A. AND P. ASSOCIATION.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20024, 4 September 1930, Page 6

A. AND P. ASSOCIATION.

METHVEN. The annual meeting of members of the Mothven Argicultural and Pastoral Association will be held next Monday night, when tho president (Mr E. A. Bland) will present the annual report, which states that the Association had had a very successful year. The entries constituted a record for tho Association, totalling 1682, as against 1635, in 1929. The gate takings amounted to £139 Is 3d, compared with £Bl 16s the previous year. Bookings of space also showed an increase, revenue from this source being £44 14s 6d, against £32 15s Id the previous year. The show being held on a Saturday, and the weather conditions being ideal for the occasion, accounted largely for the increased attendance. A good many improvements to the Show Grounds had been made, a great deal of this work having been done voluntarily, by committeemen and other members of the Association. This assistance had helped to keep the expenses down to a minimum. Recently, permanent stock gates had been erected at the north-east side of the grounds, on Barker's road. The shelter belt of trees had been lightly topped and a numbo- of Oregon pines had been planted to strengthen the shelter belt on the north-west side.

Tho various competitions conducted by the Association continued to attract entries. The field roots, owing to the unfavourable season, were not quite up to the usual high standard of the Methven district, but some fine crops had been seen at the farms of Messrs Jas. Campbell, S. G. Holmes, and R. J. Low. Mr A. Campion had exhibited spme choice green feed in the form of Western Wolths. In the flock ewe competition Mr H. J. Freeman had secured most points, and was also the winner of the Ashburton County flock ewe cup. During the year the committee had dismantled and disposed of the old buildings on the unoccupied portion of the Hall section. They had also had the section securely fenced. In view of the Association possessing very suitable buildings at the Show Grounds, in which to hold their meetings, etc., it had been decided to sell the A. and P. IJall, possibly to the Methven Plunket* Society, who proposed to convert it into a public rest room and Plunket room. The committee hoped that all members of the Association would assist the Plunket Society in their effort to get this very necessary room established. The special thanks of the Society were due to the donors of special prizes and cups and to the judges, officials, the hon. treasurer (Mr H. Green), and the hon. auditors (Messrs R. F. Renai and A. W. Bremer).

The president also thanked the committee, secretary, and members for their practical and wholehearted support during his year of office. The statement of income and expenditure shows that the principal items of income were:—Members' subscriptions, £227 lis; special prize donations, £lB6 16s; sale of privileges, £26; sale of space, £44 14s 6dj rents, £44 15s; gate receipts, £139 Is 3d; entry fees, £314 14s 6d; sale of old material, £29 Is 8d; sundries, £65 8s 8d; credit balance, July, 1929, £66 10s Id. On the expenditure side the statement shows: —Prizes (ordinary and special, not including shields, cups, and trophies valued at £325), £476 0s 3d; advertising, printing, stationery, etc., £77 Is 3d; material purchased, £43 2s 8d; rents, rates, insurances, £9 2s sd; secretary's salary and wages, £IOB 4s I 6d; subscriptions and donations, £8 0s

3d; mortgage interest, £.131; official luncheon and refreshments, £3B 8s; cups and engraving, £27 6s 3d; sundries, £B9 0s sd. Credit balance at July 31st, 1930, £139 16s 7d. The assets are shown at £4378 17s lid, and the liabilities, at £2336 8s lid, leaving a jalance of assets over liabilities of £2042 9s. Mr F. S. McDonald and Mr A. F. Marr have been elected as president and vice-president, respectively, for the ensuing year. There are thirty nominations for twenty-one positions on the committee, and a ballot will be held at the annual meeting.