribute £2 2s towards the prize money for this section if his suggestion ipet with the approval of the meeting.

The president, Mr Canning, expressed the opinion that the idea majr conflict with the Young Farmers' Clubs but Mr Sullivan countered this objection with the observation that the courts could be raised from those districts not having such clubs and thought I hat. as with the natives in the FS.uatoki area, the Maoris could put up quite a good show.

Elaborating his former remarks, Mr Gibberd was of the opinion that far from conflicting with Young Farmers' Clubs, those organisations would serve as a nucleus for the proposed District Courts, and would no doubt, take an active interest in the proposals if good prizes were forthcoming. Mr Canning also volunteered a subscription of £2 2s for prize money Drive for Membership. In his report, delivered before retiring as president, Mr Sullivan referred to the need "to marshal our efforts and make a drive for greatlyincreased membership." The same speaker brought forward this subject again as the last discussion on general business.

"We will have to have a campaign for membership," Mr Sullivan said. "There are businessmen in this town, and some of the public too, who are not members, and who owe a duty to organisations of this kind. They should certainly lend moral, and perhaps, financial support."