STRATFORD.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 October 1917, Page 3

STRATFORD.

(i'lom Our Own Correspondent.) [All communications, letters, etc., left witu Mr. H. J. Hopkins, bookseller, will receive prompt attention.] A AND P. ASSOCIATION. Stratford, Oct. 2.1. J.'ie monthly IHee ti ng was held on Sat _ m-day afternoon. Tile president (Mr. J. v_. Boon) presided over an attendance ot about 20 members. The executive submitted a report which stated that a working bee removed the netting roundthe oval and sold the material at a satisfactory price. The ladies engaged in the catering had held a meeting, and a.l arrangements were well advanced. ltries or t!lc ' butter-fat competition were now coining' in and promised to be a success. Some needed repairs had. been authorised at the cottage on the grounds, and th e farm committee had 11 instructed to proceed with the work Application had been made to the. Education Board to grant a jvhole holiday on People's 'Day. The County Council, Borough Council, and the tradesmen's Association had been asked to grant ftheir employees a holiday. Arrangements had been made for the* erection of 'the rest tent and the Salvation Army had been asked to take charge of same. The donations and trophies promised and paid now amounted to over. £2OO, which the committee considered most satisfactory, considering the times Members tickets were now issued to tho?o who have ,paid their subscriptions. As this was the last general committee, meeting before the show the executive would be glad of any assistance a few davs before the show to get things ready. The president stated that since the last meeting the executive had been very busy. They had started a personal canvass for subscriptions towards the prize fund and had been fairly successful. In •this connection they found there were several farmers and'others v.'ho had contributed in the past had not vet been approached, through lack of opportunity He was sure that in this respect they could secure much more support ifr—the members themselves would make it a personal matter and interview neighbor? whom the canvassers had missed. The ladies were taking a big interest in the catering and from the enthusiasm shown he was sure this would prove a big success. It was anticipated that there would be a little difficulty in securing entries for the various Competition classes, and a suggestion had been made that a committee should visit the farmers and endeavor to work up more interest in this the most essential part of the show. Wanganui and Masterton were holding spring shows and thev hoped to secure a fair entry list at these places. He was sure they could secure large support for the different classes, and he thought this a good means of keeping in touch with farmers, and preparing for a show was a relaxation fifom the usual farm work. He moved the adoption of the report. Mr. R. Dingle seconded. He said he had noticed the Borough Council had decided not to give their men a full holiday with no pay but few availed themwas rather regrettable, and thought the men might very well have the day off. Mr. C. Jackson stated the Council were allowing their men a half-holiday. He had (tried to get a full holiday on full pay-

Mr. Boon said that last year the borough employees were offered a full holiday with no pay, but few availed themselves of the offer.

Mr. Jackson said the Council would be holding a meeting' again shortly, and if the Association put in another applica-, tion it might secure better treatment.

The report was then adopted. The ladies' committee report was then submitted. This showed that quite a number of lady supporters of the Association had resolved to undertake the catering, and had already set up subcommittees to proceed with the various dc-tails. It was pointed out that the Association paid to the caterer no less than £OO 5n cost on complimentary luncheon tickets and this would be saved, and with other savings the amount would be very acceptable to the Association's funds.

Various complimentary remark-9 were made re the valuable assistance afforded by the ladies, after which the report was received.

■Mr. E. McK. Morrison asked for a direction from the meeting regarding the cost of admission. He desired to know that if a showinau paid for the privilege of showing, lie should be permitted to allow his men to enter free of charge.

Mr. Linnell stated that a showman paying £5 should be allowed the privilege of gates for his assistants. '

Some little discussion ensued on several games of chance, and one member thought these should be eliminated, but it was pointed out the police had control of these items.

Eventually a motion was passed allowfag showmen certain privileges, Mr. Morrison being allowed a fair margin to work oil

The president stated that the setting up of a committee to canvass for entries for the various classes was the most important feature of the business. He recognised that farmers were becoming daily more busy, but believed if they set up a committee of men with practical knowledge and sound judgment they would get a good measure of support. Mr. Tom Eanford concurred. By going round they could get into touch with ; the individual farmer and find out how l £is stock stood. Members with a fair knowledge could advise a man whether his cow, horse or dog was worthy of the ring, and besides bring the Association into personal contact with the jarme?.

Mr. C. Jackson said it was very evident they would have to bustle round. This was the only spring show in Taranaki, and it was up to all to work their hardest. They should thoroughly canvass this district, and they might also take a little interest in the grade animal without detriment to the pedigree. Mr. Dingle said he was prepared to take a rest this year, but at the annual meeting they decided to continue, and he was prepared to do hi.* best as promised, lie thought they nUs'it make an active canvass in Hawera. ami with four energetic men would probably secure excellent support. He hoped that the young men would put their shoulders to it, and not. hold back their support. A personal canvass of the Stratford dairy factory would meet with a sympathetic support*.

The following committees were elected: Cardiff, T. Eanford and J. Jones; Toko, J. Lucena, It. Binnie and Max M-ernhoefer; Midhirst, C. Jackson, R. McK. Morrison, J. Clemow, J. Lennell and W. Pollock: Xgaere, A. C. Bell, Orr Bros, J. Thomas and A. D. Stanley; Hawera, R. Dingle and C. Jackson with power to add; Stratford Dairy Company, H. X. Silk and A. Huggett; New Ply j mouth district, g. Jacksoa and F. Stales.

it was decided to exjjend the sum of £7 10s for pipes to carry water from the present paddock to two other paddock*.

The president announced that he, the secretary and Mr. C. Jackson would be leaving for Manawatu shortly, and it. was desirous that several gates and fences should be attended to so as to shut up these paddocks. Two men are to be employed to attend to this failing a working bee for next Wednesday. The question of the new amusement tax was brought up by Mr. Porritt, who expressed the belief that A. and P. shows came under the tax. It was decided to pay the tax out of the entrance fees charged. This concluded the meeting. GENERAL ITEMS. The long lists of names now coming from the front is causing much concern, and eager faces are to be seen daily scanning the Daily News* columns in fear and trepidation that some relative appears in the lengthy lists. There have been a few from this district that have "gone west/' and one of these is Private E Goodwin, whose parents reside at Salisbury road, Midhirst. Ho has been away for many months and a second brother is now on the w'ay to the firing line. Tn tie list of wounded men are Privates H. Prujean, who left early in the war, and E. Kilsby, who is a member of the 19th. Both hail from Tariki. !

The flage were flying on Saturday. Some farmers, enthusiastic or sarcastic,, stated this was because the dairy companies were paying out an advance, A pleasant old lady smilingly asserted it was because a mail had arrived, and to prove this said she Bad received such nice letters from the front. An old veteran said the flags were premature rejoicing over Nelson's victory at Trafalgar. If the ,latter, he thought that seeing France was now a staunch ally to British this jubilation might well be dropped.

Labor Day was a miserable one here. Showers fell continuously, consequently bowlers had to take to the fireside instead of the green, and gardening was out of the question. Mr. Geo. Marchant, a well-known settler, met with a rather severe accident yesterday. He was taking milk to the Cardiff factory stage, when a neighboring supplier'* horse backed, and startled Mr, Marehant's horse. In endeavoring to quieten the animal and recover the reins, Mr. Marchant fell out of the cart, sustaining a fractured skull and internal injuries. He was removed to the manager's house, where he now lies, it not being considered safe to remove him. At the time of writing the patient was doing as well as could be expected. Afi far as the railway is concerned, the passenger traffic to-day was much the same as any other day. The absence of excursion fares made the journey to Waverley too expensive. The locale of the lecture advertised to ,be delivered here to-morrow (Tuesday) night is still in doubt. The municipal authorities say that the Town Hall will not be in use, but pamphlets issued by the promoters state that it will.

Mr. C. E. James has just opened up some very appropriate and beautiful Christmas cards for sending to soldiers at the front, and friends in the Home Land. A very large and varied assortment is available but already a steady demand has set in, so those on the lookout for seasonable gifts of this description should lose no time in inspecting Mr James' stock.