HAWERA

Taranaki Daily News, 20 August 1917, Page 3

HAWERA

SHOWS AND THE WAH, '"BUSINESS AS USUAL." (Prom Our Own Correspondent.) H."ivera Aug. 18. A large and representative meeting of members of the Egmont A. and P. Association was held in the Winter Show building tliu afternoon, resolved to reverse a decision come to at the annual meeting in June last to suspend operations for the duration of the war. The provident,, Mr. Fred Milk, occupied tl|e chair. • The resolution before the meeting, proposed bv Mr. C. R. Stannard. and seconded by Mr. C. 11. Le Campion, was: "That the resolution passed at the annual meeting to abandon the show during the war be rescinded." Mr. A. S. Tonks characterised the move to shut down as suicidal, and expressed the opinion that such a course would result in the Association losing half its members. Many of those present heartily endorsed the view.

Mr. D. J. Goodwin, president of the Winter Show, emphasised the importance of keeping the flag flying, and considered it would be far better for the lu'-n to 1-cl.nni and lind conditions as near to those obtaining when they left as possible, than to find those at home depressed and onhappy.

Mr. A. L. Campbell, a member of the committee, said he had all along been j against closing down, as he thought the argument against waste of time and con- j sequent loss of production would not 'hold water." Every farmer, he said, "wasted" a good deal of time in necessarv relaxation, and came into town seeking it (hiring the year. He did not see why the farmer should be deprived of the two particular days of the show Mr. Campbell said he had been connected with the Egmont A. and P.- Show for more years than he could remember, and that as far as the difference to the war made by closing down the show was concerned, it would not count a pennyweight. The president of the Association, who was supported by Mr. A. Hunter and others who had ventilated their views at the annual meeting, said the Association had no right to look upon the question from a local or personal point of view. Only one thing counted at a time like this—the national point of view. Xo matter how valuable the show was in normal times, there, was no doubt in his ijiind that at the present time tho Association should suspend operations. On being put to the meeting, tho motion in favor of continuing to hold the annual shows was carried by 33 votes to GENERAL. The children's concert held in St. Mary's Hall last evening in aid of the building fund was a pronounced success. The children were very happy in two little plftvs, and a number of vocal and instrumental items were given. The hall «vas cr<Jwded, and the audience were de- i lighted with the performance. A repeat roncert .will be given next week. It is expected the fund will benefit to the extent of £4O. A large band of enthusiastic workers were busily engaged all this afternoon in assisting in connection with the Salvation Army's appeal for funds for war work. At a number of street stalls, all of which were heavily laden with beautiful llowers and produce, good business was done. At two o'clock over £2O had been taken at one stall, and there still remained a large quantity of goods to be disposed of. The question whether the Borough Council i.-ill give a site for a new technical school will be discussed by the Council at a special meeting on Monday night,