‘Unselfish dedication and attitude’

Press, 10 November 1981, Page 27

‘Unselfish dedication and attitude’

The success of the agricultural and pastoral movement relied heavily on the unselfish and dedicated attitude of members, the 1981 president of the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association, Mr T. M. R. Maskew, said.

He said hjs swift rise to the presidency typified this dedication. Until March of last year, Mr Maskew was secretarymanager of the association. But, because of his stalwart work, the association’s committee decided to do him an honour on his retirement and appoint him vice-president which, due to natural progression, means a term as president the following year.

Mr Maskew said the significance of this act was that the committeemen who elected him as vice-president sacrificed their opportunity

of becoming president for at least a year. The Canterbury association was supported by a strong committee and large membership, which was spread over a wide area of Canterbury, Mr Maskew said. He said those involved travelled long distances, sacrificed a lot of their time, and, in some cases, spent their lifetime supporting the movement. In the N>w Zealand scene, there were 120 district A. and P. associations with an average committee size of 30, which meant several thousand people freely gave their time every year to act as stewards, gatemen, judges and in other capacities. District shows were often the core of country communities and were a vital part of the district’s calendar. The terrific support given

to shows indicated just how important it was to maintain the strength of the show movement. This was emphasised by the ever-increas-ing popularity of shows in most parts of the world. The biggest challenge show organisers were facing, apart from coping with inflation, was providing a diverse enough programme at the show to ensure a good attendance.

An important part of the show was the amount of trade generated by those displaying their wares. Year after year, thousands of dollars worth of sales were made at shows and this ensured the trade space allocated was well supported, Mr Maskew said. Mr Maskew’s interest in shows goes back to the middle 19205, when he entered in pony classes. With friends, Mr. Maskew competed at several of the North Canterbury shows every year until the family shifted to Blenheim when Mr Maskew’s father, who worked for Dalgetys, was transferred. He worked as a musterer on several Marlborough stations, including “Benopai Station.” •

He served in the eighteenth Battalion and Armoured Regiment in the Middle East and Italy before being invalided home with an arm injury in 1944.

He married Mrs Maskew (nee Thomas) in 1945 and, soon after, they moved on to their own property, “Ashley Hay,” in the Waipara district.

The farm was sold in 1962 and, being at a temporary loose end, Mr Maskew agreed to help with the organisation of the centennial show in that year. The term of employment was to be for two or three

weeks but Mr Maskew actually spent 18 years working for the association. He was assistant secretary between 1962 and 1971, secretarymanager from 1971 to 1980 and vice-president last year. While secretary-manager, Mr Maskew was involved in the administration of the New Zealand Sheep Breeders’ Association and this, in turn, meant serving on the council of the Royal Agricultural Society. He was a New Zealand delegate at the Royal Agricultural Society of the Commonwealth’s conference in Britain this year. Mr Maskew said the backbone of the Canterbury ■ A. and P. Association was the service provided by the permanent staff. He said the staff had only changed a few times during the last 20 years. The long service of people like Miss M. M. Poff, who had been in . the office for 21 years, Mr S. I. Doak, groundsman for 20 years, and Mr N. M. Woods, the present director, who had served for 10 years, was the proof of this.

Mr Maskew’s public service has not been confined to the Canterbury association and its affiliations. He is a past president of the Amberley A. and P. Association, the Omihi Dog Trials Association, the Christ College Old Boys’ Association and the Amberley R.S.A. subbranch. He has served on the Waipara school committee, the Heritage organisation, the Rangi Ruru Board of Governors and is a director of the Canterbury Saleyards Company. This year’s president makes light of his involvement with these organisations and stresses the pleasure he and Mrs Maskew have had in meeting people and forming close friendships with people from all over New Zealand and in different parts of the world. He said this year’s show contained a wide range of entertainments and displays and he hoped all those who were either competing or visiting enjoyed themselves and found this show an educational and pleasant experience.