The Nelson Evening Mail. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 1876.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XI, Issue 252, 21 November 1876, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 1876.

The balance sheet of the Nelson Agricultural Association, aa published in our advertising columns yesterday, is so far satisfactory that it shows a balance to credit, and, what is a far more healthy sign, it affords evidence of an increasing interest being taken in those matters with which the Society has to deal, the subscriptions for the current year together with the entrance fees at the late show amounting to £152, as "against £99 in the year ending March last. On the other hand it must be admitted that, considering the objects the Society has in view and the important bearing they must have on the welfare of the community at large, £152 as the total of subscriptions and entrance fees is but a pitiful amount, and is encouraging to the Association only to the extent of being considerably in excess of the previous year's receipts. Without being acquainted with all th© particulars, it appears to us that the Treasurer has not framed his balance sheet judiciously. He seems to have been actuated by a desire to place the Association's financial affairs in the most favorable light— a great mistake, v;, ihe way, for a Society that requires all the support that it can possibly obtain from the public. Sor instance, he states that at the close of the year ending March last there was a balance i of £52 in hand, but there is nothing to show that this was owing to the fact that no ploughing match was held 1 because the funds were at too low an ebb to provide the necessary expenses. Then in the balance sheet of the late Show the whole of the subscriptions for the current year are set down to the credit of that special account. This is a great mistake, as the subscriptions are for all purposes connected with the Association, and not merely for one solitary item in the year's programme. To put it shortly, by the statement of accounts published in our columns yesterday it would appear to the public that the Society is in a comparatively flourishing state, having, after providing for all liabilities, a credit balance of £92 whereas out of that sum nearly £60 would be required to defray the expenses of the late ploughing match. It really would ba worth while for the Association to republish the statement of their accounts in an amended form if it be their wish to make the exact position of tbeir affairs easily intelligible, and, should they do so, we would suggest that " subscriptions and entrances " should appear as three distinct items— for we presume that " entrances " includes gate money and exhibitors* entrance fees— thareby showing the amount of support received from the public exclusive of entrance fees. There is another suggestion we would venture to make. It is with reference to tbe day selected for the Show. Early in November appears to be the best and most fitting time ; why not then choose the 9th, which is a public holiday, when the townspeople could attend in far larger numbers? With the exception of the fourth of the month, no more unfortunate date, so far as those engaged in trade are concerned, could be selected than the three days which precede it, and much larger as was the attendance of visitors from town this year than on any previous occasion, owing to the facilities afforded by the railway, it was nothing to what it would have been had the Show been held a little later in the month, A more suitable day than the 9th of November could not be fixed upon. It is true that, as the 9th, it is not generally observed as a holiday in the country, but as the Show Day it would be ; on the other hand the Show Day | pc? se is not a holiday in town, but the 9th of November is. Combine the two, and there will be such a meeting of town and country friends on the Richmond Show ground as has never yet been seen. It is unnecessary to point out to shrewd men such as those who appeared on the late list of stewards to what extent this would affect the yearly receipts. The Association, we believe, is doing good, and is capable of doing much more, and ifc is with this view of giving it a helping hand that we have pointed out where, in our opinion, improvements might be made.