WINTER SHOW

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 124, 19 February 1929, Page 12

WINTER SHOW

AGENCY OF SECURING ; ROYAL’ FIXTURE

FINANCIAL CAUTION URGED

The annual ■ meeting Of the Wellington Winter Show Association was held at the Exhibition Buildings last night, Mr. R. H, Nimmo (president) being in the chair. There were about 40 members present.

The chairman congratulated the association upon the satisfactory position revealed in the report and bal-ance-sheet, the adoption of which he moved. They had completed the finest scheme at an overall. cost, Including £3OO paid to the staff, of 2 per cent. The exhibition was held In a partially completed building under adverse conditions, and later in the year th|m usual, while they were also faced with considerable' unremunerative expenditure. That they made a profit of £6661 reflected the greatest'credit on the executive and management. The/ first charge was the interest on debentures, and the balance would be spent on Improvements. (Considerable work was In hand, which with the amount paid on contracts would amount to £62,500. They would have to''meet further expense in making the playing area with seating accommodation, and the total expenditure might run to £lOO,OOO.

A Warning.

They wore negotiating with a view to accommodating the Royal Show permanently iit John Street, and he would like to give them n, word of warning. With the works in hand, the works yet to be completed, and the further works contemplated, there might be a danger of over-capitalising the whole venture. Careful consideration would have to be given to the whole matter, bearing* in mind that expenditure must be compatible with the resources and potentialities of Wellington and surrounding districts. ’ There was a suggestion that the Royal Show be located permanently at Lyall Bay. If the Royal Show was granted this privilege, he believed it would fie. nothing short of disaster for the Wellington Show Association. One show mnisation was sufficient for a city oi this size; and after all was said and done they were dependent' on the public for revenue, The greatest drawing point was the attraction of the various side-shows, and if the Royal Society was to hold its annual festivity it would simply mean that the public of Wellington would tire, and the novelty would tend to wear off. Provided the Show Association could give the necessary facilities to the Royal Agricultural Show, it was a debt on tlje part of the Mayor and councillors to do their utmost to assist the Show Association in achieving their objective. If the Royal Show became permanently linked up with the Show .Association, success of this semi-national association would he assured, so that no stone should be left unturned by the association to place the necessary facilities at the disposal of the Royal Agricultural Society, I In conclusion he thanked the executive and officers for the loyal manner they had supported him during his term of office, making special reference to the splendid work done by the manager, Mr. G. Mitchell-

Mr. G. Slade seconded the motion. Replying to Mr- John Myers, Mr. Mitchell stated that the whole of the debentures, £50,000, had now been sold. ' .

Congratulations op behalf of the Wellington Manufacturers’ Association were tendered by Mr. F. /Campbell, who also commended the-need for caution in further expenditure. He tendered the thanks of his association for what the president had done, and wished them every luck. In replying' to questions asked, the chairman said they had yet to complete the main .entrance. It was perhaps regrettable that the greatest interest of the public was in the sideshows, and for that reason they were ppt at the back so that the public had to pass through the exhibition first, Mr, E. R, Render thought they might have a . separate account of receipts and expenditure of the actual show apart from-j other parts of the year, Other matters were referred to the executive, and the report and balanceshe“ were adopted. .. Elect ion of. Officers, When the election of officers for the ensuing year was proceeding, it was pointed out that under the rules there was no provision for the offices of chairman and vice-chairman, and a validating motion covering all past business transacted under control of a permanent chairman instead of one appointed meeting by meeting was passed, - The rules precluded election of a chairman annually, and it was suggested that they should be revised after notice of motion following consideration ?by a committee to be appointed.' The plain intent of the existing rules was that the president should be an active officer, and preside at all meetings, failing which an interim chairman, should be appointed for each meeting, There was a long discussion anept./procedure, but finally the election proceeded, i ... ■

The election .resulted as follows;— patron, the Governor-General, Sir Charles Fergusspn; vloe-patron, Rf. Hon. Sir Joseph Ward, Prime Minister; president, Mr. C. J. B, Norwood: vice-presidents, re-elected, with the addition of Messrs. R. H, Nimmo and J. I. Goldsmith; hop. treasurer, Mr. G. Slade; hon, solicitors, Messrs. R. Egley and ?.,F. .5, Stevenson; hon, veterinary surgeon, Mr, c, W. Barry; auditors, Messrs. Watkins, Hun, Hunt and Wheeler; architects, Messrs. Watson, Gooder. and Lee. ■ The following members of the committee remain in office: Messrs.. J. W. Jordan, J. L. Bruce, F. G. Gray, W. Gau,din, W. McLay, W. MUI, D, J. McGowan, G. Lauchlan, E. Rough, M. JL Galloway, J. G. Marshall, A. Sando, ,O. E. Robertson, R. Steel, J. T. "Wilson. Others elected were: Messrs. J. H. Burgoyne-Thomas, B. Egley, L. A. George, J. Gray, P. Myers, G. Silver, W. M. Bolt, H. W. Tolan, T. Waugh, T. A. .Wells, W. S. Wilson, A vote of thanks to Mr, Nimmo for his valued services as chairman for the past two and a-half years was passed. Messrs. W. S. Wilson and John Myers were elected honorary life members, they being foundation members of the association.