STRATFORD NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 219, 4 February 1913, Page 3

STRATFORD NEWS.

(From Ciii - Resident Reporter). STRATFORD A. AN!) |>. ASSOCIATION. GENEKAL COMMITTEE. The general committee of the Stratford A. and P. Association met on Saturday, tin; president (Mr. \\, )'. Kirkwood) presiding. There wore also present: Messrs. R. Dingle. T). ."I. Malone. E. ,\[asters. ,T. 11. Ilealy. D. Wat kins. .1. T,. Richards. K. Broeklebank. S. M. Porritt. J. ChvistnllVl. I'ettigrew. 11. Cood. and Thos. W'.-hl). THE YEAR'S WORKINU.

The annual report of die committer for presentation to tlie annual r.iccfincr „f mcmbers was adopted, setting out that the \ear's working had been of a most satisfactory nature. The profit for the year totalled £415 fls. while the net returns from the November shovr were £:!12 15s. When weather conditions on the first day of the show were taken into consideration, the show profit must be considered excellent. A record attendance was registered on people's day. the number present being computed at 10.000. Dnrin« the year £10(1 was paid off the mortgage account. £155 12s paid in interest, and £lO7 IDs written off as depreciation. The membership list now stood at Oil. some 150 new members having been elected during the sear. The executive had eyery confidence that the membership would continue to increase, and in this direction they strongly recommended a continuance of the policy of giving all members all the privileges possible compatible with sound finance. During the year the executive had moved in the matter of endeavouring to have established in the vicinity of Stratford a model dairy farm. Tn this connection the president find-Messrs Dingle and Morton had waited on the Premier in Wellington and placed the project before him. Mr. Massey was very sympathetically disposed towards the establishment of the farm, and promised to go fullv into the question on his next visit to-Tara-naki. .lust prior to the recent show n new people's stand was erected on the southern end of the oval. The stand was : well patronised by the public. The erection of this stand was to be financed bv means of life members' subscriptions. Other improvements had been effected on the grounds, which were now in a high state of cultivation. The committee recommended that a gymkana be held on Easter Monday of this year, and anticipated that such a fixture would. a< was the case last year, return a handsome profit. Tn conclusion, the executive desired to place on record appreciation of the many donations of special prizes and trophies; also to acknowledge the services rendered by enthusiastic r-upporters of the Association. DATRY FARM COMPETITION. Mr. D. Cnddie. director of the dairv division of the Department of Agriculture, wrote in answer to the letter from the executive. TTe said that his division would be glad to do what could be done to assist the Society in the judging of the Model Dairy Farm Competition instituted by the Association. He would suggest, however, that the man appointed by the dairy division should confine himself to the judging of that part of the competition which was connected with dairying proper, although he could, of course, assist any other judge who might be a specialist in other branches of the competition. It seemed to Mr. Cuddie that the classification of these farms accordin" to merit would give greater satisfaction to the entrants if the Association appointed, say. three judges. One of these could be a progressive farmer from another district, another an officer of the live stock division of the Agricultural Department, and the third an officer of the dairy division. While all three would work in conjunction, each one could pay special attention to what was connected with his own special line, the farmer judge taking part in the whole of the work, j This p'an was followed in a competition held some time ago in the Maiiawatu district, and the arrangement seemed to give satisfaction to the competitors as well as to the Society. On that occasion Mr. Reakcs. director of the live stock division. Mr. Tate (of Waitara) and the writer were the judges. The meeting adopted the suggestions contained in the letter, and it was decided to judge this competition during the second week in April. RULES REVISED. The revised rrtles were read and considered. The principal changes were that future annual meetings will be held in May. instead of February; that members of the executive, and not the vice-presi-dents, have power to sign cheques in the alisonee of the president; the financial year will end on April 30. instead of at the end of December. The revised rules will be submitted to a special meeting of the general committee, and adopted at the annual meeting of members. NEW MEMBERS. Thirteen new members were elected, and three ordinary members. Messrs. .T. R. Tline. M.P.. J. TI. Thompson, and R. McT\. Morison were elected life members.