HELENSVILLE A. AND P. ASSOCIATION.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 2 August 1917, Page 3

HELENSVILLE A. AND P. ASSOCIATION.

EXECUTIVE MEETING,

A MEETING of the Executive Committee of the above Association was held in the Helensvilie Public Library on Monday evening last, when the President (W. J. Ellett, Esq.) presided. There were present: Messrs C. H. Spinley, C. A. Knowles, A. J. Hill, H. Aitkenhead, J. Carter, N. Wallace. J. Mills, J. A. Wilson and Secretary (Mr L. L. Bailey).

The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed.

Mr G. W. Sim's notice of motion, re raising the subscriptions of ordinary and life members, was read for the first time.

INWARD CORRESPONDENCE From the National Patrioti c Apple-growers' Association, asking for subscriptions towards their 1916-17 Shows. It was resolved to acknowledge receipt of letter, and to ask the Association to make applicatibn later on, when the. finances of the local Show might be in a more flourishing condition. From the Fresian Associatton, ; forwarding a list of judges.— Received. From J. B. Jordan, re a mistake which occurred in donating two prizes at the last Show. — The Secretary was instructed to rectify this matter. From the Department of Agriculture, acknowledging receipt of the Association's balance sheet. GROUNDS COMMITTEE. The Secretary read a report of the meeting held by the Grounds j Committee, mentioning the seyeral improvements necessary. These works include draining, cutting trees, and concreting the basement of the Hall, It was resolved that the tender of £% for the pine trees be accepted, and the draining be let at 8s per chain, the President to supervise the work. Regarding the concreting of the hall floor, it was decided to call for alternate tenders for this work. NEW MEMBER SPEAKS. Mr Knowles said he had several things to memtion in connection with the last Show held in Helensvilie. One was the giving of larger prize money to attract competition. He had attended Shows all over the Dominion and Australia, and found where good money was provided the competition was most keen. He. thought that some of the events might be cut out and that money added to the ones remaining, and thus induce the outsiders into competition with the local competitors. He was prepared, as well as Mr Mather, to give £5 each towards increasing the prize money if other members followed suit. The speaker also referred to the mixing up of the classes, and the exhibits in the cattle classes not being together, and contended that an improvement would be effected if exhibitors confined each entry to one class only. He had attended Helensvilie Show seven years ago and again last year, but had not noticed the progress as made by Southern Shows, There were too many delays, and when these occurred I ; spectators lost interest and left | the Show grounds. People usually visited Shows to obtain a certain amount of education, j this, unfortunately, was not to be obtained through visiting the last Show. He also suggested a ring, where oattle and horses could be led round. Mr Knowles asked the members to accept his suggestions in the manner he intended, as he, personally, was prepared to give them every assistance in the future. Mr H. Aitkenhead (ex-Presid-ent) defended the Association's work, and spoke of the increased number of outside exhibits they received at the last Show, and also the difficulty they had experienced in cutting down the classes. Judges were responsible for a certain amount of delay, and thought the idea of a ring in the centre a good one. The stewards were new, but on the whole they did good work. He agreed with Mr Knowles that there were- too many events to get off, and room for improvement, but he would not agree that the Show was not a good one. Mr Knowles: It could be a better one, though ! Mr Aitkenhead thought it would be a good idea to appoint a head steward to supervise the whole work of loqking after the outside work. He concluded by sayiag that in criticising some of Mr Knowles' remarks it was in good spirit Messrs Knowles and Mather

were thanked for their donations, and the discussion ended. GENERAL. Messrs A. Mason and H. Mather were elected to the General and Executive Committees. Mr Aitkenhead spoke of the finances of the Association, and the necessity of raising more money from the Bank to carry on in the meantime. This was agreed to, and it was arranged to get further accommodation from the Bank of Australia.