The Daily News. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1904. TARANAKI A. AND P. SOCIETY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 31, 6 February 1904, Page 2

The Daily News. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1904. TARANAKI A. AND P. SOCIETY.

A criticul point has been reached in tho hisioiy of 'the Taranaki A. and IJ.1 J . Society, aind the annual meeting 01' nuenibiers this afternoon will have sonic important matters to discuss-. It is not the first time that stern difliuulbk's have had to be faced by , in»mberw of this* institution, whose ! career is certainly interesting. The* society was established in 1872 though Live present apology for an agricultural ami pastoral show seems almost to belie this I'aet—-and lor matny years the annual show took Invoice in St. tkjrmain's Square. Four years alter the inauguration of the society the entries were still very small, 23 exhibits of horses and; .32 •head of cattle coining l forward. Strange to say, however, the entries of sheej> were better than now. In those days the most active members w-ere the Suj>enniendent of Taranaki, Messrs VV. iieriidge, J. 11. Cotinett, Johin Klliott, Arthur Hoaking, F. W. iliosking, W. Rattanbury, H. D. Vavasour, and T. Weston. Most of these geuitleinen took a live interest 111 the society's affairs for many years, in 18r7 the nuuves of Messrs A. Kyngdmi, W. Dewley, A. Davidson- J. C. Davies, IT. Newland, Newton king, Arthur Sta<radish, J. Wade, and H. Price figiurud prom-jnontiv', and the Sihow was still increasing in importance. Then a decMnv set in and with a view to reviving, the interest some members advocated the ho-Lciing of an autumn aliow. This was l rejected, and the (question of holding any show at all was left to a committee. For three years there uas no agricultural display in New Plymouth. Jn 18<J1 rwicw«| interest was manifested, -and a more important show arra-ivgwh Mr 0. T. Mills took over the secretaryship, and under his g'u-idaijce tiie efforts of the society were crowned with conspicuous success. Jn 1897 Mr Mills was joined by Mr T. o. K v | wv , an d in ms Mr iUills retired. j,y 'this til i" Uie cu'Lu login; lmd ii,c,v llW considerably, u.ml tli« finance* war , y«ir improving. JK-,e tl* fanning ln'teitisf, 011 tile decline ]'ar years fell away, ami since then the Taranaki .'lgji'icultiiral ami Pastoral Society's mpmlrtM-siliip Ims consisted principally of Ilw New i'lyimnrtli tradespeople. 11)0 show of mm was STIdl t ' hllt time was a general outcry. Blame wuh attadwd in various quarters an'd irvundicrs began lookiiiff around lor the cause of the failure, les with the Jiienilx'rs themselves, anid to-day they should attend In large n|um,bers to vliscuss the position. Si-vural things are needed. J'irst, the want of interest amongst the funning community must be re»

moved. Once this is done the remaining points wii'l tend to right themselves. We should like to see a permanent secretary appointed at a .salary sulHcient to recoup him lor his elTorts live whole year round, lie would otf necessity actively canvass for mentors and exhibits. Some novelties mub't be introduced to attract visitors, awl tibe show s-houM be ni«de to extend over two days. There are many other matters that will need the close attention of members, and we hope to see soinet'h'ing practical result from the meeting- toduy. Otherwise it i* l'earecl that the days of this A. and P. Society are nuniIxned.