MASTERTON A. AND P. ASSOCIATION.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XVI, Issue 4966, 4 March 1895, Page 3

MASTERTON A. AND P. ASSOCIATION.

ANNUAL MEETING. The adjourned annual meeting of the Masterton A. and P. Association, was held at the Club Hotel on Saturday afternoon, Present Mr A, W. Cave (President) Jas Stnckey, W, Day, E, E. Meredith, R, McKenzie, William Perry, E. E. Chamberlain, I Walter Perry, I. Sykes, J. McGregor F. C, Lewis, J.Hessey, R. Campbell, A. Mutrie, A, Stewart, D, Guild, and J. Ewart MINUTES. The minutes of last meeting wero read and confirmed. UALAN'CK SHEET. The annual report and balance sheet wero taken as read on the motion of Mr J. Stuckcy. Mr A. W. Cave moved the adoption of the balance sheet. Mr D. Guild seconded the motion which was carried unanimously, ELECTION OK OFFICERS.

Mr Guild moved that Mr J.Hessey be President. He bad been a long time conneded with the Association and deserved the honor.

Mr Hessey said he must decline, but had pleasure in proposing Mr Guild for the office. Mr Guild said hcregretted he was obliged to decline, as ho could not say where he would be during tho next twelve months.

Mr Sykes then proposed Mr J. McGregor who also declined. He would like to see some of the younger members come forward,

Mr Mutrie proposed Mr Cave, who had so ably performed his duties in the past, Mr Meredith, in seconding the motion, spoke in very complimentary terms of Mr Cave, and felt sure, if ho would stand, the Society would heartily support him. Mr Cave, while thanking them for the honor done, said he would much prefer the Society appointing someone else to the position, 1 Mr McGregor proposed Mr William Perry as President. He had already held the position of vicePresident, and would, Mr McGregor felt sure, make a good President.

Mr Perrv declined to stand,

Mr Guild, in reply to Mr Stuckey's request that he would reconsider his decision not to stand, stated that he could not do so, as there was some prospect of his going away from Masterton. Mr Campbell moved, that Mr Stuckey be President. Mr Stuckey said he could not I accept the position, not having the time to spare to attend to the duties.

Mr Sykes asked if they could settle the question of an autumn or spring show, before going further. Mr Stewart said they had not come to discuss an autumn show. Ho denied that the Society was declining, but it was an' extraordinary thing if among so many capable men as there were present, they could not select a President. If not they had better wind up. They could not get on withouta head, He would propose Mr Ewart as President. Mr Ewart declined on the ground that he was too new to the district, Mr Ewart moved that Mr Walter Perry be asked to take the office. Mr Perry declined with thanks

Mr Meredith said they ought to do something, He was satisfied that if an influential committee waited on Mr W. Lowes and asked him to accept his old position as President, which offico he had maintained with credit to himself and benefit to the Society, Mi Lowes would accept. He would move that Mossrs Guild, Hessey, Stewart, and Walter Perry bo appointed to interview Mr Lowes, Mr Sykes seconded adding Mr Meredith's name, and the motion was earned.

Mr Cave moved that tho meeting' be adjourned pending Mr 'Lowes' decision, until Saturday next, at 3 p.m., all other business to stand over in tho meantime.

Mr Stnckey seconded the motion. Mr McGregor said that there were urgent matters to deal with, and he thought the other offices should be filled up and the other business gone on with. The grounds ought to he sown by the beginningof nextmonth, and a good deal of stone-picking was required. It was unlikely that thoy would get a fuller meeting if an adjournment did take place. He would move as an amendment, that the business of the meeting be proceeded with, Mr Sykes seconded andtbeamendment was cavred.

YlCii-PKESIDENT, Mr Hessey proposed Mr I. Sykes as vice-President—Mr Sykes declined as not being able to dovote the time requisite. Mr McGregor was proposed, but declined for the same reason that he deolined. to stand for the office of President,

Mr Stnckey said that in the face pf the present proceedings, they could | not carry on. There was no doubt I that although the Society was a financial success, that the Show was no.fc'a BiifiWf/fji a Show, and it would be better"to wind un and endeavor to hold a Shows. Hewouldmovethatacpnv mittee of five he appointed to wind up jibe Sppiety, and arrange to bold ah annual Bam Fair only,' Mr William Perry 'said jf Mr Stnckey would, alter hie motion (p that the Society hold an Autumn! .Show and. R,am Fair, he would Bocbndi't,

Mr Stuckey said ho would do so, but he did not think an Autumn Show would be a success.

Mr Guild spoko in favour of an Autumn Show. He thought it would he more successful than a Spring Show. They would loose sheep in the wool by this movement, but would gain in other points. Ho would, however, point out that such a change would require a notice of motion.

Mr Chamberlain thought it would be merely a question of altering dates when arranging about the Show.

Messrs Sykes and Hessey spoke in favour of an Autumn Show being held. Mr E, E, Meredith said lie had been taken entirely by surprise' by this proposal. He had no conception that anything of this kind would come before the meeting, and lie was of opinion that members should certainly have had notice of any intention to bring it up. He spoke with some hesitation, but still could not help saying that such a suggestion came with a very bad grace from Mr Stuckey, who, when a vice-President of tho Society, might have been a large exhibitor and had not made a single entry to help the Show, They were twitted that Masterton exhibits made the Carterton Show, and settlers in tho Masterton district were always amongst the largest prize takers, and yet they did not support their own Show. Hecoald tell them that tin Autumn Show would be the Masterton Association's death warrant, and it seemed to him a great pity that with so many young men members, they should show the white feather in such a manner. If it were not for Mr Cave's objection there would be no difficulty in again filling the President's chair, and he maintained that, but for this, they could not get a better man in the North Island, for the Society's welfare than Mr Cave. No reply wasmadotoMrMeredith, and after a pause, the Chairman ruled that the motion of Mr Stuckey was out of order.

Mr Hessey after another considerable pause, proposed Mr Chamberlain aa Vice-President, and on Mr Chamberlain declining to stand, it was resolved that the election of Vice-President stand over until next meeting,

OTHER OFFICES,

Mr D. Guild was re-elected Treasurer ; Messrs J. B, Keith and 11, Brown were re-elected auditors. Committee:—The old Committee was re-elected with the addition of Messrs Mowlem, J. Ewart, and J. A. McKenzie, COMMITTEES. Mr Sykes moved in accordance with notice given, that any member of Committee absenting himself from three consecutive committee meetings be struck off the Committee list, Mr E. E. Chamberlain seconded. Mr McGregor thought if tho rule was carried out, by the end of the year they would have no Committee at all. It was rarely that any Committees had to be adjourned for want of a quorum, and be did not think the suggested alteration at all necessary. He would move as an amendment that the arrangements stand as before.

Mr Hessey did not think it would be well to press Mr Sykes' motion, although there certainly was something in it, as some members never attended any committee; meeting. His experience, however, was that a small meeting often did most work. Mr McGregor's amendment was carried. QUOUKD COMMITTEE. Some discussion occurred with regard to the Ground Committee, Mr McGregor commenting strongly on the constant adjourning and loss of time, pointing out that the seasons were going on, and if something was not speedily done, they would he in the same position a year hence.

Mr Lewis said the Ground Committe was still in office, and could continue their work.

By this time the meeting had so dwindled down that a quorum was not present, and the remaining members therefore dispersed, Mr Lewis proposing a voto of thanks to the Chairman.