TARANAKI A. AND P. SOCIETY.

Taranaki Daily News, 25 October 1920, Page 8

TARANAKI A. AND P. SOCIETY.

ANNUAL MEETING. The annual meeting of the Taranaki Metropolitan Agricultural Society was held on | Saturday, Mr. W. B. Grant presiding over a j good attendance of members. | REVIEW OF YEAR'S WORK. In imoYlne tiro adoption of the report {already published), the President briefly reviewed the activities of the Committee during the year. He expressed gratification at the steady progress having been maintained, and that members had continued to take a keen interest in affairs. Nearly £tiO(> had been spent on tiro Show Grounds at Waiwakaiho on various improvements there. An additional 50 cattle stalls had been roofed over and various outbuildings erected, all forming pact of the complete scl eme the Society had in view for providing additional convenience for exhibitors. Land had acquired idjoining the Show Grounds for tho paddocking of stock during show time. This would to a large extent relieve the committee from Imposing on the generosity of owners of paddocks near the grounds, as in the past it. had always been a difficulty to obtain suitable- accommodation for stock over night. Exhibitors would no doubt appreciate the new arrangements.

The president said tl'e Society's appointments for the autumn show were now very complete, and exhibitors had expressed appreciation of the excellent conditions under wlilch their stock was shown. One of the chief alms of the Society had been to cater well for the exhibitors, recognising that many came long distances at great expense to themselves. The Society, he trusted, would continue this policy, which was a strong factor in popularising tho Show. The Show Ground was growing in popularity as a sports ground, for during tho year the committee Imi] had applications from cricket and football clubs and tl'e gun club for Its use. The winter show in Juno last had been successful financially, and certainly wa> an i improvement from a* spectacular point of view * on shows li- ld during the last few years. No •i'liisfnrtory scheme had yet been put forward to bolvo thf problem of increased accommodation for vho winter shows; the in-

coming committee would no doubt review the ■vviali'm during tbe'r tennt of ofllco. Special attention should be paid to membership; if every member enrolled one new member during the year it would be a considerable help to the Society. The prescient, in expressing special thanks to the lady member* fop their efforts during . the year, salfl their work called for the | highest-approvallon. The asi slated for three years with the catering, and i)'t» total profits made by them during the period ajnoij|)ted to over £9OO, while their work had been favorably commented upon throughout the North Island, Thanks wore expressed by the speaker to the gentlemen who judged the fteld acreage: competitions and home kitchen garden eomi petitions: Messrs. Ily. King, F. Andrews, H. 11, Giddy, H r S. hongstaff, C. V. Tate, H. ft. Cflttley, 'I 1 . Dickson, and H. C. Sampdon. Thw sincere thanks of the Soctety were ' Also due to Mr. J, W. Deem tor judging ! the field voot eompeiltinns, The president ! also thanked the <-omm ! .ttue, secretary (Mr. Vf. V, Okey), and ail who had hei-n ussoeiaied with him during the term of office. On behalf of Mrs. Grant he rendered to the lady members her appreciation of their splendid help, and in eonoluulon urged all to tfjptinue to show an Interest In the welfaro of the Society. Mr. J, R, Connett. In seconding the motion, congratulated tie Society on the fine progress made dur'.ng the year. It was very gratifying to know that the operations had continued on the successful linen of past years. He had wntched the progress and noted that the committee had been moat energetic and enthusiastic, and had entered whole heartedly Into the work. The money spent on permanent ,sVowed j that members were keenly alive to the welfare of the Society, and to the Importance .4? this district. The work of the ladles undoubtedly' had been the means of keeping iltß Society together, and helping Iti* advan«*inent. lie hoped they would continue

their tvork because it would lit' the menus of pushing oti bl"c progress of the Society on sound lines. (Applause). The membership was very flue, though he .agreed with the 'president that It should he possible to increase the number; and ho hoped that efforts would be made to bring about thin increase. Mr. Onncit said he was disappointed with U - e number of donations reerived, and believed this could he increased I Witt) reference to th« winter show he was satisfied that for the time being the extension of the building would hive to be left in abeyance osving to the difficulties In finding moucy and in building work. He hoped, however, that the ineoming committee would decide rd carry on tli«s event. even on the present lines. In the future the Society would nave to launch out « aehem« of its own in this connection; he had hoped that, the committee set up to canvass the town for donation* would have met. wlih better results.

Mr. J. A. Kurth said that generally speaking the Society could be proud of the position ihey were In. With regard to the membership lu? felt with the president that (he number might be very much increased. He quite agreed with Mr. f'onnetl on the question of donations, and was disappointed io see the support the Society was receiving ir this direction. Many of the leading business institutions wei-o not on tie list, :md rhero wore also many prominent farmers whose names ought to be included in, tins. He endorsed the remarks of the president on the question of the . work done by the ladies, who had entered into their task with real enthusiasm. The speaker mentioned in this connection that a cloak room would be a ureal convenience to tl'C workers in the catering department. Referring to the remarks of speakers re* gardi-ng donations, the president said no special collection had been made during the year, as there bad been quite a number of calls on the public, but the Society was always pleased to receive donations. The report and balance-sheet were then adopted.

ELECTION* OF OFFICERS. Mr. Grant was re-elected president, tributes being paid to the work he had done for the Society during the year. Messrs. 11. B. Sampson and C. Fairbrother were appointed rice-presidents. Other appointments were filled as frtOlows: Hon. vet surgeon, Mr. R. S. Wood; auditor, Mr. J. S. S. Medley. The following general eommitlee was appointed: A. E. Washer, W. Hall. G. W. Browne. A. P. Lister, T. Smellie, John Contietf, A. J. Luxton, A U, Gudopp, J. G. Short, .T. A. Kurth. E. C. Stanley, A. Turnbull, X. W Hill, C. Dobson, W. McKenzie, A. T. Moore John Hnrle, Z. T. Walker, f. Hoskin. C. Cunningham, .7. R. Hill, W. H. Jury, W. Honeylleld, W. K. A. It. . Davis. F. Stanley, II- H. Olson, R. IT. Piggott, IL Linn. A. H. Haleombe, Ceo. Colson, ! Lewv? Jackson, 11. 0. Skehon, W. Moeller, G. M. Longstaffe, V. IHnhutsUi, W. I). Linn, V. H. Wellington, Waller Scott, E. D. AnsI'ord. H. B. Leeeli, Herb. Ward, F. W. Sandlord. 'Die following Indies' commirtee was appointed, with power to add: Mesdames Langley, F. Andrews, J. A. Kurth, F. Sampson, W. B. Grant, Groonie. Giddy, T. Smellie, J. Bates, N. W. Hill.

GENERAL. During the meeting, Mr. Kurth made reference to the fact that no delegate from Ihe Society had been invited to a recent function to celebrate the arrival of the first direct shipment of merchandise, and bo said he thought lhe Society was entitled to be represented at such a gathering. Vol c-s: of thanks were accorded the stewards, judges, donors, Press, and all who bad assisted the operations of the Society. A special vote of appreciation of the efforts of the ladies was recorded in the minutes. The secretary explained that with reference to the acknowledgment of donations in the annual report, a number of names in an j alphabetical division had been inadvertently • loft out. The following should have been {included: Messrs. Weston and Billing £5 (Webster Bras. £l, Mrs. F. Wallis £l* MPs' IT. H, Western £l, Mr. W. H. Were fig,