AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 92, 4 September 1912, Page 8

AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.

ANNUAL MEETING. . The interest displayed in the welfare of the Taranaki Metropolitan Agricultural Society was evidenced by the very fair attendance of members, despite the inclement weather, at the annual meeting of the Society, whic-ih was held in the Town Hall last night. The president (Mr. W. Aniburv) was in the chair. The balance-sheet for the period ending March 31, 101-2. set down the total receipts for the spring show as £1297 las tkl, and the expenditure £llß2 14s 2d. Subscriptions totalled £OOS 4s lOd, donations £l4l las Od, entries £237 3s, gates £llß 13s 3d, booths £Bl. The items of expenditure include: —Prize money £4lO its, secretary's salary and commission £275 3s 4d, printing and adI vertising £137 10s 3d, wages £O3 Bs, ! medals £2O its Od, guessing competition prizes £lB as, luncheon £29 7s, judges' ~\penses £8 ss, sundries £57 3s ad. A separate statement was submitted in connection with last year's winter show, the receipts for which totalled £514 7s, and the expenditure £440 lis lid. The main receipts comprised: Donations £lO3 12s, doors £174 17s, sale of material. £BO las lid, space £45 12s 2d. The principal items of expenditure were: Prize money £lll 9s, labor and material £lB3, printing and advertising £7l Is Gd. The total receipts for the year were £lßl2 2s Od. as against an expenditure of £1023 0s Id. Traversing the balance-sheet, Mr. A. Morton said that it seemed a very long time to discuss a. fniaiiciahstatement, Ave months after the end of the financial year. It would be muc.li better if the I balance-sheet was brought up to date, or the annual meeting held earlier in tho year. The chairman agreed with Mr. Morton, and intimated that he had certain proposals to make to remedy matters. Subsequently the meeting decided that in future the financial year close on July 31, and that the annual meeting be held during the month of September. Considerable discussion ensued over Mr. S. Smith's complaint that he had not received credit in the balance-sheet for his donation of £75 to the Society by hie relinquishing his rights over certain of the St. Germain Square sections over which he had secured a lease. No decision was come to in the matter. Eventually the balanee-sJieet was unanimously adopted on the motion of the j chairman, seconded by Mr. F. Orbell. ANNUAL REPORT. In presenting his thirty-seventh annual report, the president (Mr. W. Ambury) said that the balance-sheet cotered a period of fifteen months. He again congratulated the Society-on another v-ftar'e successful work, resulting in a widening of its influence, extension of it# usefulness, and increasing popularity of its show fixtures. Farmers and business men in town and country were beginning to realise the value of the Society's work, from a spectacular standpoint, as a means of bringing together the best of everything produced in the province, and affording a comparison with other districts, thereby creating healthy rivalry among the producers, who were now adopting better methods by improving their herds so as to increase the butter-fat yield, and by more intense farming of tlve land so as to increase its productiveness. Proof of the increased interest in the Society's work was shown by the new members who were joining the Society over the 'district from Opunake to Awakino, and inland round the Mountain. This was largely the result of the visits of the secretary (Mr. A. Cliff) to all parts of the district, and, by personal < onfcact, placing the claims of the Society before the settlers. During Mr. Cliff's term of office no fewer than 441 new members had joined, bringing the total up to 839, which, with the 36 additional members elected at the last meeting, was further increased to 875. The balance-sheet of the second Winter Show revealed a considerable increase in receipts and expenditure, and despite the bad weather showed a credit balance. Reviewing the last Spring Show, Mr. Ambury pointed to the very large increase in entries, the totals being 1109, as against 037 for the previous year. The quality and condition of the stock and produce exhibited was of a very .high standard, and unsurpassed at any show in the Dominion,, demonstrating beyond dispute that the district was capable of producing stock equal to any country in the world. The balance-sheet disclosed a considerable increase in expenditure on account of the extended operations of the Society by the enlargement of both shows, but it was pleasing to note that the receipts had increased in larger proportion, and several items of expenditure, amounting to. nearly £9O, would be non-recurring. In four years the position had improved to the extent of £470, a debit-balance of £289 19s 8d having been converted in'-o a credit of £IBB. This was entirely due to the constant and continuous ai.-m of the committees and ri>e secretary. The committee had . ev.-ral -itis in view for the new showground-*, fird negotiations were now in tii'ugre;-., for acquiring suitable ground?. Referring to the recent Winter Show, the president touched upon the success attained by the erection of King Georse's Hall, plans and specifications for which were prepared gratis by Mr. G. \V. Browne. The building had been added to and temporarily added to again, and even then, so great was the success of the "how. w«g not large enough to accommodate all the applicants for space. The expenditure on the buildings might appear very heavy, but the success of tihe 1912 show fully justified it, and satisfactory arrangements 'had been made for letting the hall for this and the next two winters. The number of entries (2174) at the show constituted a record for New Zealand, being nearly 400 more than Pal mors ton North, and over 900 more ■than Hawera. _ The actual working of the show, outside the permanent buildings, showed a profit of £3OO, which sum .would help to meet the buiklino- liabilities. B

Commenting on the report. Mr. IT Gilbert, described it is a very able and in. teresting one. The only .pity was that it had not been printed.' Tie'moved, and his motion adopted, that it should be printed and circulated among members. AX KNEEGETIc SECRETARY. Tlii< report, was lmeninumsly adonted on the motion of Mr. jr. Jones', seconded by Mr. A. Morton, and a hearty vote of thanks accorded the officers of the Society, special mention being made of tint splendid and valuable service-, of the secretary (Mr. A. Clin"). who was described as the right man in Hie right place. Members of the ccmmitt.ee and y,r. ("ill' returned thank,,, the latter referring to the fact that the progress of the agricultural societies was bringing stock up to the right standard. On the motion of Mr. Browne it was decide that it be a recommendation that the temporary buildings erected at the last Winter Show should be left intact. The meeting resolved, on the motion of Mr. 11. Gilbert, to recomcend t'he incoming committee to increase the prize money in the district exhibit class, with a view to making it still more attractive I from a spectacular point of view.

OFFICERS ELECTED. Officers for the ensuing year were elected as follows:—Patrons,' same as last year, with the addition of Mr, Anibury; president, Mr. 0. S. Conuett; vice-presidents, Messrs. G. W. Browne, P. Watson, A. W. Woods, L. A. Nolan' F. Orbell, YV*. S<unle<.\ R. Hi|[. eom ' mittee, Messrs. \V. Amlmry, L. Jackson, E. Elliott, A. Morton, A. Lister, Street (3) S. Brooks, A. T. Moore, B. Joll, H. Gilbert, J. ,G. Smith, ,T. Mitchell, g! Giddy, J. TI. Bnglpy; auditor, Mr. C. T. Mills; lion, veterinary surgeon, Maior Young. Mr. W. Anihurv was elected a life member of the Societj.