TARANAKI A. AND P. SOCIETY.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 October 1920, Page 8

TARANAKI A. AND P. SOCIETY.

PAST YEAR'S WORK. The operations of tlie Taranaki Metropolitan Agricultural Society for the period ended August 31—the fortyfifth year of working—are outlined in the annual report to bo presented to the general meeting of members which will be held in the Soldiers' Club on Saturday, October 23. The report states!— Autumn Show.—The forty-fifth annual stock show wag held on the Society's showgrounds at Waiwakaifio on Wednesday and Thursday, March 3rd find 4th, and was conspicuously successful, well oyer 500 head of dairy cattle being exhibited. There was also a good showing of sheep and pigs. . Light and draught horse classes were well supported. The leaping events provided good competition, and as usual were much appreciated by the publio. Particulars of the various sections were as follows: Jerseys 285; Friesians, 75; Ayrshires, 74; Shorthorns, 68; fat cattle, 22; grand total, 522. The attendance at the show was easily a record, the gafe takings being £45 over any amount previously taken fct a stock show. The displays of agricultural machinery, motor cars, etc., were not so numerous as might have been expected in view of the small charges for space levied by the Society. These displays, however, are sure to improve when manufacturers overtake the existing shortages caused by the war, and competition once more becomes keen. The side-show man was also noticeable 'by his absence, and no doubt he will appear again when things become properly settled. Winter Show.—The eleventh annual Winter Show was held as usual in the Coronation Hall, on June oth, 10th, 11th, and 12th. The wer>ther throughout was fine and the attendance was good. The door takings were £l7 over last year. All the competitive classes were well filled, the quality of the produce and works of art exhibited being of a particularly high standard. A great deal of interest centred around the exhibits from gardens entered in the Home Kitchen harden Competition. The exhibit of poultry was again an outstanding feature of the show. The display of pigeons was without uonbt the best ever seen in Taranaki.

The Society was particularly fortunate in securing the first competition for the Columbarian Peace Trophy, o handsome trophy subscribed by pigeon fanciers as a peace celebration. This was the means oi' introducing- pigeons from all the principal lofts in New Zealand. -Mr. John Ilnrle, of Now Plymonth, is f o be congratulated upon being the first winner of the trophy. Jn our last annual report is was stated that owing to lack of building space the Winter Show was not showing the advancement desired, and that either an improved and larger building would have to he provided or the abandonment of the show seriously considered. Throughout the year just ended, endeavors have been made to formulate a scheme whereby a lmilding programme might be financed, but as yet a successful issue has not been reached. Meetings wore held between representatives of the business people of the town and your committee, and various schemes'outlined. A committee of local business men eventually set out with the object of raisin? the sum of £ISOO by way of straight-out, donations, and although no official report has been made on their progress, it is understood that their appeals met Willi so little response thai the committee abandoned their efforts. Only tho«e actually engaged in running the Winter. Show know of the vast amount of work entailed. To prepare for the accommodation of the various exhibit;! in the linlitcd space available is a work of art, and requires much time and thought. The same wiling band of workers as assist with the stock show crive their time and energy to the Winter Show, and your committee feels that the willing horse is liable to be ridden to death. Should Iho Winter Show be j abandoned something in the nature of a J week of instruition for farmers will j doubtless take its place, and again more i time, will be allowed for still further pro- I mating the success of the stock show.

Ladies' Committee.—Tlio work of the Ladies' Committee at both Autumn and Winter Shows lias been once again rewarded with magnificent results, .as the following figures go to prove. Profits were made as follows: Catering Autumn Show £133 lis Id; eatering Winter Show .€35 14s; soft, drinks, etc., Autumn Show. £2O s 10d; Winter Show, £lO 17s 10(1; jumble stall, Winter Show, £29 10s l()d: sundry guessing competitions Winter Show, £4B -Is fid, the total profits for the year being £287 Ss Id. These figures speak for themselves and go to niiow the great deb! of gratitude the Society owes to our ladies. 'Membership.—The receipts from (his source Ims amounted to £BOB 10s. There arc a number of subscriptions outstanding, mostly due to the fact that members having sold their farms have removed to other districts and have not advised the society of their change of address, therefore the usual reminder has no't reached them. The income derived from members' subscriptions constiTntes a kind of insurance fund wherein it provides means to meet, the expenditure incurred should Hie receipts of any show be affected by adverse weather condiiions, therefore it Imhovcs present member,, to be (•on.-lantly on the watch f»r prospective members so as to increase this income. On the oil.or hand members receive by way of privileges in 'the shape of tickets and reduced entry fees ample value for tlcir £1 annual subscription. Donations—The receipts from tlii< source have been very gratifying in view o ftlie fact, that no special canra-s lias been made during the year. Messrs. ,fo!m Ifale and [f. Sampson each generously donated a young pedigree Jersey bull. These animals are being graced on lbo showgrounds awaiting a farorablc opoortunity to sell them to the best >tage.. flener.tl.—A ntial amount of pennant work has been carried out a't the showgronnds. Fifty lii.jro cattlepens ha ve heel! roofed in and hav racks provided in eaeli stall. What 'was a temporary dining-room last year has been roofed in and converted into a permanent slniciure: ticket office* have been erected at the entrance to the two dining rooms a secretary's office, and a re fresh m en! booths have beei) built, and. two jmlgin" rings levelled and fence,l. T.'ic cost .if (fie new work carried out. during the year has been £584 10s lid. The Committee appointed at the last annual meeting has been fully engaged throughout tlii! year with mutters "re. biting to (lie welfare of (he Society, ihe organisation of the two shows, anil permanent _ work. The splendid worl; so freely given by stewards, committeemen, «nd last, but by no means'least, the

ladies, has won for the Society another year of prosperity. We owe a debt of gratitude to our many friends and supporters for their assistance and generosity throughout the year. We especially ■thank exhibitors, judges, stewards, donors, secretaries of dairy companies, those who provided paddocking accommodation during the Aufumn Show, the ladies, and the Press, and any other person or organisation whn contributed in any way toward 'the success of the Society's operations during the year under review. ° The balance-sheet shows that general receipts totalled £!)<W lis 3d, the principal item being members' subscriptions *•*08 10s. Kxponditure was £333 lis «1. Tn the autumn show account the receipts were £!HSO 7s 2d, against which were outgoing totalling £!M7 0s 7d; while for the winter fixture the receipts were £7S!j 18s od, and the disbursements £GS7 18s :id. The showgrounds account shows that a considerable sum was spent on improvements, including the roofing of the rattle stalls £:io2 Os id, •roofing extra dining-room £BS ISs 2d. Iniildimr 0 f secretary's office and ticket office °£i7 and publican's booth £Bl 18s 2d. The assets total £7032 against a liability of about £3(100, and include cash in hand £!)7 1-Os, stock unsold C 203. The land is set down at CM!!?, being 10y 3 acres at Waiwakaiho I and 0 sections at St. Ciermain's Square, i and showground buildings (allowing do- I pronation at 10 per cent) are valued at JE3239.