FOXTON HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 3806, 16 June 1928, Page 3

FOXTON HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING. The annual general meeting of members of the Eoxton Horticultural Society was held on Thursday evening, presided over by Mr. D. Christie (President). The attendance was very satisfactory, and an enthusiastic meeting followed. Apologies for absence were received from Messrs J. K. Hornblow, It. Hornblow, Tyer, Mesdames Ogilvy, S. Easton, Procter and Murphy. The president, in opening the meeting, expressed pleasure at seeing such a good number present, which, he said, augured well for the success of the Society during the coming year. The annual report, as published in our issue of Tuesday was taken as read, and the balance-sheet, subject to audit, was read and discussed. The president pointed out that heavy expenditure had been incurred during the past year in the way of acquiring new plant for the Society’s use, which had reduced the cash balance to a small margin, but he hoped that the end of the new financial year would find the balance greatly increased. Mr. Perreau congratulated the Society on the position, and also expressed appreciation of,the good work carried out by the president, secretary and committee. The Society during the past two years had made marked progress and the executive deserved thanks for the way the work had been carried out.

The principal details from the balance-sheet are as follows: — Balance at Bank 31/5/27, £54 12s 3d; members’ subscriptions, £10; donations and special prizes, £2B 12s Od; door takings, £l2 (is 3d; entrance fees, £ls 3s 9d; miscellaneous, £3 2s Od; total receipts, £123 l(is 9d. Expenditure: Prize money, £34 7s Od; equipment, £4O 7s Id; hall hire, £0 12s Gd; printing and advertising, £l2 13s Od; serretary’s honorarium, £10; miscellaneous, £lO 3s 3d; credit Bank N.Z. and cash in hand, £9 13s lid; total, expenditure, £123 10s 9d. The statement of assets and. liabilities shows assets £69 13s Id, liabilities nil. The secretary (Mr. Nicholas), referring to the'financial position, said that if the finance committee was put to work during the coming year, he had no doubt the result of the year’s operations would prove very satisfactory. Members’ subscriptions had shown a slight falling off during the past year, as also did the amount of donations, but the door takings had increased. On the whole the Committee were to be congratulated on the work it had done. He said he had received few outside donations on account of the bad year just passed. He thanked the committee for their kind help. The report was adopted, and it was decided that, the balance-sheet be adopted at the next meeting of Committee, after audit. The election of officers resulted as follows: —Patron, Mr. Francis Robinson; president, Mr. H. Christie; treasurer, Mr. E. J. Murphy; secretary, Mr. W. 11. Nicholas; auditor, Mr. D. R. Ogilvy; committee, Messrs W>. Nye, Poole, Jno. Ross, James Ross, Rev. W. 11. Walton, R. Hornblow, T. Hughes, N. Cresswell, Perreau, Corn, Mesdames P. Easton, Murphy, Barr, Heasman, Procter, Baker, Ogilvy, Moore, S. Easton, N. Creswell, Misses J. Ross, A. Speirs, Gower and Hughes; vicepresidents, Messrs J. Linklater, M.P., W. E. Barber, J. Chrystall, Dr. E. M. Wyllie, C. Robinson, John Robinson, M. E. Perreau, J. K. Hornblow, A. Speirs, F. A. Mason, M. H. Walker, B. G. Gower and C. H. Symons. Finance Committee: Messrs E. J. Murphy, T. Hughes and Jno. Ross. Following a discussion on the matter of improving the finances of the Society, it was decided thal each member of committee undertake to secure two new members this year. It was decided that the date of the Spring Show be fixed at September 14th (if the hall is procurable on that date). The date of the Summer Show was left to the Committee to decide at a later date, the President to confer with the larger exhibitors before a final decision is made. In reference to the the matter of the appointment of judges for the forthcoming fixtures, the secretary pointed out that an association of judges had now been formed, and all that was necessary was to inform the Association of the Society’s requirements, and the date of the show, when the necessary judges would be commissioned, the Society, of course, to pay the usual expenses. It was decided that no canvass be made for advertisements for the schedules. Touching on the matter of school exhibits, the secretary reported that Mr. Mason had stated that he was prepared to become one of a committee to arrange exhibits of school work for the Summer Show. It was reported that a suggestion had been put forward that a photograph section be included in the schedule, and the meeting decided that this be done, the details gone into when the schedule comes before the Committee for consideration. It was also decided that a cottage garden class be again added to the Summer Show schedule. Messrs J. L. Christie and Hewitt were elected members. Reference was made by the Rev. W. H. Wklton, to the loss the Society would sustain by the depart-

ure of Mrs. McMurray from the district, and he moved that the secretary write Mrs. McMurray expressing the Society’s appreciation of her assistance and enthusiasm as a member of the committee and also as an exhibitor.

This was endorsed by Mr. Perreau and the President, and it was also decided to make Mrs. McMurray a life member in recognition of her services.

The President moved that a letter of appreciation be also sent to Mr. Peryman, who has now removed from the district.