TARANAKI'S AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.

Taranaki Daily News, 29 September 1916, Page 2

TARANAKI'S AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.

ANNUAL REPORT. _ ( The forty-first annual report of the '.iLiieial Committee of the Taranaki Agric.iituval Society, states:--We are pleased to be able to submit to members on this occasion a more attractive balance-sheet than hitherto. This more satisfactory state of affairs has boen brought about firstly by farmer* generally showing a better appreciation of the efforts and objects of the society and becoming members, secondly by our more enthusiastic well-wishers giving ns generous monetary support towards our 1 rize funds, and also by one and all interested doing their utmost to save the association from the fate that seemed so inevitable last year. > The result obtnincd leads us to believe that the tide of public opinion ha 3 turned in our tuour and that we can now look forw: rd to a long period of prosperity and Hi"" the satisfaction of seeing the old society, which has had such a chequered career in the past, take its rightful riw as o.io of the most successful in the Domin'on.

Our membership, which is the principle mainstay el the association, has increased to well e< it one thousand, and is now mei" thoroughly rcpes.cntative of the distiiet ./ban in past years; our additional revenue from this source is £BOO. We look forward to this number being still f'.irtbod increased, and ask all members to help in rl.'s matter. Excellent response was made to our appeal for donations and trophies towards our prve fund, no less than £503 I" in? received from this source, of which £oo was derived from the gift calf class We also received £l4l towards the new groind, including £IOO from the Taranaki Club. This is a warm expression ol tire good fce'/na existing towards the society, and for which your committee is [sincerely grateful. We have also to liiank the' Taranaki Jockey Club for their generous donation, and for renewing their offer of last year of £SO per annum for five years. At ihe last annual meeting district representatives were elected on the General Committee: this lias proved a step in the#right direction, and stil! better results are expected during the coming year. With the improved position of the society at Autumn Show time we felt justified in going or with the new scheme, as outlined last year, and for this purpose promises were obtained for taking up £3OOO worth of debentures, with our freehold property a.s security. Authority to issue these was obtained at a special general meeting held on May 27, 1916. and the first of five instalments was called up on September 1, when £llBO was paid in. The old yards and pons on the racecourse have been lifted by willing workers, and the useful portion removed to the new site at Waiwakaiho. Work on the new ground is proceeding; the ring and much of the earthwork has been completed by Mr. Parkin, under the supervision of Mr. Sladden; the erection of the necessary pens and accommodation for stock is in charge of Mr. G. Browne, and is well under way; plans have been prepared for a grandstand to be built in concretethis, it is expected, will be finished in time for our next Autumn Show, to bo held during February, 1917. Much free labor has already been given 'by wellwishers, and there is still much more work that should be done. Mr. C. Dodsoii is now in charge, and may be consulted by yiyone wishing to help. The ground promises to be a very attractive one when completed. The autumn show, which was held on tile racecourse for the last time, took placo on March 1 and 2, in excellent weather, and for the first time in many years proved a financial success. Shortage of lalor on the farms was responsible for many absentees amongst exhibitors, which was only to he expected, and this will surely continue until the present great war/ is ended; it therefore behoves every member to do his best to make an entry in some of the classes to maintain the success of the exhibitions during this trying time. A new and successful departure this year was the inclusion of boys from the High and Technical Schools in our stewards list. Tl is we were able to do by the courtesy of Messrs Moyes and Gray. They proved of invaluable assistance, and*we look forward to their help again next year. The sixth Winter Show was held in the Coronation flail on June 7, 8, 3, and 10. also in good weather. The design of the exhibition and placing of exhibits was entrusted to a committee of town supporters, and complimentary remarks were heard on all sides as to the improvement on last year. We hope I then services will continue to be available. Many exicellenti exhibits were staged, notwithstanding the difficulties to be contended with, showing again the desire to assist the society in every possible way. Swede classes were weak, owing to a dry autumn, but mangels were" particularly good. Our acreage competitions were carried out as usual, but weights were not so heavy. These will stiil continue, as Messrs Newton King and Webster 'Bros.' have again offcrc'l donations for this purpose, and Mr. Gaustad, of Waitara, is also donating 10 giuncas foi a similar class. A manijcl competition will be run by the society. A boys' acreage competition, under' Mr. Sergei, was a pleasing feature cf the show, as also was a combined '(■l.ool exh'bit, including Stratford High Sch.r.l, un<>r Mr. Ellis. The butter and ihc;se'cla-scs were well filled, and this section was much better staged this year, reflecting credit on the sub-committee of factory managers in charge. The ladies' section of home industries and fancywork creatrd more interest than usual, ■„l.c classes being well filled; we hope to lie in a position to offer more trophies in this section next year. The. poultry fed ion wis quite up to last year, and m me very choice birds were on exhibition flie attendance of the public was exceedingly good, and profits were in excess of last year, notwithstanding the large number of members' tickets is.ii"w.° 1 lie excellent tram servicenow in operation no doubt contributed lamely to this good result; on the other ,iand, the Winter Show helped to swell the tram returns. On the whole the ,-how was cne of the best evei held. The urgent iieed now is for more accommodation, and this should receive consideration at til-- earliest opportunity. Reference to the balance-sheet discloses the f'ict that profits were made on both the antumn and winter shows, and this without crediting any members' • inscriptions to either, and the profit made during the year after writing off .Ct4 lis 10d for depreciation, was £951 15s lid. It will be noticed that there is a considerable sum shown as cash in. hand; thta is accounted for by the fact that this itoney wa? not received until after August 31, the date of our annual bank balance, but as it belonged to the past year's working it was decided to

include it in the balance-sheet. All this money has since been banked, as will be phown by the auditor's certificate. Your committee desire to take this oppovtunity of thanking those secretaries of dairy companies who have so materially helped us, free of charge, to bring our Inaneial membership to its present satisfactory level. We also tender our sincere thanks to exhibitors for their support at show iinie, also judges, assisting stewards, the pre, 9 and the ladies, all of whom liave helped to make the past year one of the mo?t successful in the history of the society. Mi". Humphries, our secretary, has had a strenuous time, the increase in membership, special meetings., and issuing or debentures have all meant much additional work for him, but he has carried out his duties cheerfully and been tactful, courteous and obliging to all,