AGRICULTURAL SHOWS.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 November 1922, Page 8

AGRICULTURAL SHOWS.

THE TARANAKI SOCIETY. BEVIEVV OF OPERATIONS. The annual report of the Taranaki Agricultural Society is as follows: — Your committee, in presenting to members the forty-seventh annual balance-sheet and statement of accounts, regrets that the year financially cannot be termed successful, the receipts in many instances having fallen off considerably. This particularly applies to members’ subscriptions, many of which at the close of the year are outstanding. It is not the practice of the committee to show these in the balance-sheet as .an asset. Some uf these are recoverable, but the majority, unf or tuna (el j- are not, as many imembers, consequent upon restricted pay-outs for their produce, have been compelled to discontinue their support for the present at least, but have assured us that upon conditions improving they will resume unembership. Last year a most unlocked for setback was experienced by having to expend over; £2OO on works to prevent erosion of the river bank bounding the Waiwakaiho property, and during ihis year a further sum of £l5 had tj be expendel to complete the work. These protective measures afe acting satisfactorily, and there need be no further anxiety in this direction. During the year one more cattle pavilion has been roofed over, a new feed room erected, and shutters, fitted and repairs effected to the grandstand, the total cost of this work being some £4550. Whilst the finance committee recognised that absolute economy would have to be exercised, a drop in the receipts of some £450 was not anticipated. THE SHOWS. Autumn Show. —The forty-seventh annual stock show was held on Wednesday and Thursday, March 8 and 9. The weather was all that could be desired. Entries were well up to standard, both numerically and in quality. The attendance on people’s day was somewhat less than the preceding year, the gate takings falling short of last year's figures by £55. The receipts practically all round showed a decided decrease over the previous year, a marked shortness of money being apparent. The efforts of the ladies with the catering and the fruit and soft drinks stall suffered considerably, the profit being £7l as against £174 last year. Receipts from, the guessing coinpetitions and games were also poor, une expenditure, where possible, was cut down to I a minimum, and our thanks are due to those I members who so generously responded to our appeal for voluntary assistance, thereby enabling us to save £35 in labor charges alone. • Winter Show.—This fixture was held as ! usual in the Coronation Hall on .Tune 7,8, i 9 and 10, and despite the severe handicap of j Inadequate buildings, proved to be a success, | and showed a profit on actual working, withi out crediting any proportion of members’ I subscriptions, of just over £lOO. i Mr. Walter Topless, of Waitara, kindly lent the society some rare specimens of pheasants ■ and ducks which, together with a Captain Cook pig lent by Mr. S. Topless, and skeletons of pigs’ heads lent, by Mr. Collins, formed a most attractive exhibition, from which the society netted the sum of £3l 18s. The door receipts t were £29 short of last year. The catering was again capably run by the ladies, the profits being £23. as against. £3l last year. A produce and sweets stall was also run by the ladies, and realised a profit of £37. LADIES’ COMMITTEE. This committee has become, by virtue of magnificent achievements, an indispensable part of the society 7. Their organisation and methods are such as to ensure well merited praise from exhibitors and the general public. As stated in thfll foregoing, the profits from their efforts have this year fallen off considerably, but this is through no slackening or effort on their part, but is due to the adverse conditions which unfortunately prevailed. We once more accord all the ladies who have assisted in any measure whatsoever our sincere thanks. Mrs. P. G. Knight was responsible for the organisation of a function at Oakura, the purpose being to commence a fund witn which to purchase glass coverings for the cooking section at the Winter Show. The success of the function is indicated by the amount handed over to the society, viz., £l3 7s 3d. Mrs. Knight and her helpers are to be congratulated on their success and sincerely thanked for their interest in the welfare of the society. DONATIONS. Apart from sundry donations to the prize funds and several gifts of stock, very little lias been forthcoming by way of donations. To those who have made us donations in any shape we are grateful. OTHER MATTERS. One event at least has proved that the aims apd objects of the society, and the vast amount of voluntary work given in the endeavor to achieve those aims and objects, has had the' appreciation of one of our late members. We refer to a handsome legacy bequeathed the society by virtue of the will of the late Mr. W. J. Davis. Although Mr. Davis took no active part in committee worn, he was a keen follower of the activities of the society, more especially the shows, and he has seen fit to manifest his interest in a most liberal manner by in his will bequeathing to the society one-seventh share of the residue of his estate. It is expected the society, through this legacy, will benefit to the extent of about £l5OO.