A. AND P. ASSOCIATION

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 52, 23 October 1931, Page 4

A. AND P. ASSOCIATION

; ART UNION FUNDS BUILDING PROPOSAL DEFERREE . ' { AFTER PROLONGED ; f- DISCUSSION ' ■ f - • : ■ ' ; MORE INFORMATION WANTED A general committee meeting .of the Rotorua Agricultural and " Pastoral Asso'ciation was held on Wednesday evening in the- Dolly Varden, to • discuss - what Should: be done- with 'the money obtained from the Golden Key | Ar-t •Unioft.-- The president, Mr. H. P. ' Ford was-in the chair and others present were, .Messrs.- E.- Armer ,J., M. Robertsv E. La Trobe Hill; R. C, ' Smith,. Sloa-ne, S. J*. Hale/H. M.- Martin, .E. • Pratt, G. Ford, A. S. Keith, J. Buddle,=-0. Burrows, J-. Moule, C. S. Dalgleish, C. Shooter, H. Hardcastle, ,Dr. H. Bertramj, and the secretary, Mr. H. Wilkinson, Apologies were received from • Messrs. E. T. Johnson, J. W. Wrigley and C. H. Clinkard, M.P. The president welcomed those members, additional to the executive committee, who had come on to the committee- through their generous help in acting. as guarantors when it was necessary to find money to guarantee the prizes in the Golden Key Art Union. " Mr. Ford then invited discussion as to how the money obtained from the Art' 'Union should be used. He said that there was about £6000 in hand and that the meeting was now open for sUggestionS as to its expenditure. A few questions were asked as to whether the money obtained from the art union was not ear-marked for a definite purpose when application was made for permission to- hold the art union, but the president stated that there were no conditions as to how the money should be used, the Association having a free hand in the matter. Object of Art Union . £'The main object of the art union," said Mr. H. P. Ford, "was in the first instanee to relieve the guarantors of their burden in guaranteeing the fi~ nances of the Association; secondly for the housing of the winter show, and thirdly for the furtherance of the Association's activities." Dr. Bertram said that the question of housing the winter show could be better discussed if some idea of the cost of a suitable building could he given. If this were obtainable they could tell whether the expenditure would be an asset or not. If Mr. Hill could give "somle idea of the cost of such a building, then they would have some starting point for the discussion. Mr. Ford said that he had gone into that question to a certain extent, but was afraid that when the space required and the suitability of the building were considered, it would be found very nearly impossible to build. When the members heard Mr. HilFs report they could then say definitely one way or the other. The report was submitted and read giving the details of a suitable building at a .cost of between £6500 and £7000, which would house the show and at the same time be suitable for other functions, thus bringing in a certain amount of revenue by way of rent. At the conclusion of the reading of the report and after members had inspected the plans submitted by Mr. Hill, the president asked for their views on the matter. One mernber stated that he thought that the cost of such a building put it out of the question, and his views were upheld by Mr. H. P. Ford, who was of the opinion that the Association had just got out of debt and should not get into debt again. Dr. Bertram asked if building costs were npt likely to go down within the next two years. Hard to Answer Mr. Hill replied that that was a question h'ard to answer, but he did not think that they would become any lower as prices were practically at bedrock now. That some definite sum should be decided upon as the amount the Association, was -prepared to invest in a building, was the opinion of Mr. Keith Mr. Hill could then be asked to submit plans Of , a building to that amount. The view was expressed by Dr. Bertram that they had £6000 in hatid which at interest would bring in about £300 per annum for the use of the Association and that investment of the capital was better than building at the present time. He was of the opinion that costs would fall further and that if a building was proceeded with now it might drop in value. He did not think that the Association should rush into anything at present. "Money," he said, "earns money, but a bulding does not earn anything unless it can be let." He advised members to think a great deal before they spent the capital. "The show has been a good advertisement to the town," he continued, "but not such a great benefit to the district. It brings visitors into the town who spend money here,. but it does not bring many farmers to settle in the district." He thought that a summer and a winter show, run at a slight loss, which the Association could now alford, would be of greater benefit to the district than just a winter show in their own building. Agrpement with the doctor's views was expressed by Mr. Buddle, who added that they should wait -and see how the financial position of the country Went before anything is 'done. Show An Advertisement Mr. Ford did not agree with Dr. Bertram that * the winter show was of Iittle value to the djstrict. He said- that. it was an advertisement showing people what the land here; could produce and thus encouraged farmers to take up land in the district. Rotorua as was "demonstrated by the show, could rival any district in New Zealand iii the growing of root crops..' . . . Mr, Burrows moved -that the Association • construct a - building which, with furnishings, would not exceed a-cost of £4000. Ottce they had .a building for the winter show, he said, th'ey could then considet a summer ' show. ' -The motion lapsed for want of a seeondeiv ; ■ ■ Mr. Mai'tin said that unless the

building would be revenue producing he would not he in favour of its erection. Mr. Dalgleish said that the first thing to he considered was the floor space required. Mr. Roberts suggested that now that the discussion • had been opened up the meeting should be postponed to allow the members to think the j matter over. It was moved by Mr. G. Ford and seconded by Mr. R C.. Smith that the expenditure of the money be deferred for twelve months after it comes due from its present investment. It | would thus be bringing in interest over the period and at the conclusion of the period its expenditure could be considered. An amendment was moved by Mr. H. P. Ford and seconded by Mr. Burrows that consideration of the .question of building should be deferred for three months when another meeting could be called and the question again opened. The amendment was carried. Another. motion, introduced by Dr. Bertram and Mr. R, C. Smith, that Mr. La Trobe Hill be asked to prepare rough sketches of buildings in various materials with sufficient floor space, giving estimates of costs of the erection of such buildings, was carried. The buildings were to be constructed in such a way that they could be added to and improved as was found necessary in the future and the maximum cost was not to ex-