MASTERTON A. AND P. ASSOCIATION.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10115, 10 October 1910, Page 6

MASTERTON A. AND P. ASSOCIATION.

MEETING OF COMMITTEE

A meeting of the General Committoo of the Masterton A. and P. Association was held on Saturday last, tliore being present Messrs W.Perry, (in the chair), H. Morison, D. McGregor, jimr., J. Strang, J. James,R (Jrav, G. Allen, J. Pony, Bland Ravncr, H. -1. Dagg, C. V. Vallance, ,1. D. Cruickshank, G. Shaw, \\ . Buiek, T. P. Lett, D. Caselbcrg, E Harper, H. J. Dagg, and A. G. lilracr. . , Apology for absence was received from MrO. C. Cooper. GROUND COMMITTEE. The Ground Committee reported that the pavilions had boon completed for £35 under the estimates, and the ram fair ring was in course of construction. The secretary of the Battalion Band offered the services of the band free of charge on the second day of the show, provided the association would erect a suitable rotunda, it was resolved to ask the bandmaster and secretary to meet the Building Committee and that a report bo made to the next meeting of the association. A communication was received from the District Hallway Engineer stating that the construction of the Solway siding would be put in hand as soon as the necessary formalities were completed. The secretary was instructed to advise the engineer that a cheque for the amount agreed to would be forwarded when required. MACHINERY EXHIBITS. Some discussion tpok place on the question of making the outside space free for exhibtors with a view to inducing machinery firms to exhibit, but it was generally considered that nothing could be done in the matter, and it was resolved to allow the charges to remain as at present, viz., members 9d. per foot frontage, and non-members Is. per foot frontage. PROTESTS.

On the motion of Mr. D. M'Gregor, Jan., it was decided that the officers'oi't lie association, with the marshal steward in charge of the particular class, be formed into a Protest Committee, three to form a quorum. RAM FAIR. The conditions for the Ram Fair, previously decided upon, were adopted. JUDGING COMPETITIONS. It was resolved, in regard to the judging competition for the first day of the show, to be tried on one class of draught horses; that the competition be an open one, and that entries be received until 12 noon, instead of 11 a.m. It was resolved that Romney Marsh sheep, instead of Lincolns, be used for the second day's judging competition, and that Messrs. Buick and Allen be appointed a committee to arrange details. It was resolved that three sheep, I instead of one, be provided for the guessing competition this year, Mr. [J. Strange offering to provide the ! sheep. CATALOGUE REVISIONS.

Classes 9, 19, 37, 47, and 57 in the sheep division were amended to read "four rams under twcnty-oiib months," instead of five. The question of having the freezing classes, which arc at present judged at the show and subsequently in London, judged solely in New Zealand, was discussed, and a suggestion was received from Mr. Joseph Morris that the fat sheep be killed by the Wellington Farmers' Meat Company. It was resolved that the condition that sheep foe "killed and frozen at Wellington" be deleted, and that the carcases be forwarded to London as soon after the show as possible. It was decided that a judging competition be held in connection with the classes for Devon lambs and long wool or long wool cross wethers, and a committee consisting of Messrs. T. M'Kenzie and R. Gray was set up to arrange the conditions. Classes for bull and heifer calves were added to the purebred Hereford cattle section. It was decided to add two classes to the Holstein-Fresian division of cattle.

Mr. 11. J. Dagg suggested that a chart be prepared, showing the different stands for horses, to be available to owners at the entrance gates. The secretary was instructed to procure the necessary chart. In the pony class, the pony mare or gelding, to be ridden by a boy or girl, was altered to read, "under twelve hands," instead of "eleven hands and under twelve hands."

Messrs. G. H. Perry and W. H. Denby suggested that class 200, for ponies in harness, be made to read, "over 12.2 hands and under 13.2 hands," and that another class be provided for ponies under 12.2 hands. The suggestion was adopted. FINANCE COMMITTEE. The report of the meeting ex the Finance Committee was read. This showed an expenditure for the month of £655 ()s. 7d., and receipts £l2 19s. Gd. The bank book showed a debit of £1261 Bs. sd. Accounts amounting to £5lO Is. Id. were passed for pavment. EXPERIMENTAL COMMITTEE. The report of the meeting of the Experimental Committee was read. A letter was received from Messrs. Tothill, on behalf of Messrs. Sutton and Sons, offering a silver cup, valued at £ls 155., to be won twice in succession or three times at intervals, for the best crop of swedes (flat or ridge) grown from Sutton's seeds. It was decided to recommend the acceptance of Messrs. Tothill's offer. Mr. 10. Clifton, Supervisor of Experiments, advised that the Government would be pleased to accept the offer of Mr. W. Perry to place ten acres of land at the disposal of the Agricultural Department, provided that

all labour in connection therewith is given free of charge. As the season was so far advanced, it was decided to recommend that the matter bo deferred until next year.

Mr. Perry thought the Government was taking a very narrow view of the matter. It was impossible for the association to find the labour required. As it was too late to do anything this year, he thought the matter might be referred to a committee. The question was loft in the hands of Messrs. Cruickshank, Shaw, and Lett, for a report. SHEEP.

An offer of Mr. J. Morris of a special prize of £1 Is. for the best pen of sheep or lambs in the freezing classes was accepted, provided that the prize is allotted for either sheep or lambs. On the suggestion of Mr. E. Harper, the class for ten sheep in the farmers' division was deleted from the. catalogue, it being considered that the competition in the pen of five would be sufficient. LUinUHEON COMMITTEE. The Luncheon Committee recommended that Mr. J. Shout be engaged for the supervision of the catering department for next show, on the same terms as last year, viz., £l7 10s., but should the luncheon be a financial success a further sum of £3 10s. be granted Mr. Shout, making his salary £2l. it was also recommended that the question of the

advisability of the association holding a social function on the first night of the show for the entertainment of judges, members, and visitors be discussed, and some finality arrived at. The report was' adopted, and the question of holding a social was referred to the Luncheon Committee. HORSES. A proposal by Mr. W. B. Matheson to introduce a horse-shoeing competition was negatived, it being pointed out that previous attempts in this direction had failed.

A class for a pair of draught horses, mare, or gelding, shown in dray, was added to the programrie, as was also a class for three horses shown in dray. FARM PRODUCE AND HORTICULTURE. The arranging of the sch.sd.ilo >or faun pirduce and horticulture w;,s left with the Horticultural Committee. EXPERIMENTS. The question of the experi nonts -.vas referred to the Experircunts Committee.