AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 318, 18 June 1915, Page 3

AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.

This evening a general meeting of members of the Taranaki Metropolitan Agricultural Society is being held to discuss the advisability of discontinuing the Autumn Stock "Show for, at any rate, next year (1010). The President. (Mr John Connctt) nas addressed the following circular to members :—" This decision was arrived at after considerable discussion, and with extreme regret. It was felt, however, that it would be practically useless for the Society to continue to hold this show in the face of its present meagre membership, and unless the farming community of North Taranaki is prepared to support the Society in the future in the way it should, but has not done in the past, it seems highly probable that the Stock Show will have to be eliminated from the Society's fune'fons, not only for lOlfl, but altogether. The main factor in causing my committee to come to this decision is, as mentioned above, the extremely small membership, and when I tell you that 42 per cent, of the Society's members are absolutely outside the farming community entirely, I cannot but think that you Will agree that the cessation of the Stock Show (if it should eventuate) will be entirely and only the. fault of those farmers" who have neglected to accord their support to an institution, whose aims and objects are solely for the benefit of that portion of the community.

That this neglect on the part of those who should be most loyal to the Society ts one of omission rather than remission, I would fain believe. i Nevertheless, the fact remains, that unless farmers are prepared to support the Society by adding to its membership, its financial affairs will not be in a position to enable it to carry on the Stock Show. I have,' therefore, to request that farmers (whether members or not) who have the interests of the Taranaki Agricultural Society at heart, will attend the general meeting on June 18th, 1915.