Loss for Canterbury A and P Association

Press, 5 March 1982, Page 20

Loss for Canterbury A and P Association

Id spite of a record profit from last year's show, the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association made an over-all loss for last year of $24,160. There were two main reasons for the loss — the conversion of water-heating and cooking facilities from gas-fired to coal and elec-tricity-powered cost $17,000, and $11,344 was owed to the association by Associated Meat Buyers, Ltd, which has been placed in receivership. The profit from the show was $79,977 and the motor camp returned a profit of $10,901, according to the association’s annual report. The association had received no payment from Associated Meat Buyers for the pigs from the porker and baconer competition held at Che show, states the report. The pigs, as in previous years, were taken over by the association and the exhihitors paid at current rates. The total value of the pigs was $11,344, of which $1439 had already been paid to competitors, leaving a balance of $9905. A A number of exhibitors had offered to hold over requests for payment for some time, but the association had considered it wise to bring that amount into the 1981 accounts, states the report. . '’. ~ Although extra work was involved in the daily cleaning of ash and refilling the coal hopper about every two weeks, it was considered to be justified by the savings that could be achieved by using coal to heat water, says the report. Water heating and cooking facilities in the motor camp kitchens were converted

from gas to electricitypowered, and other water heating was converted from gas to coal-fired. The occupancy of the motor camp rose by 1556 to 25,135 last year. One of the reasons for the increase was the shortage of houses and flats in the city — many people used the motor camp’s facilities while searching for accommodation. 7 / 7 ■ . • / The gross income for the association for the year was $429,812, an increase of just over 13 per cent on the previous year. Expenses, including provision for the porker and baconer competi- , tion, rose by nearly 21 per cent to $453,973. “The magnitude of these figures serves to indicate the extent of - the association's turnover and the eorresponding degree of administrative supervision required," states the report. improvements totalling about $65,01)0 had been made to the showgrounds; With the assistance of finance from the cattle breed societies and sponsorship from Merck, Sharpe and Dohme (New Zealand), Ltd, facilities were provided for the sale of unled cattle. These include demountable pens and a race, and permanent unloading and washing facilities. The cattle pavilion was upgraded and leased to the Christchurch Woolbroker’s Association for displaying wool which is to be sold by sample. A new loading bank of “herring-bone” design, and cattle wash facilities were also constructed. With excellent facilities and proximity to the city, the

showgrounds are being used increasingly for a wide range of activities. “Every effort is being made to encourage the use of the showgrounds, as an area of. almost 15 hectares within 2km op the centre of the city is a valuable asset and rates and other expenses are correspondingly high,” says the report. The B.N.Z. Country Crafts Exhibition was one of the highlights of last year’s show, says the report. The range and ' quality of the work was most. impressive and bore testimony to the outstanding ability of the many craftspeople who took part. It was disappointing that only two entries in the Shetland pony section attended the show and the standardbred section was badly in t need of support. Total horse entries were slightly fewer than the record 1647 the previous veav. 1 Entries in the goat section increased dramatically from 41 to 80 and the dairy section was, as usual, well supported. Sheep numbers dropped back to a slightly below average number for an ordinary show of 1518. The decline could have been caused by two factors — the Royal Show in Palmerston North being held about the same time and the very dry autumn which affected the condition of some stock. Entries in the stud classes of the pig section numbered 94, compared with 102 the previous year. Exhibitors in the pork and bacon classes made a “real effort” with 100 pigs scut away for slaughtering.