A. AND P. ASSOCIATION.

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

A. AND P. ASSOCIATION.

ANNUAL MEETING OF MEMBERS. After wo wont to press on Saturday the annual meeting of the Stratford A. and P. Association was concluded, the discussion on the report and bal-ance-sheet being resumed. Mr. G. Sangster thought there had been a great deal of hair-splitting, a view witn which Mr. Coleman did not agree, that gentleman considering that such criticism was decidedly helpful. The motion' to adopt the report and balance-sheet was then put to the meeting and carried unanimously'. New President Elected. Mr. B. Dingle having retired, Mr. 1\ Webb proposed for the presidency Air. W. P. Kirkwood, whose energetic services on the executive he warmlyeulogised. Air. Watkins (Huiroa) seconded the motion. Air. AV. Rogers then proposed Mr. Sangster, who declined nomination. Rising, however, Air. Sangster said that no member of the executive was more deserving of the honour of being elected president cf the A. and P. Association than the one proposed by Mr. Bird—Air. AV. P. Kirkwood. But, at the same time, they, as an Association, should consider the business in which Air. Kirkwood was engaged. He was very sorry to have to say this, but he had to say what was in his mind. There were a great many members of the Association who did not see eye-to-eye with that business, and fchev must consider whether their action was going to prejudice the memoersliip. He was not saying anything personally against Air. Kirkwood—there was no member in the Association who had done such good work, but he thought that they must look at the matter in this light: Was it going to hurt their membership?

A Voice: Not a bit! Air. Dingle: Should never have been mentioned.

Mr. Sangster: “Yes it should be I mentioned, Mr. Chairman. I have raised that question. I will leave it with the other members.” Mr. 1). J. Malone said a wide question had been raised. If Mr. Kirkvood, because he happened to be connected with the liquor business, was not fit to be president of the Association, he was surely not eligible to be i member of the executive. He (the speaker) was also connected with the .iouor business, and if Mr. Kirkwood •vcre ruled out he supposed, according ,o Messrs.'Sangster and Moricon, that he would be debarred, too, if, at some future time, he should happen to aspire to the presidency of the Association, or that some members thought he was worthy of the honour. Ho considered it most regrettable that in a matter of this sort a man’s business could not be let alone. If Mr. Kirkwood was ineligible for the office af president he should not be on the executive, and he (the speaker) was in the same position. Mr. R. McK. Morison said it was not a question at all of Mr. Kirkwood aeing connected with the liquor biisiaess. Any business was the same. The president had to meet farmers, and he should be a fanner. For that reason ne thought they should give the ques.ion 'serious consideration—whether it Would be'in. the best interests of the Association to have a president who ,vas not a farmer. He did not think it .voold be: [Personally, he had nothing • tgainst Mr. Kirkwood. ‘ ‘Mr. Kirkwood as Mr. Kirkwood,” is a jolly good fellow, and we all agree with thatd’ He would have opposed the nomination of a draper just the same. Mr. Johnston said-the line of argument used by Messrs. Sangster and Morison was certainly difficult to fol- • ow. He would like to remind the meeting that the president of Taraaaki’s oldest A. and P. Association .vas a draper!•; ' Mr. J. Smith said he was opposed to Mr. Kirkwood’s nomination. Mr Osmond said that the main thing vas' to cbnsider the absolute fitness d a man for the position. Personally io heartily supported the nomination jf Mr. Kirkwood, because those of shem who know now much work Mr. Kirkwood has put into the affairs of the Association knew also he would give every satisfaction in the office of president. He regretted exceedingly to have heard tins question of a man’s business being brought up. They should ask, rather, whether he was qualified for the position. He referred to other presidents who had oeen very successful in other towns, md who had been business men and oot been farmers. “I don’t think,” he concluded, “we should go into a man s easiness at all. Put him in there, and lever mind his business.” Mr. Young remarked that it was no ase having a farmer as president unless he was a retired farmer, because he had not the time to give. Mr. Kirkwood was a business man, who had the Association’s interests at heart, and he would be available at all times. It had been pointed out that last year they had held a meeting of the committee nearly every week, and it .was essential that the president should be close at hand. Even those members who had spoken against Mr. Kirk-: wood’s nomination had eulogised his splendid- qualities for the position. He regretted that this personal element had been allowed to creep in. He should certainly support Mr. Kirkwood’s nomination. Air. George Hobbs said he did not know What they were 1 all talking about. He would support Air. Kirkwood all the time. “He is going to make you a splendid president, and if you are loyal to the Association you will be loyal to Mr. Kirkwood.” He did not, however, blame Air. Sangster for bringing the matter up, but, as he had remarked, it was for the members to decide. . Mr. R. T. B. Mellow (Kaponga) said he was utterly surprised that such a point should have been raised. They dl knew the very excellent work that Mr. Kirkwood had done, and that he was the right man for the position of president of our Association. He was entitled to the honour, and he heartily supported it. In refutation of what Air. Sangster : and Mr. Morison had said he instanced the .success of the Manawatu A. and P. Association, whose presidents had been on more than one occasion business men and merchants. , At this stage of the proceedings the President rose and said:_ “I really don’t know what all this is about. There is nothing before the meeting except the nomination of Air. Kirkwood, and I intone! to support In in. H e has worked day and night in the interests of this Association I have boon closely associated with him in the work, and I know, as a matter of fact, that I as president have received a lot of credit for work done by Mr Kirkwood. ' I would advise you to put Air Kirkwood in as president, and give him your loyal support Remember that as members of the A. and P. Association it is the Association and not the man. AVith Mr Kirkwood at the head, I am sure there is a great year in front of you. The motion was then put and carried unanimously amidst applause. Mr Dingle retired from the chair, and Air

Kirkwood took his place. Alessrs Dingle and Sangster giving the new President a hearty hand-shake.

“Thank you for electing me your President,” said Air Kirkwood, “and 1 assure you 1 very highly appreciate the honour you have conferred upon me. I may say that lam very sorry that a personal matter should have cropped up, but now that the question is settled, I feel sure that Mr Sangster and Air Morison will be among the strongest workers for the Association in the coming year. (Applause.) So far as 1 am personally concerned I assure you of my best endeavours to further the interests of the Association, but I believe that it is absolutely necessary that the whole of the members should give their hearty cooperatoin for the success that is so generally to be desired.” Air Kirkwood prophesied a great future for their show. “I have no doubt at all,” he said, “that in a very short time the Stratford A. and P. Association will hold not only the premier dairy show in the Dominion, but the premier dairy show in Australasia. (Hear, hear.) Continuing, Mr Kirkwood said he thought, as Stratford was the great dairying centre, it would be better in the interests of that important industry there only one dairy show be hold in Taranaki and, of course, that one at Stratford. He did not know, however, how their friends (Hawera and New Plymouth) would like that. He spoke not parochially .and for themselves altogether, but because of the unique situation of Stratford as the centre of the district. Referring to the ex-President and the retiring secretary, Mr Kirkwood said of the former that ho had been an able administrator and was always courteous and tactful—at all times he had the welfare of the Association'at heart, and the Association had been indeed fortunate in securing his services for the first two years of its existence. As for Mr Jackson, he thought he was the most popular secretary “anywhere,” and spoke feelingly of his genial nature and never-failing courtesy. (Applause.) Other Officers. The following vice-presidents were elected:—The Chairman of the Stratford and AVhangamomona County Councils, the Mayor of Stratford, and the Member for the District. A committee of twenty, with power to add twenty to their number was elected as follows:—Alessrs R. Dingle, E. Jackson, J. D. Healy, G. S. Hobbs, D. Watkins, R. AlcK. Morison, G. Sangster, J. B. Richards, S. AI. Porritt, D. J. Malone, J. T. Belcher, R. H. Alasters, A. Stewart, H. Good, F. Dobson, T. Goodkin, J. Stewart, T. Webb, R. T. B. Mellow, E. Jackson, P. Budd, H. Twiss, and J. Linn. Mr T. H. Penn was re-elected auditor The Gymkhana. The general committee’s recommendation that an autumn, gymkhana be held was adopted. The date will be fixed afterwards, but; it was decided that the profits should he expended on additions to the members’ grandstand, and that members’ tickets should not give admittance to the sports. A Three Days’ Show. A discussion was made of a proposal to make the Show a three days’ one, in place rff two. A resolution, was passed recommending consideration of the matter to the committee.

Committee Meeting. At the subsequent meeting of the committee the following nine members •were elected ’ on the : executive:— -Messrs. R. Dingle, S. AL Porritt, R. Masters, J. D. Healy, R. Morison, E. Jackson, H. Good, G. Sangster, and G. S. Hobbs. A Finance Comparison.

During his remarks on the report and balance-sheet Mr. J. B. Richards quoted the following comparison of the profit and loss accounts of 1911, as against 1910: Credits— £ Guessing competition (increase) 20 Side shows (increase) ... ... 11 Gates (increase) ...' 57 Sale privileges'(increase) , v ... 11 Subscriptions (increase) 65 Rent—football (increase) ... ... 37 Entry fees, 1910 (increase) ... 44 245 Sale of catalogues and advertising (decrease) ... ... ... 3 Donations (decrease) ... ... 26 Net increase ... ... ... 216 Debits. £ Advertising, printing, stationery (increase) ... ... ... 4 Caretaker (increase) ... ... 38 Depreciation (increase) ... ... 74 Stamps and telegrams (increase) 3 Insurance (increase) 2 Interest (increase) ... ... ... 161 Prize money (increase) ... ... 94 Repairs and renewals (increase) 20 Catering (increase) ... ... 36 Show expenses (judges’ supper, 1910) (increase) ... ... 60 Secretary (increase) ... ... 18 Sundry expenses (increase) ... 25 £538 Cartage and railage (decrease) ... 18 Kennel Club (decrease) 12 30 Net increase ... ... £SOB