A. AND P. ASSOCIATION.

Otaki Mail, Volume 26, 30 June 1919, Page 3

A. AND P. ASSOCIATION.

$ ANNUAL MEETING. Tlie annual meeting of tho abovei Association was bold, at Levin on Sat-* urday afternoon, Mr G. Tully (president) presiding. There was an attendance of about twenty members. The report and balance-sheet were adopted without being read, they having been previously circulated among members. Annual Report.

The annual report was as follows: — Your committee have pleasure in presenting to you the thirteenth annual report and balance-sheet, and in doing so express their appreciation of the loyal support which has been accorded the Association by all concerned. You are all aware that the last show was not held for patriotic benefits, as it was thought that the Association should endeavour to place itself on a better financial footing should there be any profits.. But taking the figures of the present balancesheet it is easily seen, as was pointed out in the committee's report of last year, that the members ’ subscription and entrance fees are too small, or tho Association is too liberal with its prize omney. There is also a marked decrease each year in the amount of donations, which moans that the only revenue the Association has to work on is the members’ subscriptions, entrance fees and gate returns, and when the sum of £3OO odd is taken from these items to meet prize money alone, there is very little left for general expenses. It is quite noticeable that the Association is still advancing, as the total number of entries received for the last show reached 045, compared with SSI fho previous year, which goes to show ? that the Association will need to j seriously consider tho matter of a twodays’ fixture in tie near future, as it is now impossible to do justice to both j exhibitors and the general public in ; the timo available with a ono-day fix- ' ture. There is every prospect of the 1 present showground being acquired and . made a permanent one, and your com- j touted hope that members generally • svill give the proposal their utmost sup- j gort Sri this direction. * Balance-Sheet. j

The balance-sheet was as follows: — J Receipts: Balance May 31, IMS, £1 j 3.8 s 2d; cash in hand, £2; donations, £SS j 6s; refund of prizes, £G; members’ sub- ■ Seriptions, £136 10s; arrears, £9 10s; ' entry fees, £I2S ISs Gd; advances' front t Post Office Savings Bank account, £6O; i gates, £SB 10s (outsido) and £36 5s ' (lawn); guessing competitions, £24 Is j Cd; catalogues, £6 4s; refund fromCommissioner Stamps (ticket tax), £6 j ISs llu; ground fees (sideshows), £S 2s 6cl. Total, £573 Ss 2d. Expenditure: Brize money, £3OO 15s; j printing and stationery, £4B 12s lid; ) postages and petty cash, £l2 15s Sd; ( Secretary’s salary and wages, £SS Ss; rtfund to P.O. Savings Bank account, £2O; Commissioner of Stamps (ticket "tax), £l2 17s iftf; accident insurance, £3 12s Cd; luncheons, £l4 Ss; liquor, etc., £S 11s Sd; cartage, £5, 0s Cd; Levin Band, £3 3s; rent, £25; timber, ■ £4 2s Cd; trophy and engraving cups, < £5 ICs; sundry accounts, £ll 16s sd; j bank fees, 10s; balance Bank Austria- , lasia, less uuprescuted cheques, £-1 15s j

Scl. Total, £573 Ss 2d. Assets: Yards, hurdles, etc., £SO; subscriptions outstanding, £22 10s; enfey fees outstanding, £5 15s Cd; credit P.O. Savings Bank, £34 15s Ocl; credit Bank of Australasia, £4 15s 9d; sale Stock outstanding, £9; total, £I2G 175.Liabilities: Secretary to May 31, 3919, £S 6s Sd; balance, £HS 10s 4d. _ The Chairman pointed out that it was impossible for the Association to carry on with members’ subscriptions at 10s, and considered the amount -must bo raised, or the Association "go out.” Last year a draw of £6O had to be made on the reserve fund, and m I Ms opinion it would be better to go cut fighting for £1 subscription than j on 10s. The Association might lose a . few members, but that could not bo : helped, and he would rather this than , curtail the prize money. Apart from : tips matter he considered the balancesheet was satisfactory. Referring to .the ground, Mr Tully considered there was “now a better prospect of buying the property, and considered it should fee made freehold. It had been said it the grounds were made freehold tho Association would have to pay taxes. He pointed out that years ago the (TarataM-Carterton Racing Club was in a similar position. They bought their jeouisc, and now it was one of the best •assets in the Wairaxapa. Ho moved the adoption of the report and balance-

sheet. Mr C. I. Harkness seconded, and in doing so endorsed the chairman’s remarks, strongly contending the subscription fee should not bo less than £l. A similar amount was paid to fho Racing Club, and the money parted with'with a smile, then how much more willingly should show members pay, as the Association was good for the development of the disirict. In his opinion it was also a wise suggestion. to make the ground freehold, and the place could be made the national sporting ground of the district. Refer-j-in" to the balance-sheet, it appeared to him the Society had. made a loss, bui ’the balance-sheet did not. show if, and therefore did not reveal the true posi-

tion of affairs. Mr P- W. Goldsmith said the balancesheet did not show the position in as [,„ n y words- but the position was cleai -fe they were £4O in debt. Then ■were subscriptions and .entry fee: which would P rovc S ood ’ an< if ‘members would only square ui before the end of the financial jea: the balance-sheet would look - mud better \t Woodville the members Subscriptions amounted to £223 a jagainst Horowhenua-s £146, while a the former place. £lsl was received a. donations as against £9l here. On th Other hand Woodville did not give a touch in prize money. It was eviden Jhg Eorowhenua Association did not ge

enough income, and this, was the mat1, ter that had to be tackled. If the * Society wanted a boom for a year he ! suggested the luncheon booth be run ■’ by the ladies as was done during tho ‘ war, • when some £2OO was netted. It rested with the Association to work up enthusiasm, and -to make the finance! safe for a year or so. The Chairman considered the people of Levin apathetic in the interests of the town, especially seeing the amount of money made by the tradespeople

through the show. It would be intcrcsting to know the sum cleared by : them. Mr W. Ryder considered outstanding subscriptions should be wiped off rather than put on the balance-shoot. Mr R. V. Brown considered some of the exhibitors joined so as to get a reduction in entrance fe'es. Referring to the- Woodville show he said he knew exhibitors who would not again show there as the prize money was too small. It would not pay tho Horowhenua Association to reduce their prize money. The balance-sheet tvas then adopted. Election of Officers.

The following were elected officers:— Patron, Mr W. H. Field, M.P. (reelected); president, Mr S. A. Broadbolt; vice-presidents, Messrs J. Kcbbell, Ben Ling, W. H. Simcox, W. Tompsitt, W. J. Howell, J. Hammond Murray, P. A. Gillies, Jas. McLeavey (all re-elected); general committee, Messrs F. G. Roc, R. A. McDonald, .J. Ryder, T. Bevan, J. Johnson, W. Stickles, W. Ryder, W. H. Weggory, F. Davies, AY. M. Simcox, E. S. Lancaster, Geo. Sievers, T. H. Colpiuan, J. M. Broughton, Alf. McLeavey, R. V. Brown, C. C. Higginson, G. H. Kingdon, R. L. How, C. I. Harkness, Sid Sievers, E. M. Herrick, P. W. Goldsmith, A. Campion, T. 11. Powles, E. Blaeklaw, P. Healey, H. M.. Essex, C. Duncan, J. Thompson, W. Fyilc, C. F. Rockol, H. S. George, n. J. Lancaster (all re-elected), E. Siglcy, F. H. Gorringe, G. Tully, and Tubman; hon. auritor, Mr C. H. Pyko (re-elected); hon. treasurer, Mr P. W. Goldsmith (reelected); secretary, Mr R. D. Wallace (rc-clectcd). A high tribute was paid to tho retiring president, and eulogistic reference made to the incoming president, who, it was stated, had bcon one of tho most rctivo members since tho Society’s in-

:epuon, ; • Membership Tec. The Chairman, at this stage, proioscd that the subscription fee be £l, met added that when in 'Wellington ut lie. Agricultural Conference he was old tho Society was the only one between tho Bluff and North Cape that iharged a joining fee of 10s. Mr Harkness, in seconding, said it lid not behove this Association to be in exception, and thought if others sould pay £1 surely Horowhenna rcsilents could. Mr Goldsmith said the rise was compulsory, and would not be made for r un. Mr J. Kcbbcll thought if the subicription was to bo increased it shenld :arry with it two ladies’ tickets. It was eventually decided to increase ho subscription to £l, to include two

adics’ tickets. A Two Days’ Show. Hr Alf,. McLe'avey moved that it be i recommendation to ttia incoming committee tliat a two days’ show be held. !>y doing so it would give breeders an opportunity of seeing other people’s stock, and. on tkc second day they might also transact, business. Hr Brown seconded, and in doing so said men invariably told him it was not worth while going to Horowkenua for one day, also that cattle got knocked about, and that the journey was not worth ii. If a two days’ show was to be hold the Association should try and arrange for paddocking, and provision made for putting in green feed. Hr Darkness supported the suggestion, and considered it advisable to set up a special committee to go into the question of paddocking. The exhibits were so numerous that it was generally about mid-day before judging was completed. It was agreed that the matter be referred to a special committee, to be appointed by the general committee.

Hr Walter Ryder complained of the absence of eertain stewards on show days, and considered they should be on the ground earlier to attend to stock. He would also like to see the secretary on the ground for half an hour before breakfast as information was often required. If the show was going to be run successfully such matters must be attended to. >

Tho secretary pointed out that he was on the ground early, while Mr Harkncss said he was glad to hear criticism. As a cattle steward he admitted lie was one of those that arrivdd on tho ground too late, but the trouble was that ho and others were heavy exhibitors and unable to cope with the dual duties. As chief cattle steward he had done his best, neglecting his stock to do so. He thought it was up' to the stock agents, who were used to draft-

1 ing, to assist. .■ The Chairman thought it better not I to have cattle men as cattle stewards, I while Hr S. Sievers considered the ’ | coßJEJittee to blame for appointing the •wrong stewards. He also considered i the secretary should bq at the shovc i grounds on the morning of show and noi at the town ogee, i The matter wjs referred to' the comi mittee, and the meeting adjourned.