Stratford Show

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 3, 28 November 1916, Page 5

Stratford Show

9 A PROGRESSIVE PEOPLE. THE ASSOCIATION’S HISTORY. To-morrow (Wednesday) the Stratford Show will be seven years old. Getting quite a big hoy, too! Those who can carry their minds back to 1910 (December 7, to be exact), will recall the enthusiasm and pride, not unmixed with anxiety, however, with which the infant was launched upon this old world, whereon nothing, new i ; said to t appear. It was brain that conceived the holding of a two-day show, but behind it all there was great faith and confidence in the future possibilities of Stratford and district, all of which, judging by subsequent events, have been morally and materially justified. To many readers of the “Stratford Evening Post,” it will lie news to learn that Mr 4. D. llcaly, of Stratford, has the credit of first mooting the idea of the formation of an Agricultural and Pastoral Asso"iat.mn, whose main function would he the holding of an annual exhibition. That was in February of 1910, in which month a public meeting was held, and was attended by about fifty residents (ail of tho right stamp and full of corn - donee in the Juture ol their district >. Following that meeting came the annual general meeting in March, when reports showed .that the members up was up to 100, and it was decided to go on with the election ol ofiiee-bci. ors. Mr 11. Dingle was elected president, and was supported by a strong committee, the members ol whom, with a few exceptions, are still in the flesh and taking equally as enthusiastic an interest in their protege us in its nursing days. But the grass was not allowed to grow under the feet of the new executive, who, by the following month of May had secured for the Association a freehold ground of 384 acres on the Flint Bond, which .constitutes the present ideal site for an agricultural and pastoral show. At a meeting hold in June, the membership was stated to be 500; here it was decided that the method of finance mast suitable for im association such as theirs would he a “joint and several, i t is now pleasing to relate that Mile difficulty, if any. has been experienced in raising all the nr uoy for this purpose as required by the Association. To sum up. it may he stated that inside of ten months, from February until December, the idea was mooted and the Show was held, with plenty of assets in the shape of

willing workers, grounds and build* ings, an assured finance; and a membership roll of 700, which, under the circumstances, exceeded that of any other -similar society in the ■ nonunion. Have the promoters looked hack r Yes and No! Yes, with pleasant memories of tlie trials and troubles of the initial effort and the huge success cl their undertaking; ami No, because they have gone forward every Near, their walchward being Progress, More Progress, and Still More Progi ess. The various Presidents of the Association have been Messrs 11. Dingle, YY. P. Kirkwood, J. D. Healy, E. •Jackson, 11. Masters. E. Jackson. Fite secretaryship- has been filled as follows: Messrs E. Jackson, W. B. Fearon. S. A. Ward, A. D. Stanley

THE 191 G -MILESTONE

The way has not 'all been smooth; difficulties beset the young institution at various stages of its infancy, but these were tackled as they came and disposed of manfully. There would appear to be much merit in the custom of a rolling president, and, possibly, if the credit attached to the Association’s progress could be put into die crucible of public opinion, u would bo found'that the healthv r cnlry engendered eacli succeeding v ar in the occupants of the office was at the bottom. This year it is the i rivilege ! of Mr E. Jackson to fill the highest position, and the very creditable standard which to-morrow’s Show takes in the annals of the Association is largely (it cannot ■?> course, be .wholly) due to his painstaking energetic methods of working .![> interest and enthusiasm among his members end supporters. His was no light task, as be followed in the footsteps of men who were just as determined as himself to raid the enemy’s trenches, brush aside the entanglements of indolence and apathy among the people, and raise the standard of the Association on high at another milestone in its history. Such a milestone as to-morrow’s exhibition will speak for itself as to the success of his- industry and perseverance. Mi Jackson, it should he mentioned, holds unique advantages for the position, for lie was the first secretary of the Association, seeing it through the troublesome initial stages of the first two years, and ho also held the presidentship in 191}. The experience thus gained lias been freely placed at the disposal of the Association, and candidly it must be admitted that none other in the, whole membership lias done more, constructively and financially, willingly, and at all times, in the interests of the Show. r l he executive behind the President lias worked very hard indeed, for the increasing disabilities of the War have Fad- to be overcome, not the least of which is the scarcity of Labor on the farms and among the . general supporters in the distret. As to the secretaryship, it is only to be expected, that with two years’ of experience at his command, Mr A. D. Stanley has the general run of affairs at his finger tips. ' It has been a busy time for all, the climax being reached during the past three days in the issue of the Catalogue, which contains a lust of the entries and all particulars Concerning the exhibits and the •** judgements for the two days of the Show. At this stage is the Show as t,he paper is being published. The Catalogues have been printed, and copies of same will bo available foi the public in the morning.

ENTRY FIGURES. An agreeable surprise awaits those who may not have known of the efforts' being put forth for this ShoV, and only the Catalogue shows 'these Ml , in their true light. Without going into impossible comparisons, it iway he stated that splendid entries have been received. Particularly is this the case in the cattle and horse sections, which are much in cx:ess of previous years. Cattle claim as many as Mho, dogs 352, sheep 71, and the ether sections have held their own vith the past. The Competitions, which the public now expect as part ; ud parcel of a modern agricultural exhibition, are as usual, well supported, and an interesting time may ha looked forward to. £. S. D. The value of the Association to farmers and otilers competing will be apparent when it is stated that the prize list is well over £SOO, while the value to the man on the land oi the exhibition of'dairy stock'exhibited at this year’s Show cannot he over-esti-mated.

All that, remains to.ensure success juul a record attendance, is good weather, and, granted this, the Association should hud itself on the right .side of the ledger when accounts are squared.

THE TiMK-TAULK. The following time-table of events for to-morrow will be found couveiij it nt: — IK a.m. —Milch cows to he ready for ! judging. q a in .—All cattle, sheep, and pigs to j’ be penned and ready for judging. j]i; a .m.—Draught horses and tltoioughbred horses (other than enI tires)., IK) a.m. —Carriage horses, hacks and | geldings to be ready for judging. ■ 10 a.in.—l’onies in saddle. 10 a.m.— Dogs to be benched and ready for judging. 11 a .Home industries and fancy J work 'to he ready lor judging. 1.30 p.ra.—Competitions start. G p.m.—Show Grounds closed to the public.