BANQUET TO A MINISTER.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 451, 9 March 1909, Page 4

BANQUET TO A MINISTER.

SOME RECRIMINATION. (BT TELEGBAFH—EPECIAt COBKESPONDENT.) Christchurch, March 8. A lively discussion took place at the annual meeting of tho Ashburton Agricultural and Pastoral Association on Saturday in regard to what was termed by one of the speakers "a needless expenditure of the association's 'funds." Ho charged tho committee (of which ho is a member) with expending a sum in entertaining the Hon. 11. M'Nab, who opened the last winter show at Ashburton, and also with contributing to the presentation to Professor Lowrie (lato of Lincoln College). Mr. Allen stated that the funds of the association had been used for the purposes of paying the fares and expenses of a few select members who had attended tho presentation ceremony. Ho went on to say that Mdinary members of the committee, and of tho association, had not been invited to attond Mr. M'Nab's banquet- They were not good enough, and such functions were only for "the select and classical."' Tho president said that tho banquet to the Hon. it. M'Nab had been open to any member of tho association. The members who had attended the presentation to Professor Lowrio had paid their own expenses, and the amount of tho contribution to tho presentation fund had been raised by voluntary subscriptions'. Mr. Thos. Bullock remarked that farmers in the Ashbnrton County failed to take that intorest in the association which such an important organisation warranted. Tho Ashburton Racing Club gave considerably over £1000 in stakes, wrhilo tho Agricultural and Pastoral Association only gave a total of about £500 in prize-money. Was racing of more importance than agricultural and pastoral matters? Ho supposed that tho Agricultural and Pastoral Association and the Racing Club should endeavour to amalgamate on the question of a. combined'show ground and racecourse.