STRATFORD A. AND P. ASSOCIATION.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXX, Issue 95, 24 July 1916, Page 7

STRATFORD A. AND P. ASSOCIATION.

i •♦" MEETING OF GENERAL COM?y!ITTEE. A meeting of the General Commit* ,ee of the Stratford A. and P. Association was held on Saturday afternoon when the President (Mr E. Jackson) occupied the chair. EXECUTIVE'S REPORT. The Executive! Committee reported as follows:—Since ilie annual meeting we have the pleasure to report that through the united efforts of some of the members over one hundred new names have boon added to the members' register which clearly proves tha,t J £he total membership can easily be "raised to one thousand before the next Show. |

Your Executive would urge all members to take a small book of forms arid make a point of securing new names. In this direction a subcommittee has been set up consisting of your President, Mr R. Masters and Mr T. Ranford and it is their intention to address the shareholders at the annual meetings of the dairy companies near Stratford to discuss the importance of getting new members. Still-committees will shortly be set up to carry out the various branches of show work and their time will be fully occupied. It is proposed to add several new classes to the schedule this year, not-' ably the milking Shorthorns, which breed is getting a footing in Tara-

naki. One large breeder has already expressed his intention of showing his herd at Stratford. The Executive would urge farmers to exhibit as largely as possible. The grounds .have been leased at an increased rental for the year and are now in first-class order. The Farm Committee, when appointed, purpose cleaning out tho

drains and other work, such as tree planting. A special donation of trees has been given to' the Association by Mr R. McK. Morisbii, which the Executive much appreciate as several places require renewing. . : The'annua:}' viwitcito'-Moumhaki was taken: on'Thursdays last and proved a niofet instru'etrve ftnd enjoyable outing. It is to be regretted that more members did not avail themselves of the opportunity, as much good could I be derived therefrom. i

The Executive would kindly ask all members to forward their annual subscription as early as possible and save a considerable amount-of work at show time. The chief business before the meeting to-day is to consider the suggestions of which there are a number.

I The President, in moving the adopj tion of tho report, said the sub-com- ' mittee appointed to wait on the an- \ nurd meetings of the dairy companies bad received permission from a number of the companies. The visit to the Moumahaki State Farm was a great success and the officers showed the visitors over the farm and explained the experimental wok. Subcommittees would be appointed at next meeting and the schedule would be revised. The committee had certain obligations to meet in August and the speaker urged members to pay their subscriptions before that date. Sub-committees would be appointed to get new members and also exhibits. Ho urged members to exhibit stock this year. He recognised the shortage of labor and farmers' efforts would be appreciated by the Executive, the Association and the general public. Members should induce settlers not only to become members, but also to exhibit. In conclusion he expressed pleasure at over one hundred new members being enrolled.

Mr P. J. Petersen, in seconding the motion, endorsed the previous speaker's remarks in regard to receiving more entries. There were hundreds of grade cows in the paddock, which, if shown, would do credit to the farmers.

Mr W. Perry, Mangatoki, said they should all do a little extra this year and make the Stratford Show go to tlie front. New memhers should strongly be urged to show something. • Mr R. Dingle said if dairy farmers wanted to exhibit a few head of grade cattle thev could attach some identification mark, and with beasts belong-

ing to other settlers, send them to f Stra.ford in batches, in charge of one or Iwo drovers. The cattle could be sent into town the day prior to the show and they could then be sorti ed out and penned. Mr C. Jackson heartily approved of Mr Dingle's suggestion. Last year very few grade cattle were shown. Last year the entry was not large i enough in the grade section, there I only being two or three exhibits in I each class. Mr Leiinell said some young members did not know what cattle to shoM . They knew which was the best milker, but that did not necessarily mean the best show beast. The report was adopted. The secretary reported that one hundred and eight new members had been enrolled since the annual meeting. The secretary read letters from the Cardiff, Lowgarth, and Ngaire Dairy Companies granting permission for the sub-committee to wait on the annual meetings. The Stratford Company wrote stating that the deputation could only be received by permission of the meeting. The Midhirst Company wrote to the effect that owing to the shortage of time they would not be able to meet the deputation. SUGGESTIONS. On Mr Petersen's motion it was decided to delete the poultry section from this year's schedule.—Mr Petersen said there were very small entries in the section and he had been told that it was a very poor paying proposition. Mr Ranford's suggestion that reserve champion ribbons foivaU .classes of stock should _ be'printed and 'put on the animals' was adopted.—-Mr Ranford said when the 'cattle' were in the ring the public had no means by which to tell the reserve champion.

The matter of attending to the entrance of the cattle race was left in the hands of the Executive Committee with power to act. An error in class 7.1 and 76 in last year's schedule was referred to the Schedule Committee to rectify. On the motion of the President itwas decided that it be a recommendation to the Schedule Committee to close the home industry shed to the public when judging was in operation. The suggestion to delete the calf section from the schedule was responsible for a lengthy discussion. }lr B. Orr said he did not agree with the suggestion, i. The calf section was an educative, part ~c>f, ; the, show. ~ .. , . Mr D. Watkin agreed with Mr Orr and said by deleting the section they were curtailing the schedule, whereas it should be increased. I

Mr C. Jackson said a judge told him that it was impossible to judge calves.

A number of members said they would rather have calves that were awarded prizes than those which were not awarded prizes. Other members said it was impossible to judge calves. One speaker said if a man could not judge a calf he could not judge a cow. Mr R. McK. Morison said he hoped the section would be retained. On Mr Dingle's motion it was decided that the calf section be retained providing there were six entries and the calves to be kept in the pens at night.