"STEADILY FORWARD."

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1808, 22 July 1913, Page 8

"STEADILY FORWARD."

MANAWATU A. & P. SOCIETY, "Progress" was the keynote of Mr. T. R. Header's speech when, as president of the Manawatu and West Coast Agricultural and Pastoral Association, he occupied the chair at tho recent annual meeting of that body. Mr. Hodder pointed out that this was the twenty-seventh year of the association's existence, and he said that the march had been 6teadily forward. l'Yom 1908, when -there was an income of .£5732, there had been a decline for four years, but in the last year tho receipts had gone up to ,£7318. -He paid a tribute to Lord Islington, who took an active interest in agricultural affairs, and delivered some very educative addresses thereon. He remarked that Lord Liverpool was proving a worthy successor, and a tactful and gracious administrator. A splendid exhibition was made at the last spring show, but even that was beaten by the winter show held -this year, which would take a lot of beating. The association had dci cided to issue free tickets to all schools t within 50 miles of Palmerston; tho receipts : had not suffered, and the result, he believed,, had been beneficial to the children as a whole. With regard to the Agricultural Department's exhibit, he thought it would be a good idea, if tho Government established a hall of its own, where lectures could be given and .display ' left for tho edification of fariri;ers' for two or three weeks;' -The chairman praised the work of the Poultry Association, and especially Mr. C. H. Pickering. A turnip-growing competition had been instituted, which, it was hoped, would -grow as the years went by. A few years ago they established a competition, for tho best-kept dairy farm, and ho thought that it ought to be revived now. If they reiustituted.' this competition, he thought tho dairy coflipauies in this district would help the association in the matter of prizes. Tho conferences of various agricultural bodies formed a very'important feature of the last show, and. it appeared as if in the future the association would have to make more provision: in tho meeting-room. The hounds display was an excellent feature of the winter show. At the spring show there were record receipts, and for the first time p. special stock train was run. The presi- j dent thanked mombers of the committee and ;association, and the business people and citizens of Palmerston, for their support 'to the prize fund. The total value of prize money and trophies this year was i;Bs3,'exceeding any other year by .£2OO. Perhaps the most pleasing thing was the 'vigorous live membership of the Association. This year, after a purging of the roll, the membership stood at 1364. There had been a strenuous canvassing on the part of members of the. committee, who had not previously taken much interest in this matter, and to-day it would bo safe to say that there were IGOO financial members, and that this association had tho largest membership in the Dominion. Tho association had acquired a section from' Pascal Bros., in which connection the bulk of the work devolved upon the late president, Mr. Conway, assisted by Messrs.' Jacobs and M'Hardy. In recognition of Sir. Conway's services, Mr. M'Hardy, had generously presented a 50 guinea cup to the association, and similarly Mr. Carr had presented a cup of tho'same value. With the incoming of a progressive council, and the retention of. an ever progressive -Mayor, tho association had becu granted a remission of rates, and in return had given valuable concessions to the town.- ■ The Wheeler Memorial pavilion had been completed, and he would say that no finer sheep pavilion would be found in the-Dominion. Thoso who worked with Mr. Wheeler knew something of the unselfishness ho had displayed, and they had done something to erect a worthy memorial to-him. Tlio speaker suggested that a tablet should be inscribed and .set in the building to commemorate the late Mr. Wheeler's work. The agricultural hall hail been extended by Sfll't. and a handsome concrete entrance hall had been erected. A portion of tho banking of the oval had been undertaken, and he thought it ought to lie called Dalrymple's bank: lie believed every member of tlm association was proud-of the last year's record. The receipts had bean .£2OOO more than in any other year, and improvements to tho value of over X2OOO had been clYected. They had further to go, however. ( 'The old cattle pens should be removed and a pavilion ereoted, and tho Poultry Association should bo provided with better accommodation. Ho thanked all the members of ihe committee for tho support they had given him on all occasions. Members had given up both time and money in the iifterests of the work. As for the secretary, he was painstaking, thorough, courteous, and obliging. There had been no friction between Mr. Penny and members of tho oommittee. (Applause.)

EGMONT SHOW. Tho secretary of tho Egmont A. and P. Association (Mr. E. G. Treweek) advises that tlio dates of tho association's thirtieth annual spring show and ICennol Club Show have been fixed for November 2G and 27, at Hawera.