STRATFORD.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 April 1917, Page 3

STRATFORD.

(From Our Own Correspondent.). [All communications, letters, etc., left with Mr. J. Hopkins, bookseller, will receive prompt attention.]

SHOW TO BE HELD. Stratford, March 31. special meeting of the A. and P. Association held on Saturday afternoon was attended bv about -10 members. The president, Mr W. E. Jackson, was in the chair.

The president expressed appreciation at the good attendance, which was the result of the discussion that ensued at the general committee meeting held last week. On that occasion, the committee, whilst fully discussing the question as to whether it was desirable or otherwise to hold a show this year, were awnre there had been considerable talk in other centres about holding shows. Later on lie would ask the secretary to read a communication from the Hawke's Bay A. and P. Association about the closing down of shows for this year at least. This decision the Hawke's" Bay Association believed would relieve the railway authorities of much work, and not de. tract from recruiting. He (the speaker) said-he recognised they should all do their best towards winning the war, hut he was not agreeable to falling in with the wishes of the Hawke's Bay A.'ix: iaticn. He was one of those who had been connected w,ith the association since its inception, and firmly believed that if they allowed the present fixture to go back it would prove, a serious drain on their finances. They all knew perfectly well that the association had incurred considerable expenses in the initial stages of its existence, and these payments had to be met as the amounts fell due. They possessed a large membership, but there were plenty who would not pay their membership fee if there were no 'show. He wished to emphasise the Ifact that theirs was a local show, and the holding of same would not penalise the railway authorities to any extent. The association had certain obligations to meet They had to pay £2OO in interest on amounts borrowed. The bank had also to be paid, and without holding the show certain revenue would be lost. He moved the following resolution: "That this meeting of members considers that unless satisfactory financial arrangements can be made to meet liabilities in, interest, etc., or by the express wish of the- Government, that the show he held as usual:" Mr Jones seconded. 'The president then request/-. 1 the cnrre.-.wiwlenge received from the Hawke's Bay Association should be placed before the meeting. He also drew attention to an article appearing in the Daily News that morning relating to proposed alteration in the running of passenger trains, etc. Mr. Thomas then requested information regarding the rolling stock require;, for their show.

The president was not sure, but probably three or four trucks would be needed from the New Plymoulh end. Mr Thom.is believed that would not outail much work en the part of the authorities.

Mr. R. McK. Morison said the suggested alterations in the railways were to impress the people with the seriousness of the war. We- must be prepared to do our utmost in the cause of the Empire, and, that being so, he believed we could very well let the show drop for one year. He was quite prepared to see the show abandoned for 1017. Mr. Belcher said the association was a long way off its next show. Lots of things might happen. Perhaps it would be just as well to hold decision over till a few months later. Mr. Shotter: If wo closed down this year, our financial position would not be much worse than it was at the close of last year.'

The president: If the members are prepared to donate £l5O or £2OO we can let the show drop. The president went on to say that after reading the letter ■■ from the Hawke's Bay Association and the News article they could see that they were in a way in the hands of the Government. He was not in favor of holding the matter over for a few months.

Mr. Linnell said that certain gentlemen were, looked to by the bank to meet the obligations of the association, and tliny (the meeting) should be patriotic and give those guarantors a "square deal" by holding the. show. He mentioned he had noticed a suggestion in the Daily News that seeing "the school children had surrendered prize books and accepted certificates, that they (the exhibitors) might follow the lead of the children and bo content to accept certificates and ribbons in lieu of prizes, and thus keep down the association's expenses.

Mr.f J. B. Richards saw no harm in their coming to a decision now. If in three months other circumstances arose they could easily,resciftd that decision. There was nothing to prevent them reverting to a second decision. If they decided to hold the show they would keep things steadily in view. The ohject of , the show was to improve the products of the Dominion. If they looked at the statistics they would find that productions had falien away. They must not confound that with the. value of exports, which were higher. This was due to enhanced prices. Farmers had already felt the scarcity of lahor, and many retired men had been obliged to get back into the collar. This meant .that the productivity of the land was being lessened, and they were cutting into their capital. Mr. Thomas: What has this to do with the show?

Mr Richards: It moans that whereas a man was milking GO cows or so he is obliged to reduce, his herd, and that means cutting into capital because the the size of his herd (which means money) lias been reduced. Tims, instead of having a capital of £20,000 he mi"ht And he is holding £IO,OOO. Later on, with conscription making continual inroads on labor, the position must become worse, and naturally the curtailment of capital will follow. Following that reasoning I am sure that if we ourtailled our show this year we would find we were cutting into our capital. Mr.D. J. Malone said their show wa? purely a local one. Ho felt sure they could run a two-days' gathering that would not entail mirch hardship on the railways.- Labor matters certainly were proving troublesome, but a lot of the association's work was done by voluntary labor. Looking at things all round he believed it would be a great mistake to cut out the association's annual show. They would have a lot of trouble in building up the interest again. Mr. Thomas favored the remarks of Mr. Richards. Farmers literally had only one day in the year, and this was one of them. It was a day out for farmers, and they would like to see it go '

on. "A day out" did not often fall to their lot.

Mr. R. Masters stressed the point that there were a hundred and one reasons against abandonment. Probably a few members would welcome a decision in that direction as an opportunity to cease membership. The Efficiency Board and others interested would find many other reasons for curtailing expenses without getting at shows, which were recognised as a splendid means of keeping the farmers interested in increasing the productivity of their holdings. He related instances where labor could be curtailed, and turned into other channels to the betterment orthe Dominion. He quite failed to sc any good results to be secured from turning down the show dur.ing 1017. He then moved an amendment "That this meeting of farmers is of opinion that the continuance of the shows will not in any way interfere with the efficiency of the Dominion so far as the war is concerned, and resolves that the show be held as "usual."—Seconded by Mr Pliotter.

Mr Petersen also expressed himself in favor of the show continuing. Mr Sangster: If we want £2OO to meet/expenses to carry on without holding a show it should not be a difficult matter to obtain that sum.

Mr Morison: If we decide to hold a show let it be the best.

Mr. Percy Thomson said there could be no harm in holding the show. The efficiency of the country was not affected, but rather improved. The president said that his resolution was to hold the show provided the Government was not averse to doing so, whilst he understood that Mr. Masters' resolution was that they should hold their show whether Hawcra or New Plymouth did so or not.

This was met by a chorus of "No! no!"

Mr. Masters' resolution was then car. ried unanimously.

The president drew the sitting of the Efficiency Board TTt New Plymouth, and thought'they should hare a representative present to give cvi-. denee.

Mr. Thomas proposed that the president and Mr. Masters be elected delegates to give evidence.—Carried unanimously. MODEL DAIRY.

A meeting of the Model Dairy Committee and the Education Board delepates took place here yesterday. The delegates were Messrs R. Masters,' C. A Wilkinson, M.P., and H. Trimble (Education Board) and E. Jackson, J. Richards and J. W. Boon. A long discussion followed on what terms pupils of the primary and high schools should be received at at the proposed model dairv farm. After two hours' sitting it was decided that the Model Dairy Committee should forward a straight-out proposal as to what they could offer the schools.

COUNCIL AND ENGINEER. As predicted," the meeting of the County Council on Wednesday last was a lengthy one, but it cannot be paid that the business transacted justified the time wasted. Evidently the chairman is a Ann believer in giving free and full discussion on every subject concerning the council's work. Nothing can be%aid against this, but it is objectionable when valuable time is spent in making inuendoea and casting aspersions not "directly connected with the council. In this respect, Cr. Baskin is an incorrigible offender. If he reflects for a moment he must admit that the present council and engineer cannot bo held responsible for statements made by workers of the county under previous officials. To those who have to attend these- meetings the thought is ever present that Cr. Baskin in. his animosity towards the engineer iV allowing himself to be made the too] of others behind the scenes. He admits that he. has received (inom-mous letters concerning the engineer, yet he is not old enough in wisdom to realise that a person who sends a letter to a second party concerning a third, person, and has no'i the courage to pen his name to same, is beneath contempt, and should he treated us such. These- attacks by the councillor have been tolerated for several meetings of the council by other members, but they are now beginning to realise that their silence is not having the desired effect. It was a dramatic moment in the county's history when the majority of the councillors rose in a body and left the table, the speaker (Cr. Baskin) being minus a quorum for a few minutes. Courage in a man is to be admired, and persistence in a just cause is to be commended. But judgin» by re- : suits Cr. Biiskin is, showing a spirit of stubbornness, rather than courage, in delaying the council's work as he does. Cr. Walter was very outspoken, and at times it was noticeable he found it necessary to take a grip over his feelings.

Cr. Smith, like Cr. Baskin, has a lonely row to hoe. On his side of'the table' lie is the only one "agin the engineer," and quite, fails to make an impression on his colleagues, with one exception—Cr. Baskin. It must be admitted that the engineer has at times made use of strong expressions to both Crs. Smith and Baskin, but, to be fair, it must'also be recorded that not once has he initiated the opening skirmish. It must be readily admitted that a man is likely to be riled by constant pin-prieking, and if he resents and uses hot words h retaliation those who arc (he cause of the provocation must put up with the consequences. No one envies the chairman's position. His is a thankless job, and he endeavors to keep order, but it is obvious that unless a tighter grip over the councillors is taken matters are not likely to improve: A change in the methods of business -is necessary, for too much time is wasted at each meeting, and far 100 much prominence is given in the press to these bickerings.

Judgment by default was given in tlie tiliowing eases:—R. Hannah ami Co., Ltd. (Malone and King) v. Annie Margaret Maxwell, £1 14s fid, costs 10s; Morey and Son (Malone and King) v. Margaret Maxwell, £4 0s sd, costs 10s; P. C. Davis (Percy Thompson) v. John Hill, £5, costs ss; Stratford Bo rough Council v. Arthur Edward Speck. £2 fls sd, costs 6s; XZ. Loan and Mercantile Agency Co., Ltd., v. Geo. Browning £l2 18s fid, costs £1 13s; W. Cannon and Co. (Percy Thompson) v. J. E. Mudford, £7 17s, costs 10s; Stratford Borough Council v. Margaret Harrison Cubbon, £l2 18s lid, costs 15s; Stratford Borough Council v. Arthur Edward Speck, £7 13s 3d, costs 8s; McMillan and Friedric v. J. E. Mudford, £2 ids ?d costs 7s; W. T. Bacon (Rutherford, Macalister and Coleman) v. H. H. Rawliuson, £4 18s !)d, costs £1; M. E. Kiddle v. J. E. Mudford, £lO 4s sd, costs 17sThomas Jordan v. P. Speck, £1 4s. costs 5? t