WINTER SHOW ASSOCIATION TO CABLE ENGLAND IMMEDIATELY FOR AUXILIARY POWER EQUIPMENT

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 13, Issue 26, 29 November 1948, Page 5

WINTER SHOW ASSOCIATION TO CABLE ENGLAND IMMEDIATELY FOR AUXILIARY POWER EQUIPMENT

Definite Decision At Last

to cable to Englaiid immediately for an auxiliary power plant at a cost of not more than £BOO, was made by the executive committee of the Bay of Plenty Winter Show Association, after permission Had been obtained from an extraordinary general meeting at Whakatane on Thursday night. .

;. 1 This action was taken following a long discussion by the meeting, which recommended that the plant be purchased, with a view to holding a show next year and that urgent repairs be done to. the building, including the construction of new lavatories. x Just over 20 people attended the ;aneeting, which was presided over T>y the president of the association, :Mr H. G. Warren. Outlining the purpose of the meeting, Mr Warren said the main ques--tion was whether the association would be justified in going to the »expense of buying a power plant. “Some of our members say we .-Should take a courageous view and obtain a lighting plant,” he said. “Others are not in favour and feel the expense is not warranted, as it will cost from £7OO to £BOO. But if the association does not supply it’s own power, the way the electricity position is at present we won’t be able to have a show. And if we are to carry on here on the present site, as I think we will, then we will have to hold a show.” Urgent Repairs Needed there were also urgent to be carried out to the "building, he continued, and the health inspector, who had been very patient up to v the present, required new lavatories and dressing rooms to be ••constructed and accessible from the hall. The total' cost of renovation, including painting and wiring, would be about £750. “We are trying to amalgamate with the A. and P. Society,” Mr Warren added, “and I think we will. However, it may be some time before we can transfer the hall, to the show grounds. In the meantime we must have some revenue to carry •on.” He then left the matter open to the meeting, to decide whether to carry on and buy the plant and hold a show, go into liquidation or go into recess until power was available to run a show. Amalgamation Urged Mr A. J. Canning said he did not think a successful show could be held on the present site. He urged the association to go all out for the amalgamation with the A. and !P. Society. “I don’t think we should spend too much money on the building at present,” he declared, “as I have heard it rumoured that roads may be coming through the site in the Government’s 10 year scheme.” Mr Warren then asked the- bor■ough electrical engineer, Mr F. W. Lysaght, to explain the power posi-y tion. " / He said it was very grave and he did not think any power would be available for shows, until about 1952 at the earliest. The amount of electricity for consumption de-i pended entirely on the weather. The successful shows now being held in the Dominion all had their power supplied from an auxiliary plant, Mr Lysaght remarked. He 'described the plant under consideration for purchase. It is an excellent job, made in England, petrol driven, with a power of 25 kilowatts.

“If the committee feels it must 'Carry on then it will have no option but to get the plant. It would be a good buy and will do the job,” he concluded.

Mr Warren explained that the committee had gone into the matter very thoroughly and had hoped to be able to hire the plant out when not in use. But the response to enquiries had not been good. It must also be remembered that when the association finished with it there would be quite a number 'of such plants on the market. Present Site Too Small?

That the present site was too small to hold a show and the expenditure to provide power was not warranted, was argued by Mr B. S. Barry. He thought the association ■should concentrate on the amalgamation, but bring the hall up to date in the meantime, until It could be moved to the Domain. However, in the event of there being a liquidation, the public of Whakatvaa should be given an .opportunity "through the Borough Council to ac--quire the hall. The town was short of large halls for recreational purposes. In fact this was the only big one in the district.

Mr Warren said that Mr Barry Tiad stated the position correctly. Put the committee wanted to know

where the revenue was coming from to pay for the renovating and repairing of the building and equipment.

Show Must Go On The first member to speak in favour of buying the plant and holding a show was the vice-president, Mr L. R.. Spring. He declared, that if the association was to remain alive, it must hold shows and to do so it must have power. He felt that the purchasing of a plant was justified and even if it were not payed for, it could be sold without loss. To go info recess for four or five years was a mistake and, while it was a very big scheme to hold a show, he was prepared to stand by the president and the ’committee and accept the responsibility. Mr F. M. Abbott, a member of the executive, supported Mr Spring and said he thought there was plenty of room, but the main thing was to hold a show. Even if the association stayed where it was now, said the secretary, Mr-H. Morgan, it would still have to spend over £7OO in renovations. ' There was further discussion and then Mr Canning moved that the association purchase a power plant at a cost of not more than £BOO with the intention of holding a show in 1949, and that urgent repairs be carried out to the building. It was seconded by Mr Abbott. The motion was carried by a majority. There was one objection and a few abstained from voting. * Following the meeting the committee met and decided to cable for the plant, through Mr Abbott, immediately.