TARANAKI AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 68, 16 April 1909, Page 3

TARANAKI AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.

ANNUAL MEETING. * The annual meeting of .the aranuki Society was held i„ the low,, Hall last 'night. Mr. W. Ainliurv, .president ot the Society, presided. aiid there -wm an attendance of about thirlv members. Several apologies for absence were received.

'Jii presenting the annual report for he year ending- Jan. 31, JDOI), 1 have o congratulate the Society on haviii" ail it successful year, thanks to «.<« iiergctic work of the secretary the utiring efforts of the committee, niul wing to tine weather for the show, iclerring to the annual show iielil in s'ovember the exhibits showed marked uilirovenient in quality, condition, and umbers as compared with previous ears, the competition in many of the lasses being very keen. Xukin«- the omuienU ot the general public and he favourable remarks of the juib'cs who wuri; some of the leading expert* u the Dominion) we are forced to the onclusion that many of the exhibits verc lit for the best' show rings south f the line. The Society's work of imnv years, and the greater cure and .tlcntion on the part of breeders in lie selection and breeding of stock lias in the Taranaki .Metropolitan 'how taking a. leading position ,mongst file shows of the Dominion, file Society is greatly indebted to the nuny exhibitors from other districts rlio at considerable expense and inonvenience brought their stock Jlong listanees (extending to the Manawatu) .o compete in the open classes. Tne Society's best thanks are due to the udges who travelled long distances at o trilling an expense to the Soe-iettj several refused to accept hotel exlenses) and who gave such general atisfaction to exhibitors and to the iiiblie. Tliauks are also due to those vho generously donated special prizes or competition. The committee very leartily appreciate the liberal patronage xtended by the general public at he last show. Referring to the balance beet it will be seen that as the result )f the years' work the bank overdraft vlueh stood last year at £282 lOs Wd las been reduced to £144 His lOil (a eduction of £>Vi~ Us)., showing that if text year can be worked as economially and tne show as well patronized iy exhibitors and the public the debit lalance at the end of the year will be riped out. Another pleasing feature ot he year's work is the increased memwrhip, the number now being 4.3U as ompared with 372 last year. The Linount received in subscriptions from nembers £4OO is the largest vet revived for any one year. It 'will be loticed that the Society's property in it. German Square is only produciii" ■■ nominal rent, ft is hoped that dur ng tlie coming session of Parliament i short J3ill will ,be put through enibling the Society to lease it for 42 ■ears for building pm poses wnlen would onsidcrably augment the funds. The omniittec endeavoured to arrange for iftures in the country during the winer, but were unable to secure the rehired expert talent on account of inTeased Departmental work. We much •egret the departure of Mr. J. A. tiil■lita, Chief Government Veterinary luring the year. Jlr. Gilruth liad done liuch to increase the enthusiasm in connection with stock raising in New Zealand. The Society showed their appreciation of his efforts by electing mm a life member. The Society would again thank the Taranaki Jockey Club for their generosity in givmting* free access to their grounds, building and stands for tlie November fixture. The committee spent about £lO in laying on the borough water at the show pens, the convenience of which was greatly appreciated by exhibitors and will be a permanent benefit to the show with a nominal outlay. A subcommittee was appointed to try and arrange a ploughing match during tne autumn, but on account of lack of interest or pressure of work on the part of the likely competitors a sufficient number of entries were not forthcoming to warrant the committee in putting the Society to the required expense. But probably a competition could yet be arranged during the winter or early spring as interest appears to be budding in the minds of some and may bloom later though many of the recognised ploughmen in the district are "blooming" slow in coming forward. I should be very

pleased to sec the incoming committee take this matter in hand and try to bring it to a successful issue. I think the committee should endeavour to arrange for lectures during the coming winter by experts on various subjects sneli as' improved methods in the treatment of the soil, most suit-

able crops for winter feeding, and howto produce them for diiiry herd*, mill methods for successful fruit growing. I hope at an early date to see the Society take up the hutter tests and milking competitions, something on the lines of the Manawatu Society. I desire personally to thank the committee and secretary for their untiring ell'orts during tile year, also the press for the very generous manner 111 which they have constantly brought before the public tlic claims of the Society. I trust with a long pull, a strong' pull, and a pull together of the public. Hie press, tlie exhibitors, and the Society fh.il in a few years the Tnranaki Metropolitan Snow' will be the best, .1 not tile largest, in the Donvinioh BALANCE-SHEET. '

Tho baance-shcot was submitted by Mr. E. I'. Webster, the secretary. On the revenue side were shown:—Subscriptions, £400; donations, .CIOO 10s (Id; entries, £IOO Ms: gates and grandstand, CITS lis lid; catalogues, .till 7s; weight-guessing, £4 lis; booths, £ls; space on show grounds, £25 as; commisison, sale of stock, ci:) 7s 2d: rent St. Germain's Square. 17; dinner, tli 2s (id: advertising. £l-1 Is 3d; unclaimed prize*. £2O 18s; material, sales. £.'! 12s Hd; balance. C 144 His Kid; to ; till. £ll3l 13s (id. Expeiliture: By balance forward. £282 10s lOd; prize money £3S2 lis lid: wages, £45 5s ltd; printing, £01) 19s; advertising, £2B Us Oil; medals, £23 2s; luncheon, £10; annual dinner, £ll Ostld; material,£ll 2s 7d; music, £4; judges' expenses, £l3; cartage, etc.. C 3 Is lid; rales, taxes, and insurance. CM l!)s !)d; postage and telegrams, £lO 18s 2d; secretary's salary'and bonus, £135; auditor, £1 Is; unclaimed prizes paid, £lO 5s 0d; commission on sale of catalogues, £3 2s 7d; lectures, £3 2s lid; bank interest and charges, £lB 12s Od; sundries. 15s; cost of water connection. £!) 15s; subscription to X.Z. Kennel Club, £2 2s; show expenses, £22 8s 4d; total. £ll3l 13s Gd.

Liabilities were:—Amount owing to bank, £144 10s lOd. Assets: Six sections in St. Germain's Square, £1500; value of yards, etc., £22 i) 18s lOd; balance of assets over liabilities. £1570 2s. Mr. W. D. Webster moved, and .Mr. J. 11. (Street seconded, the adoption of the balance-sheet.

Mr. S. Smith, commenting on the bal-ance-sheet, said that no one could peruse it without feeling pleased with the distinct advance made by the Society during the year. He would like some information! however, upon one item. He had understood the Society had over 500 members, but only £4OO had Iveii received in subscriptions. In the previous balance-sheet outstanding subscriptions were shown at £4O, but tins v vear they were not mentioned, although, tliere must be over £IOO unpaid. The president said the actual membership was 4011, and there was £lili outstanding .in subs. This amount was really an asset, for the money was owing by good, reliable men. and would doubtless come in during this year. 1;, answer to Mr. It. .1. Gilbert, the seerotarv said no subscriptions hud been paid since the compilation of the bal-ance-sheet, for the books were kept open till the last possible moment. He remembered having stated that the membership was over 500. But he had purged the list of names of men who had left the district or whose subscriptions were two vears in arrears. The lliti now appearing'on the list were "'good' hnaneiiil members. .Mr. Smith said the explanation was verv satisfactory. Tlie report and •balance-sheet were adopted. ELECTION OK OFFICERS. OHiccrs were elected for the ensuing year:—Patrons. Messrs 11/Okey. M.P.. and 1 Newton King (re-elected) and Mr. W Birdlingi president. Mr. AV. Amliury lre-elected'l: vice-presidents, Messrs .las. Burgess (Waroa), S. .1. Smith, A. ClilV. 111111*" Hlundcll: committee, Messrs AV. Sla-.ilev. A. Mills. H. J. Street, A. Alex•inder' \. W. Wood, R. F- Cornwall. P. 11. l'igoit. V. Watson, E. Elliot, F. Orbell, fi. Linn. A. 11. Halcombe, and AV. (! Malum*, with power to add fifteen; auditor, Mr. C. T. .Mills (re-elected). RECOMMENDATIONS. Mr. 11. J. Gilbert introduced the question, of encouraging wider interest in the annual show. One way of doing this would be to devote a sum. say £5. to prizes for school competitions in vegetable growing, sewing, writing, painting, oi'other school subjects. Bv this means there would be induced a much larger attendance of townspeople, for the parents would be naturally interested in the work of their children. —The chairman thought that committee would be taking into eonsideraJiJenJh.e .jiiiitter of holding an v autmpn