FRANKLIN A. AND P. SOCIETY.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 196, 1 August 1916, Page 1

FRANKLIN A. AND P. SOCIETY.

Annual Meeting. The annual meeting of the Fiauklin A. and P. Society was held in tho Masonic Hall on Friday afternoon last, Mr I). R. Hamilton presiding over a representative attendance. REPORT AND BALANCE SHEET. The report and balance sheet, which have already been published in these columns, was presented by the secretary (Mr J. M. Baxter). Mr Patterson enquired as to the amount of profit that accrued by way of their last Show.—The Piesident explained that although the exact figures had not been ascertained there had been a slight profit.—Mr Patterson remarked that the balance sheet showed that the profit was £l3B and he considered the Committee had done remarkably well against heavy odds. Proceeding*, Mr Patterson complained that the balance sheet was not a full statement of the Society's financial affairs. While sections in the old showground had been sold and the previous year's balance sheet had included a sum of £220 for loose boxes, etc., there was no mention of either item. He further considered that the values the Sociaty had placed on the sections in the old showground should also have appeared.—The President stated that after the balance sheet had been prepared the omission of the loose boxes as an asset had been noticed. At the same time he desired to explain that after being removed and some of the timber discarded their value was not so much as had been the case when they were standing on the old! ground. As regards the two sections sold, their transfer had not been completed and consequently their value was still included in the figure set down for the old ground as a whole. This latter item appeared on the balance sheet in accordance with the Government valuation and therefore they would bo in a correspondingly better position 4f the sections, when sold, brought in a larger amount. Mr Patterson next took exception to tho sum of £37 13s exponded on hay, green feed, etc., for the Show, which he consideied was too high in compaiisiou to the amount (£22) for the same item in the previous year.—Mr E. Allan remarked that hay was very expensive last year, while Mr J. Roulston looked on it as a lloating asset, which was a necessity, which left a good iuipressiou with exhibitors.--The President remarked that the Society had found it advisable to provide feed for stock, the tame being appreciated by exhibitors. Mr Allan suggested that the Society should move in t.'ie matter, which had been taken up by other societies, of apprpaching Parliament with a request to have showgrounds exempted from rates.— The president explained that the Society was already moving in the matter, and had adopted a resolution forwarded by the Palmerston North Society bearing on the subject,—Mr Dynes Pulton informed members that at the Agricultural Conference held in Wellington recently a resolution supporting the suggestion was passed with only one dissentient. Mr F. Perkins suggested that as the old showground constituted a

j heavy drain on the Society's finance, I which would be avoiJo.l by the sections being sold and ihe bank overdraft reduced, members should show J practical interest in the Society by purchasing the sections. Thero were, he said, some 40 sections on the ground, and he would be prepared to buy one if 39 other members followed suit, —Messrs A 13. Barter, Dynes Fulton and J. Patterson expressed readiness to purchase one section apiece. On the motion of Mr Barter, seconded by Mr J. Wylie, the report and balance sheet were adopted. ALTERATION OF RULES. In accordance with notice of motion, the president proposed that the annual subscription for members should be raised from 10s to iil. In doing so he said that of the '2'} leading Societies in tho Dominion the Franklin A and P. Society was the only one in which tho membership fee was 10s. He claimed that if the fee thirty years ago was worth 10s it was well worth £l now. He considered it was questionable if the Society would not be in a better financial position even if they lost -30 per cent of members as a result of the change because at present a large amount due for fees had continually to be written off Mr J. Roulston, in seconding tho proposal, said that he was firmly convinced that a radical change in the policy of the Society was necessary. While tho districts around Pukekohe had gone ahead the Society continued to remain in the same position as it was 30 years ago through being short of working capital. They possessed a showground which would be second to none in the Auckland province and there was no reason why the Franklin A. and P. Society should not be the leading Society in the province.—Mr Perkins considered that the suggestion, if decided on, would result in placing tho finances on a sound basis as the bulk of members would willingly pay the increased fee.—Mr Patterson thought that the Society had done well on a 10s fee as instanced by £OOO being paid out in prize money. A number of sympathisers, he said, would be cut oft if the change was made.—Mr Wylie in supporting the proposal believed that the Society would lose very fow members by the adoption of the motion.—Mr Fulton also supported, remarking that it would take a burden off the Executive's shoulders—Mr J. W. Johns considered the Society w as] justified in raising tho fee and-ho thought that every farmer within twenty miles ought to willingly pay the £l. The resolution was carried unanimously. A motion by Mr A. P. Daysh, that the subscription for junior members should be 10s, was adopted. Mr J. Wylie moved that the annual meeting of members should be held in the month of June each year, instead of in July. The end of July was. he considered, one of the most important periods in the year for farmers, while June was an off month, with the result that better attendances would be secured at the annual meeting if it was held in that mouth. —The resolution was seconded by Mr Roulston and was carried. ASSISTANCE ACKNOWLEDGED The president, before vacating tho chair, thanked the Committee and Mr and Mrs Baxter for tho support they had given him during his two years' tenure of ottice.

ELECTION OF OFFICERS. Ihe following officers were elected, viz. : —President, Mr C. K. Lawrie ; senior vice-president, Mr Dyues Fulton ; junior vice-presilent, Mr J. N. Massey; executive committee, Mossis D. R. Hamilton, J. Roulston, 11. Crai-, J. Wylie, J. H. Webb, J. Schlaepfer, A. B. Barter, W. Young, A. P. Daysh, J. Konnelly, J. Potter, R Bilkey, F. Shipherd, J. Sharpe, F. Ballard, J. Wallace, W. K Lawton, F. Perkins, W. J. Rutherford and F. Hubbard; treasurer, Mr Bockett; auditor?, Messrs E. Allan and F. E. Simpson. MISCELLANEOUS. After briefly thanking the members for having elected him to the position of president, Mr Lawrie announced that the dates fixed for the show next year were Friday and Saturday, February 23rd and 21th. The thanks of the meeting were conveyed to the retiring president (Mr Hamilton), to Mr and Mrs Baxter, and to the retiring committee by acclamation, and it was decided to place on record the Society's appreciation of the work the Rev. F. ii. Dobson lnd done as one of the Society's audi'ors. On tho suggestion of Mr Simpson it was decided to leave to tho incoming commit'ee the matter of making enquiries regarding the shield presented by the Auckland Winter Show Committee, which had been won twice by the Franklin A. and P. Society, with a view of securing it, and it was further resolved to recommend to tho incoming committee the advisability of getting independent valuers to value the old showground sections with a view of disposing of them.