SHOW COMMITTEE.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4397, 31 March 1922, Page 4

SHOW COMMITTEE.

HAURAKI PLAINS MEETING, A meeting of the Hauraki Plains Agricultural and Pastoral Association’s committee was held in the Public Hall, Ngatea, on Monday .afternoon, Mr P. R. Henry (president) occupying the cha.ir. There were present : Messrs J. Munro, J,. H. Nicholson, -W. G. Hayward, R. Burke, G, T. Davidson, H, Waite, A. R. Vowles,. D. G. McMillan, D. J. O’Carroll, W. McDuff, and E. Walton (secertary). It was decided to thank Mr N. Beattie .for Ills assistance at the show and to forward a cheque of| £2 >s for same. Discussing the show entertaipment tfhe president said that most Of the judges had/been those who could get back the night of the show, .and only two, who had come the farthest, were able to stay. He thought that in other years the Association should endeavour to get judges who could stay tp express their opinions. Mr McMillan said that though there may be better judges inside the district, if would be wise tp obtain outside judges, as those gentlemen's eyes were opened and the district was advertised. It was decided to have the cups inscribed and to forward them to the winners as soon as the trophies were returned from the engraver.. . The -president thought it ; advisable tb have the annual meeting earlier the year, say in a few months’ time. KEREPEEHI GROUNDS. Th&/president said that the mortgage on the Kerepeehi grounds had been arranged for, and that the money would be forthcoming. There would be a balance of .about £6OO for improvements after the purchase of the land. He further stated that there was no title for the Kerepeehi land, and it would be necessary tb “do some juggling” with the Lands Department so as to geti the money before the proclamation was handed over.

Mr Munro moved that the committee should go on with all improvements to the grounds as soon as the mortgage money was obtainable. Mr McMillan seconded, and said he thought a lo< could be done by the farmers at very little expense. He advocated the forming of a working bee. He instanced the valuable worn done by the farmers on the Turua recreation ground. Mr Nicholson said the Kerepeehi Sports Association would be forming a working bee which would dig about an acre and a half! Of rushes and effect other improvements on the show grounds. Mr McMillan advised that ‘he Sports Association should help the A. and P. Association' by effecting permanent improvements. The president thought that most cf t'he money would . be spent on cattle yards, and that most other work should be done ,by voluntary labour. Mr Hayward maintained that the Kerepeehi grounds were oo close '-o the Paeroa show. It would be fatal to the Association to go tb Kerepeehi. Ngatea, even, was not central enough. Mr Burke supported Mr Hayward. Ha believed the show, would be in the wrong place at Kerepeehi. Tf there was a vote on the Kerepeehi ground he would vote against it. Mr Munro said the recommendations that the grounds committee would make would come before another meeting of the general committee. He urged that they should look .to the revenue-producing side first. Mr Vowles said that by erecting cattle yards it appeared as though the Kerepeehi grounds would be permanent, and .that next year might

prove that Kerepeehi was not central. Mr Hayward moved an amendment that the committee reinvest the £6OO. The amendment was carried by one vote. The president said that any improvements the association wished to do to the grounds would have to he done out of the association’s funds, and for six months they could ■ not call on any of the £600..> Mr McMillan raised the point as to whether the committee cculd hang 'up -the £6OO when it had previously been authorised for improvements. ! The president thought the money should he used for improvements. i Mr Hayward: But not to build ! yards. j Mr. McDuff: And that's my opipion, also. The president, to bring the matter to a finality, said he would like a vote as to whether the improvements should,be in.the nature of yards, or what -the improvements were to be. He asked those who voted for the amendment if they were voting for the money to be invested for six month? from date dr for six months from the time -of obtaining Mie money. > The. opinion was that the money should be invested for six months from dafe, and thatl was. added to the amendment.. ! The president, replying to Mr McMillan. said the property would he the association’s as soon as the pr >- clamatipn was issued. Mr Walton said the proclamation would be issued when the £7OO was paid for it. ' The secretary was. instructed to complete negotiations to obtain possession of the land as soon as possible.

GENERAL BUSINESS. The president said some haEers were obtained ' from the Farmers’ Auctioneering Co. and not returned. He suggested that the association would have to pay for them, or collect the halters... The secretary was instructed to write to the Farmers’ Auctioneering Co. and ask the price of the halters. Mr Munro, moving a vote of thanks to the ladies’ committee, said the ladies had done very valuable work, and had relieved the show committee of a big .responsibility. The motion was carried unanimously. The president said E had been pro posed that at the first meeting after the show recommendations for alterations of the schedule should be made, as mistakes were then fresh in their memories. Several valuable suggestions were forthcoming. . Mr Munro complimented the secretary on compiling ,the catalogue efficiently, and on his work generally. He moved a.- vote of thanks for the able planner in which, he had carried out his duties. —Carried unanimously. Regarding the cattle-ijudging competition, Mr Davidson raised an interesting point. He said tha,tj the winner of the competition at Ngatea was the same man who won at Paeroa. Mr Davidson asked if the same cow was used in both competitions. The president said he did not know, but' he did not think the same animal was used.