A. AND P. ASSOCIATION.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4456, 21 August 1922, Page 2

A. AND P. ASSOCIATION.

ANNUAL MEETING. The annual meeting of the Hauraki Agricultural and Pastoral Association was held on Saturday pight, when Mr J. A. Reid, president, occupied the chair. Annual reports were read, toget her with the balance-sheet. PRESIDENT’S REPORT. Your Committee herewith submit the Annual Report and Balancesheet for the year just ended, and recommend the adoption of same. The last year, as you all know, has been one of the hardest years experienced by the farmers and others in this district for a long time, but despite the hard times your Association has experienced another successful year. Your Committee, acting on a recommendation from last Annual Meeting* decided to experiment in holding a two day show. The venture, as you know, was fully justified by results. The first day was a very wet one, and the weather considerably hampered the Judges and Stewards in their work, and also materially reduced the gate and other receipts for that day. ' ■

The second day was the principal day of the show, and the Association had reason to be proud of the success of that day. The cattle section was very strongly represented, the competition being very keen in most classes, more especially in the Jersey section. The Captain A. C. Hubbard Memorial Cup was competed for by Groups of Fresian Cattle. Mr. J. H. Wilson, of Matamata (who has been a strong supporter of the Association), being successful in winning that coveted trophy. The assistance rendered by the Thames Valley Branch of the N.Z. Jersey Breeders’ Association was greatly appreciated by your committee, as also was the handsome donation subscribed by its members and subsidised by the New Zealand Jersey Breeders’ Association. The Show Ring Events —Riding,. Jumping, etc. —were as usual the chief attraction to the public, and some good exhibitions were witnessed. The feature of the show was undoubtedly the Grand Parade held on the second day. The class of cattle paraded was very high, and significant of the quality being introduced and raised in our district. The financial side of the year’s working has also been successful, although the credit balance as shown in thq, Balance Sheet is only ,£3l. The Committee have effected considerable permanent improvements to the Association’s yards, entailing an expenditure of 14s 4d ; other non-recurring -expenditure amounting to The bank charges on overdraft amounted to ,£62 15s, which amount will be greatly reduced in future, as your Committee have sold a portion of the property recently acquired. The land sold was of little immediate use to the Association, and only produced £8 per annum, while it cost as much as £4O in interest and rates. You will see from these figures that the deal will greatly benefit the Association’s finance.

Your Committee wish toplace on record its appreciation for the assistance given the Association by the ladies who provided luncheon and afternoon tea on Show days ; to the Domain caretaker, Mr Hamilton, for his help; to the Judges and Stewards and other workers who rendered assistance on Show days. The thanks of the Association are also due to the Domain Board for use of Domain, the Fire Brigade for the use of meeting room, and to. Paeroa Engineering Co. for the use of their building for the luncheon booth. LAND COMMITTEE’S REPORT.

The annual report pf the Land Committee was as follows : Your Committee report tli.at during the last year they have given serious consideration to the advisability of holdiig all the land acquired by the Association, and after going fully into the matter it was decided to sell the portion fronting Thames Road. The price asked was £5OO, no business resulted. Later the secretary secured an offer pf; £450 for the property, which your committee decided to accept. This property was only producing £8 per, annum in rent, and was costing the Association £43 a year in rates and. bank interest. The sections in Station Road were offered for lease by tender, .and the tender of Mr F. J. Wells of 3s 6d per week was accepted. The lease of the saleyards to Messis Dalgety and Co. expired during the year* and your committee is now in negotiations with ,<that firm and is trying to renew th? lease.

BALANCE-SHEET. Th? receipts totalled £738 Ils Id, the chief items being: Members’ subscriptions, £236 7s 6d ; entry foes, £96 3s; donations, cash, £146 Ils 6d; Trophies £29 13s 6d; cups, £26 16s 6d ; special prizes, £3 18s ; gates, £4B 12s lOd ; rents, £53 Is; advertising space in catalogues, £5O 15s 6d; weight-guessing, £l3s 19s; refreshment booth, £l2; interest on shares, £6. The expenditure totalled £706 12s 4d, the chief items being prize money, £228 Is 6d ; trophies £29 13s 6d ; clips £26 16s 6d; social expenses £l4 2s 6d; hospital expenses, £25; secretary’s salary, £100; rates and insurance, £2O 11s 3d; wages, £lO 19s 6d; printing, stationery, and advertising, £lOl 7s ; judges, £9 15s ; ribbons, £lO 8s ; interest, £62 15s; improvements to yard, £4'2 14s 4d. The credit balance on the year’s working was £3l 18s 9d. The assets of the Association .amount to £1393 8s id, and liabilities (mortgage) £993 2s sd, leaving a surplus of £397 5s lid.

In formerly moving the adoption of the reports and balance-sheet Mr Reid said that the big step this last year .was deciding on a two days show. It had proved worth while, and lhe hoped that the show would continue to grow. Tlie expense on the

yards more thap compensated thp association by the extra convenience apd pens, which in any case were necessary. The concrete slab for hosing cattle was a convenience to exhibitors, and he wished to thank Mr Simpson for laying on the .water and use of piping. In connection with the sale of the land the Committee had come to the conclusion that it was a burden on the association, as it would never be of any use for show grounds. Al though the Jersey Breeders’ Assocaition had not paid the full donation promise®, all the exhibitors had beep paid .the full prizemoney : this also applied tp the Shorthorn Breeders’ Association; The donations of the latter body were two years overdue. The deputation appointed to wait on the Jockey Club had not yet been able to fix a date suitable. He wished .tp thank the secretary, and especially all the committee and others who 'had helped him carry through the show. He particularly wished to thank the Hatiraki Plains Gazette for the support .accorded to the association and its reports of the show.

Mr E. W. Porritt, in seconding the adoption of the reports and balancesheet, drew attention to the large amount outstanding in members,’ subscriptions, and the question was, how much was good ? The secretary stated that the amount shown, £149 13s 6d, was considered good, and the major portion was recoverable. All the old outstanding subscriptions and the ones, not recoverable had been written off. Since the close 06 the year quite a number had been paid. The motion of the adoption of cue reports and balance-sheet was then carried. OFFICERS. The following were elected: Patron, Mr J A. Reid ; president, Mr W. F. Johnstone ; vice-presidents, Messrs J. Hamilton, B. Veale, and J. Munro; deputy chairman, Mr J. - Hamilton ; executive committee, Messrs G. Buchanan, N. Beattie, J. P. Findlay, E. Fathers, H. Hare, P. R. Hubbard, W. Marsh W. D. Nicholas, E. W. Porritt, C. Stembridge, R. Stock, J. Silcock, Eugene Shaw; general committee, /Messrs Andrews (Ngatea), W. J. Byrne, F. S. Budd, L; E. Cassrels, B. Coldicutt, E. Chester, K. Dean, G. Death, B. Dunlop, A. E. Fielder, B. Gwilliam, J. li Hanna, F. Hubbard, W. J. Hall, J. Irwin, D. Leach, W. K. McLean, H. Morrison, J. Morrison, HPoland, A. R. Robinson, A. Steedman, R. Stock (junr), G. Vowles, P. T. Vuglar, D. McWatters ; land and finance committee, E. Fathers, E. W. Porritt, J. Reid ; chief stewards, J. Hamilton, W. Marsh ; call stewards, N. Beattie, H. Thorp; auditor, J. Pickworth. LIFE MEMBER. On the motion of Mr J. Munro, seconded by Mr P. R. Hubbard, Mr Arch. White was elected an honorary lifemember of the association for meritorious services rendered. A resolution was also passed placing on record the association’s appreciation of the services rendered by Mr White, and the secretary was instructed to communicate the resolution tp him by letter

RESOLUTION OF CONDOLENCE. A resolution of condolence was passed with the relatives of the late Mrs McAndrew and F. le Manqqais. In propos’ng the resolution the president paid a high'tribute fo both the deceased members. In the early history of the show the .late Mrs McAndrew had been one of the association’s most active members, while Mr le Manquais’ labours were well known to all the present members.

SALE OF LAND. The president said that the secretary had not made any charge in connection with the sale pf the association’s property, although he was fully entitled to, and he proposed that the s’vm of £lO be paid tp the secretary. This was seconded by Mr W. F. Johnstone and carried. AUDIT FEE. The sum of £2 2s was passed to the hon. auditor, .Mr J. Pick worth. SHOW DAYS. A gpod deal of discussion centred round a suitable day for holding the shows, and a committee consisting of the president apd Messrs ’Nicholas. Porritt, and the secretary was appointed to decide the matter, a preference being given for November 29 and 30, if available, VOTES OF THANKS. Votes of thanks were passed tp Mr Simpson, the ladies’ committee, and the Ohinemuri Jockey Club. DONATION. A donation of £2 2s was promised from Mrs Eugene Shaw as a special prize for a lady’s hack up to 15.3. THE HUBBARD CUP. On Mr J. Munro's motion, seconded by Mr B. W. Porritt, it was decided to present an illuminated certificate to the winner ol the Hubbard Memorial Cup each year. SOCIAL TO THE LADIES. The president said that it had been his intention to arrange for a social evening -to be’ tendered to the ladies who had helped with the show. The men had their smoker, and he thought ■that it was only a fair thing to trea; the ladies. The follbwing committee was set up to make the necessary arrangements : The president, Mr W. F. Johnstone, and Messrs E. Fathers, P. R. Hubbard, J. Hamilton, E. W. Porritt. J. A. Reid, Eugene Shaw, J. Silcock, and the secretary, Mr E. .Edwards. PERMANENT SHOWGROUNDS. A letter was read by Mr Porritt giving an option over a piece ofi land that may suit the association. After some discussion on the proposal a committee consisting of the president and Messrs Findlay, J. Hamilton, P. R. Hubbard, and R; Stock was appointed to report on the property. At the conclusion of the meeting the members present were entertained to supper by the retiring president, Mr J. A. Reid.