MASTERTON A. AND P. ASSOCIATION.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9155, 31 July 1908, Page 5

MASTERTON A. AND P. ASSOCIATION.

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF MEMBERS.

The annual general meeting of members of the Masterton Agricultural and Pastoral Association was held in the Foresterß' Hall yesterday afternoon, the retiring President, Mr J. D. Cruickshank, occupying the chair. About forty members were present. The Chairman, in moving the adoption of the annual report and balance sheet, said he thought that the Association could be congratulated on the satisfactory position disclosed. He remarked on the fact that the sum of about £l4O had been wiped off as outstanding subscriptions, which made the balance sheet the truest ever brought down, as disclosing the actual financial position of the Association. The decision of the Society to remove its sphere of operations to Solway was also commented on by the speaker in a congratulatory way, and in connection with the movement to remove there he specially mentioned the services rendered to the Association by Mr J. McGregor. Mr Cruick-

shank said, in reference to Ihe rejected offer of the Association to cooperate with the Wairarapa P. and A. Society in an all-Wairarapa Show, that the Association was still hopeful that such a desired consummation would soon be brought about. He paid a high tribute to the good work done by Mr G. C. Summerell as Chairman of the Finance Committee, and lo the excellent work done by the General Committee and the various sub-committees, which had all worked together harmoniously and unitedly. (Applause). Mr D. McGregor (the incoming President) seconded the adoption of the report and balance sheet. In the course of a brief resume of the work of the Association during the year, he said that one matter to which he felt he must refer was that the enforcement of a rule passed at the last annual meeting:, that all subscriptions for tfie current year be paid in advance of the Show, had caused a number of old and valued members to resign, they evidently having misinterpreted the intention of the Association, which was only to work on a sound financial basi3. Mr McGregor passed on to refer in eulogistic terms to the increased interest that was being shown by members in the affairs of tht Association. He felt that with the wonderful enthusiast) now being shown the Association mi: it go on and progress, and become the great exhibition they all hoped it would be. (Applause.) Mr McGregor, who was elected Presvlent unopposed, then returned hearty thanks for his election to such a responsible office. He expressed himself at a loss to describe how honoured he felt, and promised to fulfil to the utmost the duties which wu„ld devolve upon him during the comi ig year. (Applause). The (.lotion of other officers resulted rn follows: —Vice-presidents, Messrs Wm. Perry and Hugh Morrison; Gen.ral Committee,MessrsA.McMaster, J. Strang, Q. Donald, J. D. Cruickshank. B. Rayner, W. E. Bidwill, A. Donald, H. A. Matthews, R Smith, G. C. Summerell, A. G. P.l.uer, W. H. Buick, W. Cooper, W. J. Welch, R. J. D'agg, O. C. Cooper, G. Shaw, C. F. Vallance, J. Morris, J. C. McKillop, A. J. Stone-Wigg, A. J. Percy, W. D. Watson, E. Harper, T. J. Lett, J P. Perry, C. E. Daniel!, D. Caselberg, and J. E. Pery; Treasurer, J. B. Moodie (unopposed); Auditor, Mr J. B. Keit''.

Mr W. Perry, in returning thanks for his election to the position of a vice-president, said he felt that the result of his election was a sufficient refutation of a slander which was contained in a letter which had been published in several papers in this and other districts, and which reflected not only upon himself but upon F.no:her member of the Sohvay syndicate. He had considered the letter not worthy of a reply, and now he felt his position was amply vindicated. Mr Perry prophecied a hard year's wonc for tne Association, but he believed it would be done in a business-like way, and would raise the Show tj that standard they all so much desired. He threw out the suggestion to tha incoming Committee that they should send round nomination papers to every member of the Association prior to the election of ufficeri, in ordar t) give country | members an opportunity to nominate anyone they desired. (Applause). - Mr H. Morrison then thanked the members for electing him also as a vice-president. His only regret was that such a splendid worker and excellent member as Mr J. Morris had been displaced by the speaker's return, and had he known earner th:irhe did that Mr Morris' friends intended nominating him he (Mr Morrison) would willingly have retired. He urged upon the new Committee to work together as past Committees had done, and by dint of united effort they would achieve the success they looked for. He advocated a strong canvass in the country districts tor new members, believing that there were many who would willingly enrol if they were approached. (Applause). ; Mr Jos. Morris then ■ heartily

thanked all who had supported him for office as a, vice-president. He congratulated Messrs Perry and Morrison their return, and felt assured their election was a splendid thing for the Association. (Applause). Mr J. B. Moodie (Treasurer), in a speech of thanks, spoke highly of the worK done by the past officers. He believed that though somewhat troublous market times were sit hand, the Association would easily weather the storm. (Applause). The Chairman here mentioned that it was distinctly gratifying to see that the South Wairaiapa nominee? for the General Committee had all been elected, and well up on the list. (Hear! hear!). , Mr J. McGregor then moved that a hearty vote of thanks be accorded to the retiring President and Vicepresidents, and also to the Solway syndicate, which had, he considered, instilled so much ardour into the Association's work of late. He specially mentioned the untiring energy of the President, who had conducted the Association so ably through a difficult period;. The motion was carried by accla mation. Mr R. Smith (District Representa-

tive at Pahiatua) congratulated the Association on its forward movement, and particularly regarding the decision to remove the Show to faclway. Speaking for Bush members, he said that they were unanimously agreed on the wisdom of the lemoval, believing that the small show idea was a bygone one. He was pleased to see so much real enthusiasm shown in the Association's work. (Applause). ~ _ On the motion of Mr J. McGregor, a hearty vote of thanks was accorded to the subscribers to the Solway Fund, the mover stating that about £I,OOO had been generously and spontaneously donated. Cordia'. votes of thanks were also passed to donors of special prizes to the scrutineers of the election of ofncers, and the Press. The following new members were elected:—Messrs A. Cameron, T. Cameron, J. Norman, N. D. Bunting, A. McDonald, H. J. Francis, A. R. Sclanders, Harombe and Donald, B. P. Perry, J Gill, M. Connolly, A. Snodgrass, 0. Bygum, S. Conncll. J. Simonek, A. H. ■ Rothenberg, A. E. Winzenberg, T. D. Chamberlain, G. Jones, R. Deane, D. McCalmont, G. Rutherford, J. R. Nicol, ri. K Edwards, G Pair, G. Darton, W. H. French, J. McKelvie, M. 0. Aronsten, E. R. Wilson, J. V. Gordon, C. Messenger, King and Henry, G. Townsend, McLeod and Young, W. A. lorns, G. Williams, A. Latscn.