OPPOSED.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 235, 3 October 1936, Page 13

OPPOSED.

NEW ORGANISATION, f CHAMBER OF AGRICULTURE. ALTERNATIVE SUGGESTION. Considerable opposition was shown at a meeting yesterday afternoon held for the purpose of forming a Chamber of Agriculture in Auckland, and an alternative suggestion made was that an educational committee should be set up to work in conjunction with the Auckland A. and P. Association. • Mr. S. Austin Carr, president of the northern district council of the Royal Agricultural Society, who presided, said that the members of the Auckland A. and P. Association, after looking into the proposed rules and regulations, felt that a lot of the objects were the same as those of the association, and he feared if they went on those lines there would be conflict, which nobody wanted. At a meeting of the council of the asso-

ciation there had. been a lot of discussion on the matter, and the recommendation made was that the proposed organisation should change its name to that of an educational committee of the Auckland A. and P. Association. He hoped that they would carry on the work which they proposed to do and help the A. and P. Association. They had a number of committees, and one more committee would further the interests of the association. That would save any difficulty about organisation, membership and other expenses. The Auckland A. and P. Association had the best show grounds in New Zealand, and the proposed organisation would have the assistance of the association. It would save a lot of work, and the work would automatically go on in the office. More or Less Rivals. Mr. J. Wylie, president of the Auckland A. and P. Association, said that an educational committee could work hand in hand with the association. Mr. S. I. Crookes said that when the matter was weighed.up it would mean that they would have two organisations, and ultimately they would be more or less rivals. The new proposals involved . a certain amount of finance,-and if-the suggestion by Mr. Carr were adopted they would become part of an existing organisation. It was a pity to start an organisation which would more or less overlap. They would have more chance of success if they did not go on their own. The council of the A, and P. Association desired to co-operate in every way possible. Mr. G. H. Halford said that if the new committee were goingi to act as a monkey-gland to the A. and P. Association they would probably be doing some < good. He saw a difficulty in getting funds on the lines indicated, and it would be a pity to start something that would be unique. Mr. H. O. Mellsop said that it had been proposed to form an organisation that all could join to discuss agricultural matters. The chairman said that the Education Board had taken over the running of the calf clubs, and the Agricultural Department was interested in the young farmers' clubs, and had appointed an instructor to go right through New Zealand. The clubs were established firmly in the South Island, and Otago had some clubs with a membership of over 150, and they were doing exceedingly good work. Wider Scope. Mr. F. O. Knight considered that it would be unwise to hand the movement over to the A. and P. Association, as the • Waikato people were very keen on the movement. Mr. B. M. Davis said that the proposed chamber wanted to deal with a much wider scope than education, which ' included scrutiny of legislation, workers' facilities, an annual convention and the 1 investigation of scholarships. He added ' that the A. and P. Association dealt 1 mainly with shows, and did not under- 1 take all the work that was proposed. 1 It would be disappointing to have the 1 activities limited to education. " The chairman said he did not think that at the present time there was room for a Chamber of Agriculture, as the association already covered all the province. The chairman moved that an educational committee should be formed. Amendment Defeated. Mr. Davia. moved as an amendment that the northern district council should be asked the conditions under which affiliation would be granted, and also what help could be given to such an affiliated society. • . • The amendment was defeated by. one vote, and it was decided that a subcommittee should be appointed to meet the committee of the Auckland A. and P. Association to further discuss the matter.