WESTLAND A. & P. ASSOCIATION.

Hokitika Guardian, 23 August 1924, Page 1

WESTLAND A. & P. ASSOCIATION.

ANNUAL AI KKTIXG. Kill DA A', AUGUST ‘J-. The annual meeting of the As.soeintion was held in the County Chambers Hokitika, at ILIA p.m. Present:—Air D. .Jo I lie* (Presideiit.i and II members. The minutes of the last annual meeting. were read anti confirmed. ANNUAL IUCPOIiT. In reviewing the' past year, and reporting t n helialf of your Fxecutivc ! have to lecord that steady progress has been made hv the Association, although it is evident Unit (here is not that amount of sustained interest and life existing among Alemhers generally which is r.;'itiisite to make it Lite useful fa; tor that micli a Duly should be throughout tli" whole of ill • District. .Most of the active work is left to the willing lew. which hampers tho results naturally expo, ted. The annual show is not the only aim and oliiet t of an Agricultural and Pastoral Association, between which events there is ant to

he a period <T suspension and inertia, unless attendance is kept un at the various meet hips, where varied and important matters come forward for discussion and decision. . eetiuos.—Twelve Committee .Meet-

ings have been hold during the year, at u bit'll there has been a:i average alteildanee of seven .Members out, of a

total executive ol twellty-fniir. However, sum..' individual Alemhers have attended much more than the average •staled. Two meetings lapsed for want i f a tpioi'iim. Annual Show.—The Niijetccnlh Animal Show was held this year on the i:Uh and .'itltli dantiarv. This was earlier than usual sn that it might form an item of interest (luring the exhibition period and also thereby give import unite for visitors to the

Cl tor i.i gain -ome l-raclical know Icige ol Ihe noleiic:eli ties td the Coast. The change proved in some rc'perts a mistake, and ii. is recniinneniled that I be later date ill tile year as heretofore be reverted to. The cxiieriiivut of a two-day show was also ventured, and taken altogether it is worthy of continuation. The additional expense is small, while it allows of more lime for the receiving and arranging of exhibits and for judging. At the same time i! will l:e necessary to provide full programmes. especially on the second, or "people';.'' day in order to entourage the attendance and thereby swell revenue. There should also lie opportunity for more events ol an iuslnic-l licnnl character, such as dominist.ru-1 lions of stock judging, short let-lures. , and a i ,, .'. , etiug cl exhihilors and judges anti local cllicials to confer and discuss, matters of mutual interest. j Show Gr mild.--We have always been' un: 1 -r a great obligation in the Racing ( luh for the eoiitiuu"d Use til their j ('nurse and appointments. The ar- : rangemelits made with the Club will, ensure lo us a permanent v in tin* ip." j of the Club's pruperty for shows, tiun ,

miller Hie area "itliin the racing track aveil:-':!.' e.s a show ring etc. .Much w : t!; I .-,s hern done in the nature of draining, fencing, end nutting ihe area in b 'iter order. So far an expenditure of !;1!7 As LI in this eiiniu'ction bus been made. The limit lor such work lad been fixed at L'loi). The work has been in the hand- ol a siibc mmhtec ~l six. uiih Air Dnlgli.-h as (hairm.it!. They hove (lv.il (lose atten I ion lo tin' mailer, and it i-. exi't'c! - d tlml‘ the who!'* scheme will ullimrlel.' reu her Hie general appointments ,o' ,r Klar.vs more compact and i umforlable. The A.s'oeiation are again indebted :.i ihe e Oiimunii v both in town and country and also to business firm- from Hither aiiehl. for generous support in Ibe limiter of dona! inns to the Pri.ze I'u'i;! and for special tr.o,iliics. In parUcul.tr the at lion of t!:e Greymoiith'lokltihe KawmiMei''' Trade i’rolectioii Guild (Inc.) in dona ting a haudsniee twelve-guinea Gun for ihe highest aggrcga!'. of points in Dairy Classes during three 'iiecessive year, is greatly an.-.recietcd. There were a total 'I entries in the Show exclusive of tlio-o in the Sports ( otnpelitimis) as compared with •*.*2 at mir last. show. A marked feat ure was tl-.e large number of entries of pedigree cattle. The reputable In-, "dors of li' lli 7 an! erhtiry and Nelson were well represented. Ii is to

he lino d llt.it this feature will col: llirte, and that local farmers and dairymen will make the must ol the opportunity tints afforded of being able lo piiM'lm-c cm the spot stock which will most certaiulv greatly improve their herds. Air A. K. Diminiek. of Koitcraligl. I, to be congratulated in again being the ir.nst successful local cxlijhllor in th" Pair,- ( lasses. lie tonic the As-o- , iatien’s Cup and the Tennent flip, la.ih for the second time: he is the lir-t In hold the Sawmill,M's* 'Guild Clip, and he also gained the Special ('cri ilicate lor the best Coast bred yearling heifer. Messrs J. J. -Mclntosh and .1. Kh'ining were also successful exhibitors in the Dairy Classes. Visiting exhibitors were very successful orize winners, mostly in classes which are not yet in evidence on the Coast. Instead of the Roys' and Girls (alt Cluli Comnctition of last year there was ibis year attempted Judging Competitions for youths an,l lor melt. These cunnifmhible items would not only tend to give confidence to tlio-e who attempted them in the matter ol judging cattle hut in general would a I ford instruction in recognising Hie good and had points in a boast, hy reason of the demonstrations by the Judge which was to have followed. However, it i' regret table that no competitors came forward, pos-ihly for want of greater publicity. These are valuable items which should not he lost -ight of in tho future. Financially the Show met all expenses connected with it. A comparison of the past two years revenue is as follows: — T. lr,l Receipts from Show, including Danaiions. IP'’2. Cl-•» <s| U l -,'.. C-L Ms uni. Prize Aleev Distribute,l, L'St? •As *2d : Mi 1 :!. L'! 1 '* Os Uni. .Members’ Subscriptions. M'-'J. t :s ' .As (id : t7O Ms. Cr-b D oiatioti-. 1 b-'A. ‘-'o' •»> : I‘A-J. • in-. Uinnncial Members. 1f 22, Its A. Generaliv speaking there was a lack ~f local interest, both in the matter of exhibits am! of attendanee. which it behoves the incoming executive to remedy, by hearty co-operation and enthusiasm among themselves to hrg’.n with. Winter School.—Largely owing to insufficient financial support last year the Winter School was not hold tltis year at Hokitika, which is to ho regretted. Tts control was however, taken in hand hy the Provincial Kxecutive of the X.Z. Farmers’ Union.

and a very successful four-day school eventuated at Greymouth towards the end of July. 'I hanks to the efforts of the Westland Ilrancli of the Canterbury Progress League opportunity was afforded of hearing a most interesting and instructive lecture on Pasture Treatment by Air K. If. Levy, JSiologist of the Department of Agriculture. The value of this lecture strongly emphasised the desirability of the Winter School being again held in Hokitika next year, where it was so successfully inaugurated.

An important movement is afoot, namely the federation ol the .Agricultural and Pastoral Societies of the South Island, the objects being to foster the general interests ~f such So-

cial ICS. Ihe K.wul ive have earnestly considered every nvitter of interest to the District generally brought under its notice, and has lent its support where deemed advisable. Among such matters Inis'been the (piestion of better railway Macilities and time-tables, cat lie loading siding at Seaview. Government assistance to users of lime where there are -no rail facilities, extension of Agricultural Kducation in the Universities. 'I he Association also IcnL all possible aid to the Agricultural Court at the recent Kxhibition, which proved to he an effort most creditable to those responsible. Oiii- total revenue amounted to C!7O tbs Id. Including the cost of Show Ground improvements we have a debit balance of Cl'_’7 IDs (id. Were it not lor the exceptional Show ground oxpendiij'ire our financial statement would have shown a credit balance i f C'2l Ms 7,1. The balance sheet showed the re(.■ipts including a balance from the previous year ol L'Ti js, amounted to MC'! Its 1(1,1. while the expenditure amounted to (M7!> L’s Id. of which show ground improvements amounted to CI 17 05.1,1, leaving a debit balance of Cl'. 1 7 i().s (id. Received. The Chairie.uii said his experience of tlife year had .shown the Association as a liodv was a very valuable one, especially as it effects the funning community. it was a body formed to advance the interests of the agricultural work of the disl riels. Thov had lo thank the Progress League for their efforts in arranging the Winter Schools. It was to he regretted that the school had not been the success it should have been, hut that was due to the ape.thy of the farmers themselves. He understood that the winter school held at Greymouth recently had proved very siipeessfid. The farmers were beginning to recognise the value of the schools, and no was sure that future schools would he more solidly patroni'id. He had been in favor of a two days’ show, hut had come to the conclusion that they would have to revert to a cm* day show, lie moved the report and balance sheet he adopted. Air W. .famiesmi seconded the mnlion. and endorsed the remarks of the Chairman. Referring to th* I'ninnciul pxsition, he saal it was lairly satisfactory though the preparation <:f

the show grounds had involved an cutlay ol Cl 17. which had rau-ed the drop in the liuames ol the Associal mil, th ugh the a, Dial working 'expenses for the j sir had ah,ml balanced. Hi regard lo t iui.oTicers ol the Association he hoped that a townsman would he e! e t'.d as President lor the ensuing year. Air .lefl’iie- en iidred as to the position ,J the ground at ihe racecourse. The ( inni man slated it had been arrange 1 in hea'o a small p'lrimn of the area, inside the racing track at a peppercorn rental lor Use ol the shows, so a-, m obviate the ,•lilting up of the racing track. Air Dalglicsh said the ground had been drained, hut reipiired ploughing, levlliii ' and pulling down in pa~l ure. In rt olv In Mr Mackav a- to Hie fall in Membership last year. the. ( naiim.an said it was hard to aecouni for. The motion was then a,'U'ced to. Tic ( imirmaii returned thanks for (he Miuport and assistance given during his term of efl'ue. H“ appreciated th ; . r.s-isiaurc given hy the \\ e-t----land Racing Club. KI.Kt TION OK OKFK KIIS. .Messrs W. deli'ries. W. I). Alackay. W. A. Jamies,in, 11. \A ihl, O. AlcGuige.n. were lioininaletl as President, hut declined to art.

Referring to llu* refer,Mice in the roI)(irt to iissMnne:* of the townspeople, .Mr .1 elfi ie- aHced "''at more was required el. the townspeople than they hat! in the past, as they had always generously assisted, financially, while the Progress League had carried out tli ■ inauguration of the Winter School, which unfortunately the larmers themselves had failed to lake advantage or. Mr Uleming said there was no int,Milieu of passing au.v reflection on the townspeople "ho had given "ver\ assistance financially. lie ihoug-'t however that l he appointment ol a town President would materially advance the interests of the Association. .Mr Jamieson endorsed Mr Homing s remark', lie thought that the infusion of new blood in the executive would lie a decided advantage. As regards the Winter School lie quite recognised the justice of the complaints as to the mm .-uppart of the larmers. Alter the several members mentioned had declined oliice Air Pdkmgtou proposed that Air J. J. Mclntosh he elected President.—‘''-•ended hy Mr Aim-Lav and agreed to. Vice-President.-— Air W. A. danm-on was re-ele. led. Air Jamieson thanked members tor Ids le-eleetion, and then took' the chair in the absence of the new President. Trea-urer —A!r W. D. Aim kay. (•’sc, ntive Committee—Messrs ( - • • Dalgli sh, d. Davidson. J. n.mmuk. \ U. Dimmick. J. I’l-uiimg > • M<,uton. W. .1 elfl'iv's. 11. Jones. M. Kceeh. K C .Marshall. J. .Mirndom. •)- >'• Al'mehau. .1. Monk. L. H. Morel. ( . M Neville. 0. -Idlic. O- >’• M'Cmgan and '■'n'cw member-. elecU'd-T. W. P-mce. J. Johli'un. , , |„ , oiinc: tioit with the prep .>cd .urination of the A. and P. Federation » Associations of tbe South Is am - ‘ was resolved, oil the motion ol Mos '. Wi’d ami Jeffries that the As-uciatinti

join up with the Federation. A Committee was appointed consisting of Messrs Dalglicsh, Jeffries and Pilkington to peruse the proposed rules and regulations and report at next meeting of the Committee. It was resolved in connection with commission on sales at shows that consideration he left with the executive to deal with. Air Pilkington moved a vote of thanks to the outgoing officers, the judges and donors of prizes.—Seconded by Air Jeffries and carried. Air Wild moved a special vote of thanks to Air Dalglicsh for his work in connection with the plot at the racecourse.-—Seconded l»v the Chairman and carried. In thanking members for tho vote Air Dalglicsh said he hoped to have ihe ground ploughed and levelled almost immediately. The meeting then terminated at :!.:{!) p.m.