MASTERTON A. AND P. ASSOCIATION.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 253, 18 July 1908, Page 3

MASTERTON A. AND P. ASSOCIATION.

ANNUAL' REPORT. , Following is the twenty-first annual report (slightly abridged) of the'Masterton A. and P. Association to be submitted at the annual meeting:— .."••In: submitting)the twenty-first.'annual report. and statement of - accounts, your com"mitteia 'has pleaguro in recording anothor prosperous year for tho Association. Show.—Tho annual show,' which was held on February 18' and 19 last, was the most \ BUccessful one,in the annals• of ; the Association. : The attendance of their Excellencies, '■Lord and Lady Plunkot, at the ■ "coining of '. age" of the Society tended largely to its success,*, a record being established in gates and grandstand .takings.' . Entries—Tho totalentries in horses, cattle,, and sheep constituted a record for. New Zealand,, outside the Exhibition Showi Thoso. in fat stock, although most gratifying, would have been much largor but.for the fact that the season militated against many breeders showing.' A comparison of entries for the last nine years gives the following :—I9OO, 708; 1901,1194; l1)02, 1563; 1903, 1587; 1904, 1642; 1905, 1664; 1906, 1716; 1907;- 1685; ' 1908, 1819. It is hoped that next year implement makers will exhibit at the show. ' Ram Fair.—The annual ram fair,'in conjunction with the Wairarapa and. East Coast P. and A. Society, was held on February 20 and 21, when'23o. stud - rams and 2326 . flock rams were submitted; and good prices were obtained throughout. Alteration of Rules.—The most important alteration is that,which' provides for voting for officers' and committee by post, thus enabling members-who live.'at a distance to take, a part in guiding the Association's affairs.. The ballot will close the night previous to the annual meotirg,. and scrutineers, appointed by the Committee, will count the votes' nest' morning and announce tho rrisult at the meeting. The usual practice of voting at the annual mooting is dispensed . with". ' . : ' Membership.—Tho , membership shows a total of 670. . This is slightly lower than last year, 'owing to the inauguration: of the rulo of not: issuing tickets before payment of subscription. Some of -the, oldest members took exception, to and resigned, but it is hoped that many of :th'em will rejoin in the near'future.. 'A committee has. been'set , up .to canvass the, district for new members, Bhd tho committee expect to be able' to report a'large increase'in: membership at the next' meeting: ' ' .. Challenge_Cups.—The following wins wero recorded:—' " ' Biiick Memorial . Cup, Hunters' Leaping Competition,' Mr. W. Strang's Caroline. Fison Bowl, Freezing Sheep, Messrs. W. and H. Beetham. t- , _: Manawa Bowl, Fat Cattle, Mr. G. F. ' Moore. Wolseloy Cup, English Leicesters, Mr. Wm. Perry. ' : • ' .. ..; Thomas and Cook Bowl,. Farmers' Sheep Class, Messrs. J. M'Gregor and M'Gregor Bros., (tfo). ■ •'' ~ " Balance' Sheet. —The statement of'receipts and expenditure for the past-year shows a profit'of-about £175 on the year's'working, . Retirements.— I The - following members of the-outgoing Committee,are not seeking reelection:—Messrs. Robt. Johnstone,: :F. C. Lewis,, and W. M'Kenzie. As a member of Committee, : Mr. Johnstone has' been, identi- - fied-.wijh the progress and wolfare of tho Association since its inception. When the pre- , seiit Showgrounds were acquired he ' devoted 'much'valuable time .and labour in assisting to put it in order,_ a no very inconsiderable task.- Messrs. Lewis and M'Kenzie have also been very valuable members of ; . Committee Tor many.'; years, k and the Committee desire to place on-record, an appreciation of the services rendered by these gentlemen. In conclusion, the Committee 'consider the: time has arrived . when the. Secretary should devoto: the whole of his time to the work of the_ Association-,' and recommends to the incoming Committee'the desirability of making arrangements accordingly.' New Show Grounds.—The Committee, after . consultation with several of the leading breeders in-the Wairarapa and other districts, decided to recommend tho purchase , of 75 acres of land, situated, at Solway, about' two, miles, from town, and abutting on the railway line... The proposal/was submitted to a, general meeting of; members on March 28 • last; and'enthusiastically adopted by a largo majority.; The. Committee are.,satisfied that, when i completed, the grounds w;illbe the finest for show pifrposes in the' Dominion. Satisfactory. financial arrangements have gboen made in connection with the purchase •Tind improvements. An improvement fund nas be'on opened and is meeting with a very - response. To date about £1000 has -•-isen '.promised,' and this-sum no . doubt will - lijiC'considerably augmented before the end . July when lists close." Tho Committee're- '.. '•'s&> uiat; a proposal to .amalgamate with Wairarapa and East Coast. Pi and Al tl'ciciety was rejected by' the Wairarapa Association, as the proposal, if adopted, would' ■ have made tho combined Wairarajja Show one of the strongest in'the-Dominion. The present showgrounds are now under offer to tho -Borough Council at a price agreed upon by the; Committee and the Council.. • The nest show will bo the last to be held on the present showgrounds. " This will give the incoming committee ample timo to put the new grounds in order for the 1910 show. , , THE BALANCE-SHEET.. . ' From -items t'akon from the balance-sheet, which aro of interest, generally to farmers, it appears that during the year bnded Juno . 30,' 1908,' tho Association received £418 6s. 7d. in "show", donations, and £413 ss. 6d. in entry fees,, while members' subscriptions for the year.totalled £592. Tho sum of £852 lis. 2d.-was : given in cash prizes, judge's fees, cost £63, and luncheons altogether £302 18s. Bd. Of this amount £245. 9s. was returned through patronage. Stock-receiving and 1 paddocking cost £38 Bs. .6d,, and-green feed'£37 7s. -In the. 19.07 balance-sheet, tho surir of £309 15s. 'was included in the assets as' members'• subscriptions in arrears. Of this amount, £162 15s. was paid. This year the'; Committco has acted on its regulation not to include aaiy" outstanding subscriptions as assets—a determined step which will possibly meet with the approbation of all agri-, cultural and' pastoral Associations. NATIONAL DAIRY SHOW. A SATISFACTORY RESULT. The report of the National Dairy Show Committee, (says a Palmerston Press Association message)'-shows :a profit.of £191 13s. Sd. on tlio recent show. Tho profit from the 1907 show was £165, and, taking into considoration that ' the gate return had diminished by £74 from that of last year, owing- to the wet weather, and also, that the entry fees have been reducod arid'the prize-monoy raised in many, cases, the growth of the show is ob- , viouo. .. MASTERTON FARMERS' WORKING BEE. Yesterday a working-bee of the Masterton ' A. and P. Association, comprising forty membars, with carts and horses, took the field at tho Association's new Solway grounds, and put in-a good afternoon's labour. - Among ijticoe who wore prominent was the President »ivimsplf, Mr. J. D. Cruicksharik, who divested •ijiliself of coat and waistcoat, and toiled at and tiresome work of shifti. ing stones like an old hand. Tho Masterton ' : isspciation is very enthusiastic. AV X<fU : W - * ; HIGHER WACES. T- of dairy factory employers was Fitted tiisruay iii connection with the new ■ 8 irgeon rja-jind wages affocting employees " Fir Fre/.,y/,tfwatu district. From wliat.l Uaiutging -'A. -Ywrites our Manawatu corr'cspoiir AMI,# possibility of a substan%iii: wagcs»