A. & P. ASSOCIATION

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XLV, Issue 10337, 26 February 1925, Page 7

A. & P. ASSOCIATION

MAYFIELD DECISIONS. A special meeting of the committee of the Mayfield A. and P. Association „was held on Monday, evening. There were present: Messrs A. V. Barrett (in the chair), It. McDowell (secretary), R. Austin, HC Barton, S. Baiter, D. R. Cresswell, J. W Drummond, R. Duff, W. Edis, J. A Fleming G. B. Murdoch, J. W. Mclver, D. J. Mcllraith, R. Oakley, J. H. Patterson, G. Richardson H. A. Scown, and E. C. D. Withell. Apologies for absence. were received from Messrs F. G. Greenslade, G. Johnson, and T. F. Sewell. A letter of enquiry from the secietary to determine .on whom responsibility should fall in the event of the marques, or tents suffering injury through gale, fire, or other occurrence "brought a very interesting reply from the contracting firm. A marquee or tent is not . insurable, against storm, lightning, or tempest. Injury brought about by an event in which human negligence .or intervention has not been a contributory cause is defined as due to an act of God, and neither party incurs liability in law tor the consequences ■of suph an injury. Ihe letter continued: "We believe our clients to exercise the same vigilance and good judgment in the erection and care of the marquees and tents as we ourselves would endeavour to exercise, and when this is done the risk, is reduced: to a minimum. lhe assumption that the committeemen and officials, of the Mayfield A. and P. Association were men of sound judgment and good sense was very favourably received. .The fierce . gale that had. swept across Mayfield for the.three preceding days imparted zest to the discussion. A credit in the bank of £32 was reported. O '•! , It was urged that sheep ..should be weighed before they were"-judged, and Mr R. Oakley moved that a scales steward be appointed and that Mr "VV. S&well; be asked to: undertake the duty. Mr J. W. Mclver seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously.

The Measuring of Horses. The expediency of measuring the horses before they entered -the ring gave rise to an informative discussion. The animals often prove intractable on Show Day, and if eligibility , for their resjseetive classes is. decided at the.last moment it not infrequently gives rise to the criticism that they are at times unfairly entered. 'The horses, -moreover, -when rrequired for the ring are very often scattered all over the grounds, and much time is consumed in assembling them. " The Show must be freed as far as possible from the least risk tof-unjust criticism;" said Mr Barton; and upon the recommendation of Mr D. J. Mcllraith it was/decided to out up a notice board in a conspicuous" position near the horse lines, stating that all horses were to be me-araired without "loss of time after entering '.the grounds. Mr Mcllraith'e motion was carried unanimously, and with marked approval; also his offer to act as measuring steward. Charges ior side-shows are to remain the same as last year—2s 6d per foot, with :a -minimum of : 20s. Industrial exhibits are to be charged lo per foot, with a minimum of £l. A member remarked that industrial exhibits have a very positive value and should be encouraged.

A first-class concert party is in pro-, spect for show night. A definite! statement will be made at the next meeting. Mr William Oakley, of Ash'burton,: offers a prize of a guinea for the best essay on the Show describing its purpose and the benefits that have accrued' •rince its origin five years ago. The essay is open to members of the asso-, ciation and to all residents within a' radius of 12 miles of the Mayfield township. The committee appointed Mr John Watson, of Ash'burton, judge i of the essays. The schedule has been amended to read: The association give*}' a champion ribbon for the best cob or pony, 12:2 to 14.2 inclusive; also for the best pony under 12.2 hands. A Question of Support. A certain group of business people engaged collectively in commerce with! the Mayfield district and transacting each year a very considerable volume of business was severely criticised because of the very meagre support it extended the local association. One speaker said that if representations were made to the firms concerned and they took affront, he would himself make good the' donation the firms in question collectively made should the donation in consequence of the representations be withheld. Mr H. C. Barton appealed for greater care in the handling of the various challenge cups. Cups and plinths sometimes became separated, giving them a more or less haphazard appearance; and it was resolved upon the motion of Mr R. Oakley, seconded by Mr Barton, that each 'cup be furnished with a suitable plinth or stand, correctly marked, in order to lesson the risk of confusion. The first and second prizes m the fleece wool section are to be 10s and 5© respectively, with an entry fee of 2s. The secretary was congratulated on the care and accuracy with which the schedule had been compiled. # It was an almost faultless -reduction. Few tasks presented greater difficulties than the compilation of a prize schedule containing the classification of several hundred exhibits. Upon the motion of Mi* J. A. Iteming, seconded by Mr R. Oakley, and carried unanimously, the secretary was instructed to send a letter of sympathy to Mrs F. G. Greenslade, wife of the ex-president, who recently received severe and painful injuries through a fall from a horse, the animal taking fright and swerving suddenly to one side. The committee, on behalf of the association, wishes Mrs Greenslade -speedy and complete restoration to health.