THE RECENT SHOW.

Shannon News, 26 February 1924, Page 3

THE RECENT SHOW.

NOT A FINANCIAL SUCCESS. ... MEETING TO DISCUSS ITS FUTURE. From the statement of finance presented at Saturday's meeting of the Horowhenua A. and P. committee, it was evident to members that the future policy of the Association, will have to be' careiully considered if the show is to be carried on''as a sound financial undertaking. As a result of the discussion it was decided to hold a special meeting to go into the FINANCIAL STATEMENT.

The following statement of ihe Association's, financial position was before the meeting:— Receipts.—To balance General Fund 1/6/23, £2l 1/1; Mardi Gras Fund, £212 10/10; donations, £Bl 5/; subscriptions, £194 10/; entry-fees, £202 2/6; gates, £ll6 8/; booth, £3O; stock oh account of exhibitors and sale show stock; £46 8/; ground iocs, £26.5/; and miscellanoeus'smaJi amounts brings the total up to £990 12/1. Expenditure.—Bv Mardi Gras Fund, £212 10/; Finance' Committee, £SO; J. Rebbell, refund, £SO; wages and >s»laries, £99 19/4; clerical assistance, £lO 12/6; and further small amounts, leaving a bank balance of £499 12/4, to > which could be added £BO 14/6, various sums to be collected.

The liabilities were—Prize-money, ,£375; catering, £SO 14s; advertising printing and stationery, £110; stock on account of exhibitors, £22 8/; insurance, £lO 9/1; refreshments; £l3 2/6; band, straw .and droving, £l6 17/6; labour, £l9 4/; miscellaneous, £l6' 16/6; leaving, a debit balance of £55 16/9. T3s\USE OF DEBIT BALANCE.

In duscussing the financial statement brought forward the Secretary stated 'that, whilst regretting the fact that there was a deibit balance, it would be agreed that had conditions been favourable the balance would have been on the other side. The gate receipts were £2O less than last year, a fact that was attributable to the wet weather. Donations were considerably less, the difference being about £53, and members' subscriptions were also £6O less than last year. Members must also take into consideration that.out of the year's working the £SO owed to Mr J. Kebbell had been paid. Still the fact remained that there was a loss of £55. He pointed Out that the competition classes were not well filled, the recepits falling off considerably- from this source. It was the entry of stock which had brought the amount up to about level with, that of last year. COLLECTION OF SUBSCRIPTIONS.

Mr C. Bould stated that one cause of the fa.lling-off, in .members' subscriptions was the plan adopted of sending out notices in July asking members to apply for tickets. A man redeiving such notice would put it away and forget to apply for the tickets when the time came. When the tickets were sent along in the ordinary .way in most instances a man straight away sent a cheque for the amount, whilst at present the matter was overlooked altogether. By sending out the tickets a few> men might use and'not pay for them, but they were very few -and it was obvious from, the' figures that members were, being lost through' the present policy. Mr Beckett stated that the present plan was ,throujghout! the South Island.

Mr J. McLeavey said. that the scheme in use now was one that no ■sensible man could object to. The ma,n who intended to pay would not quibble over' the manner in which the subscriptions were collected. The.' same trouble had been found in the Racing Club and he would advise that when they had adopted a workmanlike policy they should retain it. The ffecre;tar,y explained that the drop in subscriptions for the present vear amounted to nearly £6O, He found that outside members, many of whom !bad subscribed for years and never come to the Show would not under the present scheme send their subscriptions in. . Mr A. McLeavey said that the memtiers got 'adequate notice that the subscriptions were due and when they wanted tickets they could apply for" them. INCREASE OF GUARANTEE.

Regarding the shortage of money to pay the accounts owing, the Secretary stated that the overdraft must not exceed £IOO and would not be allowed to go on for more than three months. After thuft fresh arrangements must-be made with-the Bank. If they could get in the £BO outstanding they would be £55 out of pocket. There was £3O wiiich could be got in without difficulty and their liability would be as much above £55 as it was found impossible to get in. If the guarantors went to the Bank and agreed to increase the guarantee they would bo able to pay all the accounts immediately, when they could be reimbursed as the money came in. Besides the amounts shown m the statement tfliere was £SO owed in interest on debentures.

Mr J. McLeavey said it appeared that the Show was going' back financially every year. Why was tins? There were 57 members who -had not paid their subscriptions, but even if they had. received this money they would not yet We financial. Should they consider the raising of the subscriptions or lower the prize-money? It was a question which should begone into thoroughly. Mr F. H. R- Gorringc said that the matter of urgency just now was to arrange some means of liquidating the present liability. As a guarantor, he was willing to extend the guarantee to an amount sufficient to allow of this being done. This was supported by other guarantors present and adopted. Mr J. McLeavey moved that an extraordinary general meeting of the members of the Association and ol others interested be held in a month from date, the meeting to be held on a Wednesday afternoon, to go into the question'of putting Ihfi Show on a better fooling. This was seconded |>v Mr N. IToryobin and carried. ' Mr Ilorrobin moved a notice of mo-

tion to the effect that the General Committee should be reduced to 15. He contended that it would be much better to reduce Dhe number from the present number of 25, and get men who would be interested in the Association. This was seconded by Mr A. McLeavey. Accounts amounting to £630 were passed passed for payment. A hearty vote of thanks to the chair terminated the meeting.