ELLESMERE A. AND P. ASSOCIATION.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 17749, 28 April 1923, Page 9

ELLESMERE A. AND P. ASSOCIATION.

ANNUAL MEETING. Hie jihiu annual meeting of the Ellesmere Agricultural and Pastoral AsseeiaLi'jii -.va-j iiehl in tho association's room, Looston, on Thursday, Air J. A. •Scott (president) presiding over an attendance of over -10 menbtrs. JU'ieienee was made by the president '"• tiie death of .\lr George. Stephens, v.ho was :ur many years a memuer of the association, a committeeman, and a sweeeisiul exhibitor. Uu his motion a resolution or condolence was carried. - 1 lie loss the association had sustained by the death of .Mr 11. Patterson was also relerred to. The annual report stated that both the annual ploughing match and the snow had been in every uav successful. Entries for the show totalled 1140, and the gate receipts had been £l7l 12s, as against £IU3 4s the previous year. The falling olf in the number of draught horse entries was to be deplored in a district like Kllesmero, which was regarded as one of the principal draught horse breeding districts in the Dominion. No extensive improvements had been carried out during tho year at the show ground. Attention was drawn to the large sum outstanding in members' subscriptions, and the hope was expressed that payments would be made more promptly in iuture. The report specially thanked the judges for their good work. The financial statement showed recopits totalling £1234 12s Id (inclusive or a balance, of £126 16s lCd from the previous year). The principal items on the receipts, side were: Subscriptions £239 10s. special prizes £l7l 10s, entry fees £271 7s, show £l7l 12s. The bank balance was shown to be £43 lis od, the principal items of expenditure being: Prizes £548 15s 6d, ploughing match £l7l 13s 6d. The liabilities were ml, and the assets, exclusive of the association's freehold property and buildings, £266 8s lid (outstanding subs. £141). Officers were elected as follows: Patrons, Hon. Sir Heaton Rhodes, Messrs J. Boag, senr., G. E. llhodes, J. Osborne; president, Mr A. E. Withell; vice-president, Mr I. McGill; treasurer, Mr W. Scott; lion, veterinary surgeon, Mr A. Taylor, F.R.C.V.S.; auditors, Messrs 11. M. Robertson and A. J. €ray; general committee, Messrs W. Abbott, G: H. Barnett, Joseph Brooks, Jno. Brooks, T. W. Brooks, J. C. Chamberlain, L. B. Cole, W. M. Gabbie, W. Johnston, E. E. Jenkins, W. J. Lemon, W. Lochhead, It. McClure, J. P. McEvedy, W. McLaehlan, A. McLaughlin, H. McLenaghen, 11. T. McMillan, A. McPhersoh, G. Nairn, G. W. R. Osborne, H. Schnelle, T. A. Stephens, L. W. Storry. A suggestion bv Mr A. J. Gray that three members should be appointed to collect subscriptions and canvass for members was supported by Mr F. ltowell and favourably received. A recommendation that the incoming committee should give effect to the proposal was carried. The president made reference to the proposal to hold a royal show in New Zealand. The. matter had been discussed a good deal, but very little progress seemed to have been made. It required 500 members before a charter could be secured from the Government. There wn s no doubt that such a gathering would bo of immense benefit to breeders of stock, for the result would be higher prices for New Zealand stock in outside markets. He thought the Ellesmere Association might well start a membership list for the proposed royal show. Mr John Nixon thought that a s<Tart should bo made in the room with the enrolling of members for the royal show. The membership fee was only £1 Is. ... The following intimated their willingness to become members:—Messrs J. A. Scott, A. E. Wethell, John Brooks, T. A. Stephens, E. E. Jenkins, and E. R. Winter. The following were elected members of the association:—Messrs C. J. Hastings (Brookside), F. S. Jarman (Leeston), and F. Greenwood (Southbridge). Before vacating the chair, the retiring -president thanked the committee and officers of the association for their co-operation throughout the year, and expressed the hope that the same loyal support would be accorded his successor. Mr A. E. Withell, the new president, then took the chair, and promised to do his best to advance the association's interests. Mr: McGill. the vice-president, also returned thanks for the honour the association had done him.