Stratford News

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 108, 23 September 1912, Page 3

Stratford News

From our resident reporter. - a. &p. association. tih-: selected site stands, committee meeting on the (.'ROUNDS. The general committee meeting of the A. & L\ showgrounds to settle 'the site of the new people's stand was attended by 2!) members on Saturday. The various suggested sites were inspected during heavy northerly showers, and then 1110711" hers gathered" in (he luncheon rooms, the |>r;-.idem (Mr. \V. 1\ Kirk wood) presiding.

The president expressed his ph.-isW. at the large attendance., and hoped that the selection by a majority of members that day would not be further questioned. Whatever site was selected they should loyallv adhere to. He formally moved that the site .be at the southern end of the oval, as selected by the execuJ tive. Tlis reasons for advocating it were: (1) That it would give the best distribution of buildings; (2) shelter from the prevailing wind, from the south-west, a eold wind; (3) that til* ground there Wi\-s' ilat, .whilst on the east and north there was practically a natural grandstand ; (4) that the new stand would be a low stand, and would not look uniform with the present high stand if erected alongside; that it was convenient of ac- ! cess to the public, and there was ample ] room to add a lean-to for a luncheon- ( room, which would not exist in the other suggested sites; that the material for it could be carted through the horse paddock, and cutting up the grounds .■ proper avoided; that 'it was impossible to build out the weather, anyhow; and, finally, that ihis would be' the- best revenue-producing site.

Mr. A. J. Stewart seconded, express- ; ing the belief that the executive had picked out the best site available. Mr. Porritt moved an amendment that ! the stand be erected at the north end ' of the present stand, so placed as to protect the lawns from thenorthern ' end. In future .the members' stand ' would have to be extended southwards, as the oval would have to be also. He J believed that in a very few years a fur- ' ther people's stand would have to be ■' erected at the south end of the present c stand. i

Mr. J. B. Richards suggested dealing with one site at a time. The amendment was withdrawn.

Mr. Richards said he would be prepared to abide by any decision arrived at on the present motion. He referred to the fact that the executive had unanimously agreed to re-open the matter, and said that proved that the executive would not take umbrage if its decision were reversed or criticised.

Mr. ,T. D. Healy lose to a point of order at the end of six minutes' speech, and asked that the speaker should refer to ihe motion.. ■

Mr. lliohanls. continuing, opposed the motion. Members, he said, were quite convinced that the wet weather came from the north-east and north-west. Tf any farmer in TaraTiaki were building 1000 cowsheds, not one of them would be built facing the north. The sun would make the south-end stand objectionable. The architectural aspect mattered little. The south-end site was at the "long" end of the oval, which would be inconvenient to its occupants. Access at the Bouth end was no better than elsewhere. There would be any amount of room i for a good lean-to in any site except that suggested by Mr. Porritt. As for the cartage question, they had to remember that the stand was being built not for this year only but for many years' service. He failed to see why a stand at the south end would he a bettor revenue-producer than any other.

Mr. Dingle asked members to suppdrt the motion. He twitted Mr. Richards with not having produced a site which he favored, but merely having opposed the motion. He wanted to know where they would be if the meeting merely rejected all the site*. Mr. R. McK. Morison questioned the procedure adopted, and moved an amendment on the linos of that which Mr. Porritt had submitted and withdrawn, extending the present stand northwards. He believed in keeping the buildings together, and not dotting the ground with hen-coops.

Mr. R. Masters seconded. The western site was the best. The prevailing winds were undoubtedly from the southwest, but the driving and disagreeable rains came from the north and cast. They must build a stand which would protect the people from the rain, or the people would not come. The west gave the best view of the prsent oval, both for the show and for football and other attractions. The south site would take up too much of the side-show grounds. The president said he could not accept the amendment to extend the present stand, and it was altered to provide for the erection of the people's stand up against the' north end of the present stand.

Mr. Dobson said that the present stand was in the best site for viewing the show grounds. This was the best site for members, so it would be for the public, too, and they should be considered.

Mr. T. Webb supported the motion. There was no room for a stand at the north end of the members' stand. It was quite evident to him that the members supporting the amendment did not know where the winds came from.

Mr- E. Jackson supported the motion. Mr. Porritt spoke in favor of the e 'londment, in view of the undoubted " ■cessity which would soon exist for liie lcngilrui:::; of the oval. Mr. Budd - ipported the north end. There was room, as the president had said. Mr. Osmond said that the. revenueproducing argument was assumption only. The great things to be considered in building the stand were to give the oceupauts of it the best view of the oval and to protect them from the weather. The southern site was bad in both respects*. Sou'-wost weather in the summer was not wot weather. Again, the oval could bo extended only at the south end.

Mr. Dingle objected to any extension of the members' stand for tlio public. In fl few rears tlie members' stand would have to he, made to accommodate 4000 to 4">00 people, and it eonld not lie done if the pnlilie stand took the ground. It was "tommy-rot" to say that there was plenty of room for a stand at the north end of the member*' stand. ■Mr. Sangstcr raid there were only two .-i!i th" ii"vih end and the south end. He had had a good deal to do with laying <>"t the grounds, and 'he was convinced that the idea of putting a stand as the amendment proposed was quite wrong. Mr. C. Jacl'son quoted the experience of the Stratford "Racing Club, and said it was impossible to provide against all weathers. There was no room to put a stand as Mr. Movison suggested, and besides it was too close to the licensed booth.

Mr. J. D. TTealv opposed the amendment, whilst not wedded to the motion. The members' stand, when extended, must be extended northwards, for it would not do to excavate the natural grandstand at the southern end. The north end site was impracticable for a

! people's stand, on account of lark of room. The oval, wliwi ciilar-al. would be widened, not ]<m;: \wn<\l.' Mr. 11. -Ilnrknrss di.'i'i :■..!; it nui.st <■■<> southwards. Mr. W. Linn suggested that the peopie's stand, erected now at the north end or the members' stand, could be, incorporated in that stand some day, and another public stand erected then. The president pointed to.the fact that the greatest- extension of the oval must go eastward, and said that would.give two football grounds, one running north and south, and the oilier cast and west, with a stand for each 'if the.' south, site were adopted. He urged-members to look ahead, and to provide for big numbers of people at the only spring show m the very centre of a rapidly growing dairying district, aiicl to provide also tor a very much larger number of incin-Ix-i'-s than. they, had now. This would »»t '«' the last stand required.' The | right site to-day was the southern site, and the other sites would be utilised in tlie future. They might deem him too optimistic if he indicated the dimensions to which their crowds would grow. The rfmeiidment was lost by 15 to 14. Mr. 'Porritt moved a further amendment, that the stand be erected at the sou'th end of the present stand.—Mr. Harkness seconded.—This was lost by 18 to 11. ■ J The motion was then put and carried. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.

The executive committee met on' Friday evening. Present: Messrs.' W. P. Kirkwood (president), S. M. Porritt, Thos. Webb, E. Kellcher. E. Dingle, J. 1). llealy, E. Jackson and K. Masters.

A letter was received from the. Stratford Racing Club, donating Ave guineas to the prize fund.

i The matter of fencing the boundary between the Association's grounds and Mr. S. H. James was arranged. . It was decided that members*' privileges should include free admission to the people's stand. " . Mr. Percy Thomson . was elected as-sistant-chairman of the. home industries section, and Mr. Geo. Bond chairman of \he railway committee, with the following stewards: Messrs. R. Collins, Harry Grey, A. Woodhead, G. Hendricks, T. Sullivan and S. Freer.

Mr.. J. D. Healywas added to the list of ring .stewards, and Mr. Geo. Sangster to the fodder committee.

Mr. S. M, Porritt reported that Mr. W. G. 'Malone was willing to allow the Association to use his paddocks for the butter-fat competition, and that the paddocks would be very suitable.—The secretary will forward to Mr. Malone a very hearty vote of thanks.

Mr. J. Stohr will have charge of the bull-boxes at the show.

The building committee will report on the cost of a porch for the stewards' luncheon room, and alterations and improvements in the kitchen. ... ■ Messrs. Porritt and Dingle were authorised to have the roadway gravelled from the gates to the grandstand, and round about the stand,

STRAY PARAGRAPHS Tenders are invited for the erection of a grandstand for the A. & P. Association. Particulars are obtainable from Mr: J. D. Healy, architect, Stratford. • Mr. R. Beckett, painter, Stratford, wants a good hand. The Stratford Borough Council' advertses for a driver for a steam road-roller.

BERNARD'S PHOTOPLAY PALACE. At the Stratford Photo-Play Palace to-night an entirely new programme will be screened. The popular taste for drama is well catered for. "Honor and the Sword" is a drama of a fresh type, but it merely illustrates the old, old story. Tom Sage, son of a millionaire, is honorably courting a clever actress, Judith Dexter—a way these millionaires have. Judith is one day insulted by Leon Martel, fencing master at the theatre, and Tom promptly knocks the man down, afterwards prevailing upon the girl to leave the theatre and marry him, for which he is cut off with a shilling by his irate parent. He gets employment as a, messenger, and,is one day entrusted with a parcel of jewels. Martel manages to abstract the jewels from' the bag. He takes them to Judith, and offers them to her if she will go with him. Tossing him a rapier,, she fights him, and drives him from the house. Tom's father has seen the incident, and he' takes his new daughter and Tom back into favor. Another fine < drama pictures the strategy of an old actor, who finds himself out of employment. The success of a mendicant prompts him to pose as a beggar, and he keeps his family together, they all the time believing he is engaged at the theatre. His little girl's sweetheart tosses him a gold piece by mistake, and he is discovered, lie secures legitimate employment, and "lives happy ever after," •'When the Firebell Rings," is one of a clever series of comics, and there are numerous other entertaining films.