The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1912. A HEALTHY SOCIETY.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 34, 5 February 1912, Page 4

The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1912. A HEALTHY SOCIETY.

1 he. Stratford A. and I*. Association’s second; annual meeting'held last Saturday was cortainly evidence' of!'the lively ~ and thorough ; interest : which is 1 being maintained in the institution, and augurs well for its‘ future success. Mr R. Dingle, the retiring President, : may well be ’proud of the work done during his two years of office, for they have been strenuous years in which, in the breaking of now ground, many obstacles had to be faced and overcome. But it is quite evident from" the very generally, ex-, coJlentMbalance sheet presented,, .that theUAssociation is on a thoroughly scUlnd ' financial footing. The '' able and thoughtful criticism of the balance sheet by some of the members present was offered in a spirit of helpfulness and, we are sure, in the sincerest desire to help forward one of Taranaki’s most useful institutions. The criticism offered could, in no sense, be taken as reflecting on the outgoing officials, but preferred rather as a guide to those who follow, particularly with regard to the need for keeping an ever watchful eye on certain items of expenditure which in all societies have an unfortunate knack of growing larger even under the best management. The newlyelected committee and executive consist largely, we are pleased to note, of the men who have worked so splendidly in the Association’s interests from the beginning of its existence, with, at the head as President, Mr W. P. Kirkwood, who, as a member of the executive, has rendered ungrudging and very valuable service to the Association. In fact, as members representing both town and country remarked, no one connected with the Society had done more to help it forward than Mr Kirkwood, and few could have done so well. That the administrative head of an A. and P. Association should necessarily he a farmer by no means follows, for organisation is, after all, a main channel to the success of our Show, and that Mr Kirkwood possesses energy, tact, and marked administrative ability, is freely conceded even by the few members who tentatively, suggested the selection of a farmer always as President. Mr Kirkwood, we are convinced, will do well for the Association, and for personal service rendered fully deserves the honour the mooting of last Saturday unanimously conferred upon him. The general committee of the Association has by no means an easy year ahead of it, for, in addition to the work of preparing for the next Show, there are two important questions referred to it from the annual meeting for consideration. They are, firstly, that a Gymkhana bo held on the Show Ground on Easter Monday, and, secondly, that the next annual Show be a three days’ fixture. There are many points to he weighed in both propositions, though in taking such progressive steps there is little to fear, and we believe that eventually the Stratford A. and P. Association will hold a three days’ Show even if such a course is not decided upon this year. Another important matter to bo dealt with is the selection of a secretary to succeed Mr Edward Jackson, who finds the pressure of increasing private business makes it imperative for him to decline to act

longer in the position iio lias so well lillcd. .Many eulogistic references wore made at the annual meeting to Mr Jackson’s yeoman service, and it is gratifying to know that he will coiltinue to actively further the interests of the Association as a member of the General Committee. In congratulating the retiring officials on their lino record, we 1 can only hope that the new President and those who have been chosen to work with him may achieve even bettor results, and that members of the Association will not fail to remember that something can ho done by every individual to assist in obtaining such a desirable result, by loyalty to the executive and the Association.

AN INCIDENT DONE WITH.

ft was certainly regrettable that the A. and P. Association on Saturday was drawn into such a decidedly personal discussion. Doubtless the member who opened the question did it in all good faith, for he is an upright and esteemed citizen, to whom a knowingly unfair attitude on any question would be impossible. But he was manifestly unwise, and the meeting very plainly indicated that it did not hold with his action. That the member referred to—Mr George Sangster—should have been almost the first man to publicly congratulate the now President and extend to him the right hand of fellowship was a fine thing, and the previous incident may now very well be forgotten.

OUR GYMKHANA.

Stratford is to have a Gymkhana of its own on Easter Monday, and the A. and P. Association is going to direct it. This latter fact makes success assured, for when the A. and P. people get really going, things have to move. Easter Monday is a sort of blank holiday in Taranaki with nothing very special for anybody to do, unless he cares to travel a long distance to witness a race meeting. Consequently, Taranaki ought to welcome Stratford’s Gymkhana—strange animal though it may appear to some —but we can assure timid‘ and fearsome readers that the Gymkhana is quite harmless and very entertaining, and it is more than likely to become a very popular Easter fixture in Stratford.

THE WELLINGTON STRIKE.

Commenting on the impossible attitude now assumed by the tramway strikers in Wellington, the “Dominion’.’ says ;—/The point has been reached at which the patience with which' thc.Copijcil hap .been negotiating with the strikers Cannot ,be prolonged without turning into pusillanimity. The citizens, hate been very 'patient;- but they must; be j beginning now to feel that the l 'cityls dignity is already suffering from the readiness of the Council to continue an interminable game of chaffering. It is the duty of tlie' Council either to announce, that negotiations ended on Friday or to laydown an absolutely final set of terms iiv which .the city’s interests shall be clearly safeguarded. . Any further, backing and filling will only make more difficult the protection of the city against the agitators who are leading' the tramwayraen astray. The “Southland Times” is not indulging in idle rhetoric; but is stating a -plain and important fact, when it says that Wellington’s City Council has been forced. into the position of a trustee for the other municipal bodies throughout the country.