TARANAKI AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 October 1918, Page 6

TARANAKI AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.

ANNUAL REPORT. { The I'll d annual report of tlio central committee of the Tarauaki Agricultural •Society reccrdj a further continuance of the success that attended the society throughout the previous year. After referring to the war. the report stales: Members' Subscriptions.—The war has considerably affected cur receipt! from this source, the number of new members enrolled being sufficient to balance tie lo»s sustainod by members going to tlie front. We are pleased to report a continuation of many members to pay through their dairy factories This is a great factor in holding the membership together, and further, the deductions being made in December, when the rush of show work is not occupying Mis secretarial staff, checking can be done without interruption and the liability of the mistakes that wil crop up is reduced to a minimum. Donations.—The receipts from donations have been most gratifying. It is very pleasing to find that although there are numerous patriotic fund-; to support and donations for these are being continually solicited, yet the society is not "left out in the cold." The "gift of stock campaign" has been generously supported by the country members. Quite a number of dairy factories have also been most generous in donating amounts per ton of output ranging from is to (id, and we take this opportunity of thanking suppliers of these for their support.

Autumn Show.—The 43rd annual show was held on the society's new show grounds at Waiwakaiho on February 27 and 2S in good weathc-r. The entries were excellent considering the shortage of labor that is becoming more and more acute owing to tiie war. The stock exhibited was of a very high standard. The grand parade of prize-winners was very attractive and well conducted, the monster fat bullock of Mr Botfcomley's, of Hawera, in the procession, * eing a great novelty. The leaping competitions on People's Day went off with the usual interest and excitement, the only regrettable incident being the fall of Mr L. Payne's Keynardo at one of the hurdles, breaking its neck. Tbe Citizens' Band was in attendance and rendered a lirst-class programme of music. Beth patron* and exhibitors spoke in appreciative terms of the efforts and progressiveness of the society, and the success of our future stock show, more especially after the war, sh.-n'.d be assured. The catering by the ladies, which is referred to liter in this report, was a magnificent success. Winter Show. —The eigtlith -winter show was held as usual in the Coronation Hall on June 12, 13, 11 and IS, and proved, without exception, to be one of the most successful and attractive the society has yet held. Considerable alteration was made in the general 'May-out" of the various exhibits. The butter and cheese schools' rural section, honey, and public and technical schools' sections were transferred from the main building* to the first annexe, which had been made suitable by the tarring of the floor and the white-washing of the walls. The supervision of the show was in the capable bands of Mr L. Jackson, whom we are pleased to welcome back into our midst- from Australia. A very novel and interesting feature of the show was the display of war trophies captured by the XI Wellington Infantry Ifrgiment, together with numerous other smaller war trophies exhibited by the local Returned Soldiers' Association. The entries in nearly every division exceeded last year's figures. The home industries' section was very keenly contested. The fancy work division was particularly strong, and the excellent standard of tbe work exhibited occasioned the lady judge much (rouble to allocate the various awards. Tire garden vegetables section was a splendid exhibition of what can be grown in Taranaki—indeed, oar show can easily beat many larger shows in this particular division. The honey section, in charge of the local members of the Beekeepers' Association, was, as each and every section of the show should 'x.-, one of much educational value and instruction, and the members interested in this section have promised to strive to still weave the educational side into the competitive in our future shows. Tho schools' rural section was also a very instructive and attractive display. We are indebted to Mr it. A. S. Browne for the success of tliii! sectioi. The technical and public schools' selions were evidences of the high: standard of education being taught in opr New Zealand schools. The Poultry Committee —a band of energetic supporters working under conditions that could be much improved were the funds available—are to be'commended for the success of the poultry show. The entries in this section were up to last year, and the birds competing were very fine types of the various breeds, tbe judge, Mr S. Jw.r.ston, of Palmerston North, having no light task in allocating the wards.

.'Lectures—lt has always been the endeavor of the committee to arrange a series of lectures during show week. Tins was again carried/ out this year, ar.d Messrs A R Mprton, Jas. Burgess, Maxwell, and J. W Deem doliverad lectures in the Good Templar Hall The attendance was not aa large as tbe ''aliic of the instruction imparted warranted, so the committee have had each address reprinted and have forwarded to each member a copy of same. We have io thank the Taranaki Herald for executing Ibis work free of charge.

Ladies' Committee.—This report would be sadly incomplete without a word of praise of the noble efforts of, and success attained bv the lady supporters o! the society during the year. What on previous balance-sheets Med to appear as an expenditure under the heading of catering now appears as a substantial receipt, and other items such as raffles, cake-guessing competitions, jumble stall, sale of soft drinks, etc.. appearing in the statements of accounts li ere with as receipts, are the results of much solid Work b the ladies. Their efforts during the year realised a net profit of £320. Our heartfelt thanks are due to the well-organised body of lady workers who have so nobly assisted ua.

Your committe again tenders their sincere thanks to the many friends and supporters of the society for their generous support throughout the past year. To exhibitors judges, stewards, gatekeepers, secretaries dairy companies, donors of specials, the ladies and the Press hearty thanks are tendered. The statement of receipts and expenditure shows that the receipts from the autumn show amounted to £962 30s Id, and the expenditure to £SO6 18s 4d. The receipts from the Winter Show amounted to £866 16s 4d, and tJhe expenditure to £624 15s 4d. General receipts amounted to £775 7fl Sd, and the expenditure under the same head was £435

pended in connection with the now grounds »t Wahvakaiho. The assets are set down at .£7103 12s Gci, whilst the liabilities include £2930 5s Sd debentures and interest thereon, and debit balance at the. haulc £287 84,