MASTERTON A. AND P. ASSOCIATION.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 3214, 14 June 1909, Page 3

MASTERTON A. AND P. ASSOCIATION.

MONTHLY MEETING.

The monthly meethg of the General Committee of the Masterton A. and P. Association was held on Saturday afternoon. There were present, —Messrs.D. McGregor, junr. (chairman), J. B. Moodie, W. J. Welch, W. Perry, J. Strang, T. P- Lett, H. Morrison, H. A. Matthews. C. E. Darnell, J. E. Perry, Q, Donald, W. D. Watson, E. Harper, 11. J. Dagg, D. Caselberg, W. Cooper, A. D. McMaster, Bland Rayner, A. J. Stone-Wigg, G, Shaw, and_W. H. Buick. Apologies for absence were received from Messrs A. Donald, W. E. Bidwi), C F. Vallance, A. G, Pilmer, G. C. Summertil, E. E. ChamI berlain, and A. G. Perry. The financial position was reported to be as follows:—Dr. balance May i Bth, 1009, £4,820 10a 2d; expenditure for month, £74 receipts, £lO9 ss; dr. balance at date, £4,785 8s 7d. The Ground Committee reported having met and prepared an estimate of the cost of removing from the old grounds to Solway, as follows:—Removal of buildings, and re-erection with the addition of 130 new sheep pens, £1,312; erection of necessary new additional buildings, £2,240, Mr Daniell said he considered the Solway scheme a mistake. Hh had tried to think otherwise, but was forced back to the same conclusion everytime. He hoped the welfare of the Show would not be affected, but it was a serious matter removing it from the business centre. Mr Moodie, in referring to the previous speaker's remarks, said that as the majority of the members had decided on Solway, discussion on the advisableness of the scheme should be j shelved. There were far more im- j portant matters ahead of the members, and they had to seriously consider the means of carrying out the work of the Association in the best possible manner. He thought great credit was due to certain members for the "enthusiasm they had shown over the new scheme, which at one time appearedjto be almost hopeles3 A number of members, however, came forward, and not only guaran teed the purchase money, but assisted the institution with liberal subscriptions. Th°re was only one thing to do, and that was to work together, andjf they did that the success of the Show would be easily assured. Mr Perry also disagreed with Mr Darnell's remarks, and considered that as soon as the Show was held at Solway there would be an increased attendance. Mr Caselberg asked would the attendance from the town be the same. Mr McGregor said that he personally held the viaw that the Society had made a move in the right direction. The new grounds would be appreciated by the agricultural people of the Wairarapa generally. Moreover, they would get a far better representation of stock at Solway from other parts ct the country. The Ground and Finance Committees' reports were adopted. The Department of Agriculture wrott offering samples of Russian and other wheats for experimental purposes.; The chairman said he thought the samples certainly should have a trial, although he was of opinion that better results could bn obtained from the selection of grain that had been proved suitable to the district. He referred to the methods adopted in Canada, and instanced the good work done by the Guelph College, Ontario, in improving the grain yield. That institution had offered substantial prizes for the best 100 heads of grain selected by hand, and no less than 800 took part in thecompetition. Larger prizes were offered to those who continued the work in the following season. The result was a marked improvement in the grain yield as the best sampjes grown had been widely distributed through the country. After further discussion, Messrs G. Shaw, D. McGregor junr.. J. C. McKillop; W. J. Welch, Percy Bros., and J. and H. Holmes were appointed a sub-committee to see that experiments were carried out with the Government samples, and report to the Association.