President’s hopes high

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33791, 13 March 1975, Page 11

President’s hopes high

The association’s President this year. Mr W. J. Marshall, is enthusiastic about the future of the Methven shows and showgrounds, particularly with the completion and opening of the new administration and amenities building.

The association has been planning and raisins funds for the building for nine vears.

The opening of the new building has also enabled the produce pavilion to expand, taking in the former dining-room portion which is now provided for in the new block. Produce pavilion entries have exceeded 2000 in recent years, and the extended space now available will give much improved display room — and some innovations, such as the projection of slides entered in the photographic section, on to a screen.

“The whole produce shed has been reorganised,” said Mr Marshall.

The produce section is a special interest of Mrs Marshall, who has been a regular exhibitor at shows since primary school days. She said Methven had' a very active produce shed. It was strong over the whole range of exhibits, including homecrafts, needlework. decorative, and pottery, with regular exhibitors from as far’ afield as Christchurch. The shows had a valuable role in providing for these varied interests of the community, and a pleasing feature was the encouragement given to children in school, Mrs Marshall said. Mr Marshall has served 17 years on the association’s committee, having been elected to it when

only 18. He bought his father’s 570 acre farm at Winchmore, on the Ashbur-ton-Methven highway, in 1964, and has it basically all cropping, except for about 100 acres for grazing calves for fattening.

The farm is included in the Ashburton-Lyndhurst irrigation scheme. Mr Marshall is also chairman of the Lauriston Farm Improvement Club, a member of the Lyndhurst School Committee, and is vice-chairman of the Methven Floral Festival Association, which has raised

more than $20,000 over the: years for various organisa-j tions in the Methven dis- i trict, including the A. and! P. association, for improvements to facilities and equipment.

Mr K. W. Richardson,; the association’s secretary, has held this position for the last four years. During this time the association’s business has increased; steadily, with show entries! rising by more than 650 in this time, and other annual competitions and events staged by the association attracting much support.