AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL ASSOCIATION.

Patea Mail, Volume IX, Issue 1071, 10 August 1883, Page 2

AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL ASSOCIATION.

The Wanganui A. and P. Association is in a bad way, sick even unto death. From the report of the meeting on Wednesday, it appears that the total liabilities over assets amount to £232, but this is probably under the mark, as the assets are said to be unlikely to yield the sum put down against them in the balance sheet. Then there is an overdraft of £304, which a troublesome bank manager wants to have reduced instantev. How to do it out of nothing is the problem which the society has to work out, and the members don’t seem to like the task. They have adjourned for a fortnight to think it over, and we can only hope that they may be able to “ see it through.” Now what about the Patea Society ; how does it stand ? If we are rightly informed, the liabilities amount to about £IOO, and the assets including subscriptions due to £4OO. As things go, we should say that the position was good, decidedly good, and members ought to be thankful that there is no immediate prospect of a “ levy” as seems likely to bo the case with Wanganui. Show time is coming round too, and it will soon be necessary to decide if the annual exhibition is to bo held. With an extending market, such as meat freezing, is bound to produce; it seems to us that these annual shows should acquire an additional importance in breeder’s eyes because increased attention will be given to sheep breeding especially. And by comparison an exhibitor will be able to sec how far he is progressing in the direction of producing a good marketable article, besides being able to note how his fellow settlers are getting along. There are many advantages in this connection which we need not repeat; all we would say is that it would be a pity it the show were not held this year. With the Wanganui Association in extremis we ought to make an effort to attract exhibits from afar, and so increase the importance and good name of the district as the progressive homo of agricultural industry. Then is one little matter which we should like to see the Association lake up, and that is the small bird nuisance. With the extension of grain growing we fear that farmers will suffer severely from these feathered pests, unless some steps are taken to diminish their rapidly increasing numbers. The remedy is simple ; poisoned grain and a reward of so much per dozen eggs will do the business. Funds of course will be necessary, but they will be trifling compared to what the loss by destruction of crops’will be if the small birds are allowed to multiply unchecked.