IN THE EVENING.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4504, 15 December 1922, Page 2 (Supplement)

IN THE EVENING.

“SMOKER” ENTERTAINMENT. The annual ’’Smoker” of the Hauraki A. and P. Association was held in the Soldiers’ Club last evening, when there w,as a large and representative gathering of show officials, membeirs, visiting judges, and exhibitors. Mr W. F. Johnstone, president of the association, occupied the chair, and in proposing the health of the judges said how grateful the association was to them for the help given. The president said it was tp be regretted that more of the judges could hot have attended the ‘‘Smokeir,” but it had tp be remembered that those gentlemen very often acted at shows at ’ considerable inconvenience and expense to themselves. Referring to Mr Potts, the Only judge present, the president said it was very gratifying to learn, while moving round the showgrounds, that in every instance Mi- Potts and the other judges had given entire satisfaction in their decisions throughput the show, and a great deal of the success of the show was due to the courteous decisions’ and kindly advice given by the judges.

In replying to the toast Mr J. C. Potts, of Pirongia, who acted as judge of the light horse and hunter classes, said he was very sorry that there were not more judges present at the "smoker.” However, he wished to very heartily congratulate the association on its show and management generally. Mr, Potts said he had been acting as a judge at the association’s show for a number of years now, and e.ach year he had noticed a decided improvement on the last show. He considered the horsies, especially the lighter classes, were equal to any he had seen in the North Island. Speaking of the cattle classes, Mr Potts said the Jerseys were a particularly good class, and the number of entries must have been very gratifying to the officials. The Friesians, too, were of very fine quality, but were lacking in the number of entries, while he thought the Shorthorns were not of such a good stamp. In conclusion Mr Potts said he was gratified'to learn that his decisions gave general satisfaction, and pointed out that it was no easy matter for, a judge to give universal satisfaction in a show ring, but he had done his best and was most grateful tp the steward® for the way the show arrangements had been carried out, and he thanked thie association for the hospitable treatment that had been accorded the judges, and assured them that he would be very pleased indeed to act again as judge at any future shows.

The toast of “The Exhibitors'” was ■ proposed by Mr J. A- Reid, who said that the success of any show depended upon the exhibitors and the quality of the entries they brought forward, and he was very proud to see that exhibitors had this year come forward from the Waikato, Haulraki Plains, Te Arolia, arid Thames districts. He regretted that the cattle entries had hot been so numerous as last year,, but he thought the quality of the stock exhibited compensated tp a large extent. With reference to the horse classes, Mr Reid said it was very gratifying -to the association to receive. such high praise as Mr Potts had bestowed, particularly when it had to he reriiembered that Mir Potts had already acted as judge at the Hastings and Palmerston North Shows this year. In replying to this toast Mr J. T. Mclntosh, manager of the Piri Land Company, at Taupiri, Emphasised the good A. and P. Associations could do in a district by encouraging the pn’oduvtion of the best stock possible, ' thereby not only creating keener competition in the show ring, but enhancing the prosperity of the district generally. He drew the association’s attention to the filthy condition of the trucks’ supplied by the Railway Department. for the x carriage of stock, and mentioned that when he received the trucks ordered by him at Taupiri to bring his exhibits to Paeroa it was necessary to scrape the filth but of

them before the stock could be loadedHe also pointed out that, the Railway Department would not allow straw to be placed on the floors, although sawdust was permitted, which was’ all right in places where sawduslt was procurable. He thought the association might do well .to ask the member for the district to take the matter up and endeavour to get improved conditions for the carriage of pedigree stock. Mr Mclntosh though that more encouragement should be given to yearling heifer classes, arid pointed out that if a beast was well treated while young it would always repay the owner, and he suggested that if possible the prize money in the yearling classes be increased. This had been done in Palmerston North, and also in Hamilton, and in consequence there had been a big indreas;e .in the number of entries. The speaker said he was disappointed that there had not been larger entries in the Friesian classes, as he would like tp have met with keener competition. However, he heartily congratulated a'H the officials on the success attained, and assured the gathering that he would return to the Waikato and do all he could to boom the Haui’|aki A. and P. Association along in that district, and hoped next year to have a- much lairger lot of entries. Mr Fisher, of Pukerimu, said it was his first visit to Paeroa, and he was agreeably surprised to find such a live and efficient association, and hoped next year to bring cattle down to Paeroa as well as houses. He suggested that a number of the Light horses and hunters be judged on the first day of the show, and thus save time and relieve congestion on the second day. He thanked the officials' for their cordial hospitality, and extended a hearty invitation to attend the Waikato Central Show at Cambridge in March, next. Mr Carter, of Patetonga, endorsed the remarks of the previous speakers, and said he wished tp congratulate the officials on the splendid show, and particularly the secretary, who had done his utmbst to help in every way. He regrettled that more exhibitors had hot come forward from Patetonga, but he would, do what he could next

year to induce those settlers to bring’ in stock. - Messrs J. K. Deap and R. B. Dunlop < also spoke in a similar strain. The secretary, Mp E. Edwards, proposed the health of the show stewards and in doing so said he wished to specially mention Mr J. Hamilton, chief steward for cattle classes, and Mr W. Marsh, of the horse section, for the splendid woirk done by them and the stewards under their control. The secretary contended that these officials bore the brunt of the whole show, and on them success could be achieved or otherwise, and the association was very fortunate in having such dependable and courteous officials, and he assured them that thpir efforts were greatlly appreciated by all. Tn reply Mr Hamilton said he took nb credit for, himself: it was all due to the steward® he had been given to carry put the work ini the cattle, classes, and he was most grateful to them for the loyal help they had given him. The same old workers came to light every year at the show, and he considered that the time .had now come when some • younger members should come forward and assist in the .management of the show. Mr W. Marsh said that he, too, agreed with Mr Hamilton, and thought that younger members should be encouraged. With (regard to the horse sections, he said he thought the suggestion of Mr Fisher's that more of the light horses and hunters be judged on the first day an excellent one, and next year he thought that 't would undoubtedly be done. Messrs Byrne, Budd, and Findlay endorsed the remarks of the chief stewards, and each congratulated Messrs Hamilton and Marsh on theii,' generalship and thanked the exhibitors for the way they had observed the ruilesi and regulations, and' the biddings of the stewards, thereby considerably lightening their, work and adding generally to the success and harmony of the institution.

The president, in proposing the toast of Mjr Arch. White, now resident at Papakura, a former president and a life member of the association, said is was mainly due to Mr White’s efforts that the Hauraki A. and P. show was in, the proud position it was today, and the speaker said they were, very glad to welcome Mjr White to their, .midst again. “ , Mr White in his reply thanked the president for lus kind remarks, and said that some of the happiest days of his life had been spent working witji the membeirs of the Hauraki A', and P. Association, apd he was very, pleased to see that the 'association was gradually gaining further strength and. success, and he was confident that with such a splendid area bf fertile country, and with, Paeroa as a natural centre, combined with an enthusiastic executive, the association woulld in time* be second to none in the Dominion. One big feature at the present, time that was to a big extent keeping Paeroa back, said Mr White, was* the terrible state of the main roads. He contended that the local bodies , and the association should not rest content until, the main roads had been improved. He said lie had attended the Auckland show, and. he considered that some pf the exhibits he had seen in Paeroa compared mare than favourably with those at. the Aucklahd show. Tn referring to the Friesian bull exhibited by the Piri Land Company Mr White s.aid that this animal, was bne of the bestbred and widest-known bulls of that breed in Australasia, and he it a great compliment to the associa-' tion that such a valuable and highpriced animal should be brought to the Paeroa show, and. it went to prove that the association could look forward to a rosy future. Mr White said he agreed with Mr Hamilton that it wps time young blood was infused the ranks of thfc show officials. The toasts “The Lady Helpers,” "The Secretary,” “Paeroa,” and “The Press” were enthusiastically honoured and complimentary references' exchanged. During' the evening an enjoyable musical programme was submitted, Mr L. Foster acting as accompanist.