A. AND P. ASSOCIATIONS.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17157, 28 May 1921, Page 4

A. AND P. ASSOCIATIONS.

ELLESMEBE. Mr J. Boag-.. junr. (president) presided over the annual meeting of the Ellesmere A. and P. Association, held in" the Association's room, Leeston, on Thursday, when there was a good attendance of membra. The annual report referred to the amalgamation of the .Ellesmere Ploughin.gr Match Committee with the Association, and to th» success that had attended the cannusil ploughin-* matcli. The past year marked the Association's jubilee, and a special fund was raised to augment the ordinary special prize fund. Out of this special fund a very substantial sum was voted for the purchase of silver cups as mementoes' of the jubilee. The show was held in ideal weather, and it was generally admitted that- for ail round excellence the. display of stock had never, been beaten in the history of the district, t'lie' number of entries constituting a record. The jubilee dinner, held on show nighit, was • brilliant fupctiori. The Bhicld for two-year-old draught colt had be-sn won outright by Mr E. E. Jenkinß, who had offered £5 ssi toward the purchase of a similar trophy. A substantial sum had been expended in improvements ito the ground. The report referred to the death of Mr \V. B. Cunningham, a past president, and one of the keenest .members of the Association, who had been a large exhibitor .and strong supporter of the Association for many years Appreciaticm of tHe generosity* of Oa-ntc-rb-ury AgriCollege in refunding- prize-inoscy won at ithe show wasi expressed. The balance-sheet gave the total receipts for the year (inclusive of a balance' of £9O 7s lid from >the previous year) as- £1463 9-3 lOd, and the expenditure £I3BB 9s lid, leaving a credit balance of £lOl lf)a lid. The assets (exclusive of the Association's show ground and improvements thereon) are £277 10s 9d, and the liabilities £67 18s, leaving- an estimated' £ll rphi6 of £209 12s 9d. A separate Statement in connexion with the ploughing match showed a credit balance of £35 5s 4d, while there -was a credit balance of £2B 8s 3d from the jubilee dinner. The report, -and balance-sheet were considered very satisfactory and' adopted. Officers for the ensuing year were elected a? follows: —Patrons, Hon. Sir Heaiton Rhodes and Messrs J. Boag, ganr., J. Osborne,. and- G. E. Rhodes; president, Mr W.' O. Rennie; vice-president, Mr J. A. Scott; hon. treasurer, Mr W. Scott; hon. veterinary surgeon, Mr A. Taylor, F.R.C.V.5..; • hon. auditors, Messrs' R. M. Robertson and A. J. Gray; committee, Messrs W. Abbott, G. H'.

Barnett, John Brooks * Jos«T>h Brooks, T. W. Brooks, L. 13. Cod, W. M. Gabbie, R. E. Jenkins, W. Johnston, W. J. Lemon, W." L-jchJieud, J. P. McEvcdy, I. McGill, A. McLaughlin, R. T. McMillan, A. McPheraon, u. Moorliead, G. Maim, T. H. R. Patterson. T. A. Stephens, H. Schnelle, A. E. Withell, \V. Young. , The. retiring president faid he had often thought that A. and P. Associations were scarcely fulfilling- the purposes for which they were formed, inasmuch -as they concentrated their efforts almost- entirely upon one big effort—tin annual show —and other matters of vital importance to the farming community were left alone. Although good work had been done by the Farmers Union, he thought A. and I'. Associations were really more representative of the farmers. They might well take up some of the dissabiliities under which farmers had to labour. Farmers were notoriously - hard to organise and were fcxeeodingly apathetic in regard to thsir own interests. Times . had changed, and it behoved farmers Jo bestir themselves. He mentioned a number of matters that A. and P. Associations couldj very well take up, and said he thought it was. rather an extraordinary filing that threshing charges should be fixed by "the Mill-owners' Association without the farmers being consulted] in any way. Other members endowed the president's remarks 1 . The matter of the shortage of railway itrucks . was brought up and spoken to by Messrs 11. T. McMillan, W. 0. Bennie, E. E. Jenkins, and L.-B. Coe. It was decided to urge upon the Government the necessity of increasing the railway rolling stock as soon as possible. The position at present, members agreed, was most unsatisfactory and inconvenient to the farmers. The new president, who represents-the Association on the Ellesmere Technical Association, presented a report on the work of the technical classes during the year. This was of a very encouraging nature. Classes had been held in wool classing,' basket-making, dressmaking 1 , cookery, and commercial eaibjects. An effort 'was being made to raise money for the erection of a technical training building, and a bazaar for that purpose would shortly .take place. The Association had secured the services of Miss G. M. Glanville, as secretary and organiser. JPr Boag spoke very appreciatively of th? Technical Association's work, and said' he thought the incoming committee should, substantially increase its annual_ contribution. Votes of thanks were aceordied Ihe retiring president, the secretary, hie assistant, and the Press. NORTHERN. The annual meeting of the Northern A. and P. Association was held last night, Mr R. Mcintosh presiding. ' - ; The annual report stated that the membership was 425. The show had proved a success, also "the ploughing match. Owing to the abnormal state of industry and the shortage of materials, the committee had to release the contractors from their contract for the new hall. A lease of the old rooms has been secured for a term of two years, and at >the end of that time it was hoped that the building programme cou.d be gone on with. Mr i J. Waller had been appointed caretaker, and the grounds were in excellent order. The finances were satisfactory. Generally speaking, the year has -been a sensational one, both from the point of view of the Association and its members. Prices for-produce had tumbled down, "bringing inany men. on tlie land, to the verge of bankruptcy. The trouble had been accentuated by the high cost of labour, implements, transport, etc. The harvest had been an average one. The setback that potato-growers received last year had reacted somewhat. The area planted this season was considerably less, also the yield, and tne price was far too low considering the Cost of production. Wopl prices at present were in the. transition stage, aW skins were virtually valueless. Oats and linseed were not returning what it cost to produce them, and meat also was in a bad position. The balance-sheet showed the receipts to have been £1219 18s 4d and the expenditure £954 9s Bd, leaving a credit balance of £265 8s 7d. ' " ■ , ~ . The following officers were elected: — Patrons, Hon. R. Moore, M.L.C., Hon. D. Buddo, Messrs D. Jones,- M.P., G-. W. Forbes, M.P., T. Chapman, J. W. Foster, J. L. Wilson, C. Leech, A. S. Clarkson, W. E Barton, \V. A. Banks, and J. R.. D. Johns; ..president, Mr W. Stalker; vice-presidents, Messrs W. A. Kelcher and Colin Mcintosh; general committee, Messrs R. Boyd, J. E. Burns, 'J. Brosnan, Dennis Chapman, R. J. Corbett, M. M. Crampton, W. Forrest, B. Ferguson, J. A. Fleming, _E. Fear, J. S.Hiatt,. T. Heney, T. S. Hanna, J. R. D. Johns, R. Marshall, W. J. Moir, R. Peach, T Pulley, J. E. Strachan, C E. Skevington,'D. G., Stalker, W. Scoon, H. Tallott, James Wyllie. 1 Mr C. I. Jennings was re-elected auditor and Mr G. Leach treasurer. The following recommendation was made to the committee:—That in place of the spring show ftn autumn show be held, extending over two days» J , , yT A Votes of sympathy were passed to Mr A. S. Clarkson, a vice-president, and to Dr. i. A Will, who are both seriously ill. At -the close of the "meeting a social was held, at which the Mcintosh Memorial Cup and -the certificates won at the annual show were presented.