FOXTON HORTICULTURAL AND INDUSTRIAL SOCIETY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 1559, 3 June 1916, Page 2

FOXTON HORTICULTURAL AND INDUSTRIAL SOCIETY.

The annual meeting of the above society was held in the Town Hall supper-room last, night. Mr G. 11. Utiles (president) occupied the chair. There was a good attendance of members. The minutes of the last annual meeting were read and confirmed.

REPORT AND BALANCE-SHEET

The annual report was read as follows :—“it is with a great deal of pleasure that the committee submit their report for the past, year, and in doing so desire to thank very heartily all those ladies and gentlemen, both judges, stewards and others, who have assisted in making the year of the Society a successful one. Despite the many difficulties during the year, and particularly the very dry season, which greatly affected the number of exhibits in the autumn show, the Society has reason to congratulate itself on a successful year. The balance-sheet discloses that the amount at bank and in hand is ,€l4 12s sd, a, slight decrease only of LSs 2d on the previous amount brought forward. The paid up membership of the Society for 1015-1 (i was !)(i, as against 00 the previous year, and the assets of the Society are now shown to he €SO 7s 3d. Taking these figures into consideration and the comparative failure of the autumn show, largely due to the very disappointing support of the public' to attend the show, the Society is to be congratulated on the results of the year's work. The Committee wish in point out that unless the public support the efforts of the Socialy in a much larger measure there is a serious danger of a break in the Society's work, which would be a most unfortunate circumstance. The committee trusts that during the coming year some special effort will be made to increase the number of members, which insures a regular source of income to the Society. The thanks of the Society are due to the secretary for the very energetic and capable manner in which the duties of the office have been carried out." The balance-sheet was submitted and adopted, and disclosed a very satisfactory position. The receipts during the year, including €ls 10s Id brought forward from the previous year, totalled €l3l -Is (id, the chief items of which were : Members' subscriptions CIS 5s (hi, special prizes €ll Ss fid, entrance fees €27 15s 3d, door takings €li 13s (Id, lea room €8 Ss sweet stall €S Is 2d, and donations €(i 5s (hi. The expenditure amounted to €.ll (i 12s Id, made up chielly of : Frr/.e money €43 14s (id, secretary €ls, hall hire €lO 5s (hi, printing and stationery €l.O 13s fid, miscellaneous €l4 0s 3d, and labour €5 Ss Oil, leaving a balance in bank and in ■hand of €l4 12s sd. The statement of assets and liabilities showed assets totalling' €57 .Os 3d. and liabilities nil.

In moving Ihe adoption of the report and balance-sheet, tlm president reviewed the work of the Society for the past year. He said I hat despite an unfavourable season and the unrest caused hy the war, the* finance:- only -bowed a decrease of LSs 2d over the previous year. There had been a slight falling off in membership, and an effort should he made lo make this up during the coming year. The Society was a public asset to the town, and deserved the whole-hearted support of the residents. Tie regretted that public patronage had fallen off al (he autumn -how. It would he regrettable if the Society were* a Hawed lo lapse. The report and balance-sheet were adopted. ELECTION OF OFFICERS. The following ollicers were elected : —Patron, Mr A. S. Faslon (reelected). Mr Hornhlow nominated Mr P. G. Jackson as president, and in doing so referred to the loss the Society would sustain in the removal from the district of Mr G. If. Stiles, the retiring president. He said Mr Stiles had taken office at a time when the affairs of the Society required careful and skilful handling. He had displayed a keen enthusiasm, and hy discretion and courtesy had welded thi* committee into a good working laxly. Mr Jackson had been for years an enthusiastic member of the committee, and took a keen interest in all matters which the Society sought to promote in the community. He did not think there was any necessity to go outside the commit tee to find a more suitable candidate for the position. Mr Stiles, in seconding the nomination, said he could not desire to work with a lad ter or more enthusiastic committed The motion, on being put, was carried unanimously. All* Jackson said the election was a complete surprise to him, and he had not been given time to Consider the matter. If he could fill the position without detriment lo his professional duties, he would do so. He then took the chair, and was greeted with a round of applause. Mr Hornhlow then moved that, as a mark of the Society's appreciation of Hie work done hy their late president that he he accorded the highest honour the Society could confer on any of its .members, that of life membership. Mr Jackson, in seconding, referred to the difficulties Mr Stiles had surmounted, and his sound judgment on all matters that had come before the committee. The Society was deeply indebted lo Mr Stiles, and the honour was well merited. The motion was carried uminiimiosly and with applause. Mr Stiles suitably acknowledged the honour, and re fervid to the splendid attendances at committee meetings. He hoped the same enthusiasm and interest would he maintained ip the future.

Other officers were eleeeted afollows : —.Secretary, Mr H. C. Pat--1 arson (re-elected)); treasurer, Mr T. Henderson (re-elec-ted) ; auditor, Mr A. J. Kellow (re-elected) ; vicepresidents, Messrs Dr. Mandl, Alex. Sj)eirs senr., G. H. Stiles, P. Neylon, Win. Ross, H. Greig, G. Rough, B. G. Gower, W. E. Barber, John, C.. F„ and Jas. Robinson, Alt. Fraser, F. Synies, W T . Signal, W. Bock, C. A. C. Preston, C. H. Symons, and D. W. Malheson ; ('onunittee, Messrs Hornhiow, Gallan<t,D. Whibiey, Bullard. Kempstor, Jas. Newth, AY. Renton, R. McMurray, John Ross, and Ashmore, Mesdames Woods, Renton, Galland, C. IT. Symons, Moll array, Patterson, Jas. Newth, H. Signal, Misses Speirs and Signal. GENERAL. It was resolved to send a letter to Miss Neylon, a past member of the committee, who has left the disIricl to join the nursing staff of the Palmerston hospital, expressiing the Society’s thanks for past services, and wishing her every success in her sphere of labour. A letter was read from the Otaki Society, staling that they had tixed the last Thursday in August as the dale oi their Bulb Show, and soliciting entries from Foxton. Mr GaHand’s notice of motion to reduce the membership fee to 2s fid a (round was moved and seconded. The subject was discussed at length, It was pointed out that while a reduction may result in a slight increase of membership, the finances would sutler. The present rule provides that the fee of 5s includes husband and wife and children under 12 to all shows free. The lady members’ fee is 2s (id. R was pointed out that the married ladies on the committee did not object to pay the 2s (id extra. The motion was lost.

Other minor matters were discussed, and the meeting rose.