TARANAKI AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 59, 16 April 1907, Page 3

TARANAKI AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.

ANNUAL MEETING. The annual meeting of members of the Agricultural Society, held in the Town Hall on Monday evening, was poorly attended. -Mr. Newton King, president, occupied the chair. Apologies were received from Messrs. Stead and E. Griffiths. The secretary, Mr. E. V. Webster, read the balance-sheet, showing a net prolit for the year of .CIS IDs 7d. The President's report stated that there had been a steady increase in the working for the past twelve months. The annual show, held in November last, was a record one in the society's his--1 tory, both from the number and excellence of the exhibits and attenduue of the public. The principal increase.; in receipts were: Members' subscription-; £3lB, increase £lo.'}; entrance fees £l!)(j, increase £23; gates CM!), increase £18; total receipts £8.32, increase £152. The principal increase in expenditure was ,Co2 under the heading , ol' prize money. The committee regret- j ted the death of-llr. J. ('. George, a very old member, who had held the position of vice-president fur many years ami had always taken a keen interest in the working of the society. The membership still continued to increase, the r-vt-tlers now recognising the great vaki" of the society to the district, not only from the annual show, but from the educational work carried on right through the year. During last year a series of lectures was given, and they

were much appreciated by the fanning community, who were enabled to gather most useful information for the improvement of their farms and herds. The thanks of the society were due in a large measure to Captain Young, Government Veterinarian, who so ably assisted the society in this new departure. The society had had samples of soils analysed and had expended a sum of money for the promotion of experimental plots. Thanks were due to the Taranaki Jockey Club for their liberal treatment in allowing free use of tho grounds and stand, and for the liberal concessions from time to time. A committee had been set up to report on the advisability of leasing for building purposes the society's properly known as St. Germain's Square. It was the intention of the committee, the President announced, to go in for a forward policy in order that the society might be worthy of the position of the Metropolitan Society for the district. The report concluded with thanks to the outgoing committee for the manner in which their ditties bad been performed, and for regular attendance at meetings. In moving the adoption of the report nnd balance-sheet. Mr. King said that, considering that the society was pursing a forward policy, with consequent expense, the position was most satisfactory, and he saw no reason why there should not be a similar profit on next year's working. Mr. Jas. Burgess seconded the adoption. He remarked that up till recently the farmers at a distance from New Plymouth held the opinion that the Taranaki Agricultural Society was of very little use to them. But during last year the society went out to the farmers and told what they were doing and what they proposed to do, and he thought that in the outlying districts this had done more good for tlie society than anything that had been done previously. If they acted on the same lines this year he had no doubt that the Taranaki Agricultural Society would become a power for good amongst the farmers. He suggested that copies of the analysis of soil should be available to all members. Mr. Arthur Morton thought that Hie report and balance-sheet should be printed and circulated amongst members about a week before the meeting, for it wn.s impossible to glean any idea of the finances whilst the balance-sheet was being read. The President concurred in this view, and explained that the failure to follow out that course was probably due to the fact that in the past the society had had to screw out every penny. He, however, would advocate printing and circulating the balance-sheet in future. Mr. Stanley Smith, too, agreed with the proposal, and suggested file need for retrenchment in some items, notably printing and advertising, labor and material, cartage, and luncheon and dinner. He knew that the show could not run without the newspapers, and agreed licit the society should do what it could to encourage exhibitors, hut he thought that the committee should be cautions in 11n- mailer of the show dinner, which had cost JM-I last year, lie thought it would pay, Inn, to buv iuslead of lo hire tents.

Tin President explained that (he com- i niittce had carefully considered (he ? printing ( C(is 18s 3d) and advertising * (£U ids 3d), and these amounts were i £ls lower than in the previous year. ' To the best of his recollection, Mr. Smith I was iiu advocate oi the dinner last year. Mr. Smith: Yes. I.ill we grow wiser as we grow older. Mr. King continued that lie had been opposed to the idea of the show dinner, lie could not advise the society to buy tents: there was (no much risk. Mr. H. Cock congratulated the society ■ on (lie success achieved in the past year. The first day had opened inauspiciouslv. yet the attendance was lame, and Ihcv had a profit of LIS odd,' besides the "free dinner." lie himself thoroughly believed in holding the dinner, on the ground that there the young fanners had an unequalled chance of meeting the more experienced agriculturists and gathering ideas front the speeches of the older fanners, breeders, and exhibitors. The dinner was well worth holding, even if it cost another £JO. He touched on the lnuch-talked-of scheme to hold the show on a new ground outside New Plymouth, and advised the society to remain on the racecourse, handy to the centre of population. The President said the committee had no idea of moving at present. Mr. .1. R. Hill mentioned that when the society was ''in very low water' there was always a credit balance in the bank; now, with a progressive policy, they were ill debt to the amount of £3OO, although they had had everything in their favor last year. Mr. O.key explained that the society had recently spent over C2W) on the yards and COD on ground improvements. The yards Sad been enlarged to meet the. growing number of exhibitors. Regarding the discussion oil advertising, lie said thi! committee had often discussed that expense, and he himself had come lo the conclusion that it \va> money well spent, lie referred to the great assistance afforded hv the lucal Press, the amount of free "locals" giving the idea that the society had purchased an interest in the papers. Reverting to the show figures, 1 he said he had been disappointed' with the gate receipts, hut (lie increased issue of members' and privilege tickets ? had accounted for this. They could not ' expect people to pay for members' privi- - ,leges and pay at the gates too. He felt pretty sure that the society would clear oil' its debit balance in the next two or three years.

The President said that if there had been a balance in the old davs, it must have been "mighty small." The secretary said it amounted to about 8s -Id. OFFICERS. Officers were appointed as follows: President, Air Newton King (re-elected); vice-presidents, Messrs. 11. Okey, G. V. Tate, W. Anibnrv, and 11. King (reelected) ; committee, .Messrs. F. Watson, A. .Morton, ,i. S. Connett. Stead, A. ClilV, E. Eliot, S. .1. Smith, .1. R. Hill, F. Pagan, C. iloskiu, A. 11. Street, J. 11. Street, .1. C. Mouteliore. VY. Stanley, and A. M. .Mills: auditor, Air. T. O. Keisey. Votes of thanks to the retiring committee and officers were carried. GENERAL. .Mr. Ambitry moved that the committee be asked to cuii-idcr the advisability of again arranging for lectures in the uiithing ceiures, and suggested meetings, at Warea. I.eppefton, Tikorangi, and Egiuout Village. lie understood that many fanners had benefited greatly from the instruction given at last winter's ieclures.-Mr. .Morion seconded, and said the lectures during last winter hid done much to interest farmers. A change of locale would induce still wider interest in the working of the society—Carried. Mr. F. Wat.-01l suggested that the so- '. ciety might change its system of elect ■ iiig officers. At llawera noiuinntium were taken right, up to the annual meet' big. and voting papers printed and en(•nulled amongst members in order thai '' the election could be carried out bv al the ii,euiber-.--.Mr. Ibirge.-s said tin , adoption of such a piau would do mud ler' interest in the working of the so ciety.—Sent forward as a reconimeuda. tion to the. committee. ■Voles of thanks were accorded to lit .Jockey Club, to Captain Voting, and t the Press: and Captain Young will b asked to again deliver "talks" to farm , ers during the winter mouths.

Before closing, the chairman mention'

eil the trip lo the Momohaki Experimental Farm on the 25th hist., and asked members to make the party a large one, mentioning that there was much useful iiilormatioii to be gained from the manager, Mr. tiillanders, on hedge-plants, lorage plants, and roots under dill'erent manures and conditions. The meeting closed with a vote of thanks to the chair.