SOUTHLAND A. AND P. SOCIETY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2894, 1 September 1909, Page 9

SOUTHLAND A. AND P. SOCIETY.

ANNUAL MEETING. t (FbOU Om ,OWH CORXBSPONJDENT.) " 1 INVERCABGILL, August 29-^| , The annual meeting on Saturday was* attended- by aboat 80 members, the reI tiring president (Mr J. Gilkivbn) * being in the chair. The report and balance sheet, which have already been quoted in these columns, were adopted. In speaking to the report, Mr Gilkison mentioned that" the year had been a record one for entries and for gate money, and. he made an appeal for increased membership. Though there had last year been an increase of some 80 members, the total number was yet only half of wha,t, it should be. With a . large membership* the association would have j an assured revenue, and would be able Ho extend its usefulness in many directions. Mr Gilkison mentioned that the association might very well take up the matter -of having aIL entire horses travelling in the district put under a veterinary examination, Jor soundness. He pointed out that such an examination was necessary in Victoria, and that all horses imported to that State had to be sound. If the export of horses from Southland to Victoria continued at the present rate all our sound stocks would soon be exported, and only unsound stock wonld ,be left. ' ■ Mr Jas. Fleming endorsed the president's remarks- regarding the necessityfor a larger membership, and indicated that it was among the farmers themselves that the chief apathy in this con nection lay. Mr H. M'Call (Seaward Downs) supported the president in his advocacy of •veterinary inspection of horses. Mr iL A. Anderson (Invercargill) pointed out the likelihood of the ' corporation of Invercargill and the", Go- ! vernment coming to terms in the matter ;of reclaiming part, oi the estuary. That , work would increase the value of the ayeociation's new '.ground threefold. One way and .another the ground bad cost £IQO an acre, but if he now owned it lie would not sell it for £300 an acre. The following office-bearers were-elected for the ensuing year : — President, Mr Jas. King (Clifden) ; vice-president, Mr ! Jas. Callender (Invercargill) ; 'directors^ — • Messrs Walter Blakie (Ryol Bush), Jno. ! Ewan (Drummond), Jno. Gilkison. (Inver- | cargill), Jno. Grant (Underwood), Colin ; , Gray (Invercargill), Alex. S. Holms (Waimahaka), W. D. Hunt (Invercargill), , Hugh S. Irving (Roslyn Plains), and ! Ja«. Taylor (Waikiwi) ; auditor, Mr Wm. Young (Invercargill). 1 Of the directors Mr Gray will hold . office for one year, Mr Irving for two years, and the others for three years. i There was some discussion o» the date fixed for the horse parade (Thurs- | day. October 7). It was pointed out that this would clash with the winter 1 stock sale, and also that were the parade ■ held on a Wednesday (the town half- j , holiday) a larger gate \rould probably ; result. Eventually the date of the parade was changed to Wednesday. October 6. ) Mr Gilkison mentioned that there had been some talk of cutting out the dog ; j trials on account of the difficulty in < ' getting a supply of sheer>. He wan pleascti to be able to nay that this year a number of sheep had been offered free for the trials, which would be good new* * for the doggy men. ' ' I A matter that evoked some discussion i was the possibility of evolving some j i scheme by whicb all parts of the province < : might secure equitable representation on ] the directorate, and eventually a resolu- ! « tion was passed recommendinc the present j • directors to take into consideration the 1 question of definine the districts of the 1 province, so that all-round representation mieht be made possible. <"— J The meeting closed- with a vote of i thanks to last year's president, vice- ' president, and directorate, and to the ' clerical staff.