POWER DIFFICULTY IS BIG PROBLEM FOR WINTER SHOW ASSOCIATION: PROSPECTS ARE GRIM

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 13, Issue 9, 18 October 1948, Page 5

POWER DIFFICULTY IS BIG PROBLEM FOR WINTER SHOW ASSOCIATION: PROSPECTS ARE GRIM

Though there was no lack of enthusiasm amongst those members of the Bay of Plenty Winter Show Association (Inc.) who attended the annual meeting on Thursday night, there seems little likelihood of reviving the show this season or, indeed, before 1951.

Chief difficulty is power. Mr F. W. Lysaght, Borough Electrical engineer, attended the meeting, and his remarks made it clear that the president, Mr H. G. Warren was doing no rhore than stating the gloomy facts when he said, in his annual report, that the electric power position in the Borough of Whakatane is such that unless an auxiliary plant can be hired for Show purposes by the Association, there appears to be no possibility of reviving the Show for several years. It is not a matter of light only, power is necessary to drive the machines and exhibitors will not hire space without it. Mr Warren added that the Mayor, Mr Barry, and Mr Lysaght, went to considerable trouble last year in an endeavour to •hire a plant to enable the Show to be held in June, but without success.

Is Cost Justified? To buy a power plant- is going to cost something like £SOO, and to restore the building from its present dilapidated state is estimated - to face the Association with a bill of £740, and there seems to be some doubt whether that expenditure (over £1200) would be justified on the present site with the projected amalgamation with the A. and P. Society still a possibility, though held up at the moment by objectors to the showgrounds proposals. In view of all those adverse factors, the annual meeting' found itself unable-to make any definite de-, cisions on immediate, future policy, but appointed a sub-committee consisting of Messrs L. R. Spring, F. M. Abbott, W. Armstrong, and the president and secretary, Messrs Warren ,and T. H. Morgan, to go into the whole question of power supply or plant and repairs and maintenance of the building.. Problem Of Building Concerning the building, Mr Warren had these remarks to make in his report:— “Although our financial position is sound (the only liability being £785 8s Debenture Stock and Interest accrued thereon) we, in my opinion, have reached the stage when the members must face up to considerable expenditure in connection with the Winter Show Building itself. The Executive Committee recently inspected, the building and decided to obtain an estimate for painting, re-wiring, and additional lavatory accommodation. Your Executive Committee had hoped that this expenditure would have been avoided by transferring the build--ing to the Show Grounds, as a Recreation Hall, under the amalgamation scheme, when the foregoing expenditure would have become part of the cost of the scheme. These hopes appear to have been dashed to the ground. ' “Unless members take a keener interest in the affairs of the Association I fear that the time may come when your executive may be compelled to dispose of the present building. As business men we eanjnot let the building rot away and we cannot keep up the maintenance without sufficient revenue to pay for the repairs. I wish to remind you that ours is the only large Recreation Hall for hire to the general ! public in the whole district.”

j Finances Sound j Accumulated funds amounted to £ll6B 16s 8d showing an increase of £126 11s 9d for the year as against a loss of £IOO 6s 2d the previous year. The cash position had imI proved showing an increase of £lB9 5s 8d on the previous year. The ! improved position shown by the ! Balance Sheet was due mainly to the receipt of one-third share of proceeds from the Combined Gymkhana . held in Whakatane A. and P. grounds last autumn, increase in hall hire £32 5s lOd, the splendid response of members to the secre- | tarv’s appeal for subscriptions, I which rose' from £8 8s in 1947 to £76 I 13s in 1948, and a voluntary reduction in secretary’s honorarium. | “1 wish to take this opportunity j on behalf of members of this Association of thanking the members of the Hunt Club and A. and P. Association for accepting us as a partner ! in the successful Gymkhana last autumn,” said Mf Warren, concluding his report. “I desire to pay a tribute to Mr Hamilton Morgan ! for the able and conscientious mariner in which he has carried oi;t the duties of secretary, and I thank all i those who have supported the Association.” Officers Elected 'j The meeting elected the following officers: — I Patron, Mr W. Sullivan, M.P.;

president, Mr H. G. Warren; vicepresident, Mr L. R. Spring; executive committee, Messrs W. G. Howat, G. Otley, A. J. Canning, W. Armstrong, A. J. Mclsaac, A. Hall, F. M. Abbott, H. B. Cutler, and W. Whittaker; treasurer, Mr C. G. Caisley; auditors, Messrs Prideaux, Bridger and Alexander.