A. & P. ASSOCIATION

Ellesmere Guardian, Volume XLVI, Issue 3275, 23 November 1928, Page 5

A. & P. ASSOCIATION

MEETING OF GENERAL COMMITTER.

AFTER THE SHOW SUGGESTIONS

THE FINANCIAL POSITION,

Mr H. Sehnelle (president) was in the chair at a meeting of the general committee of the Ellesmere A. and P. Association, held in the Association's Room, Leeston, yesterday. Others present were: Messrs John Brooks (vice-president), T. A. Stephens, H. McLenaghen, A. E. Withell, J. T. Parkin, Joseph Brooks, F. Rowell, Alex. McLaughlin, I. McGill, W. Johnston, E. H. Galpin, A. C. Greenwood, W. J. Lemon, T. W. Brooks, R. G. MeClure, E. T. McMillan, A. McPherson, A. J. Inwood, L. B. Coe, James Walker, and the secretary, Mr H. Neave. An apology for absence was received from Mr J. C. Chamberlain.

LOSSES REGRETTED,

The president made reference to the loss sustained by' the Association by the death of Mr W. J. Doyle, a member of the committee and a very keen steward and exhibitor. He also referred to the death of Mrs F. J. Lemon, sister of Mr R. G. McCluro, a member of the committee. A resolution of sympathy with the relatives in both eases was carried in the usual way. ,

THE FINANCES

Giving an approximate statement of the financial position, the secretary said that the debit balance at the Bank was £89 Is 7d, and the accounts payable £136. Amounts due to the Association in subscription^, special prizes, etc., totalled £225 19s. Practically the whole of the latter was good money, anything not likely to be collected having been written off. If all amounts were in there would be a. surplus of just under £1. He hoped those who were owing amounts to the Association would pay as soon as possible. s

In reply to a question Mr Neave said that the Association had not gone back .financially, the position being practically .the same as it was a year ago. The actual falling off in gate receipts was £58 Os 6d, but this "was largely due to members' cars being admitted free, whereas last year they were paid for. He did not think there had been much of a falling-off in the attendance, notwithstanding the wet day.

"Did we get many more new members through admitting members' cars in free?" asked Mr McGill.

The secretary: No, not that I know of.

The president mentioned that the finance committee had agreed to ar-" range with Mr A. S. Lyons to canvass for new members, offering to pay him a commission, but Mr Lyons had generously offered* to do what he could to assist the Association in regard to securing members without asking for any remuneration. He had not yet received a report from Mr Lyons. The show had been an excellent one in every way and it was a great pity the day had not held fine.

SUGGESTIONS FOR NEXT SHOW

The president said that Mr J. P. McEvedy, an exhibitor of Tamworth pigs, had suggested that the ages mentioned in the various breeds of pigs should be made uniform. At present there were differences in the classes for different breeds. This was a matter for the pigs committee to consider when revising the schedule next year.

A suggestion had been made to Mr Withell that the Association should provide more classes in the schedule for fancy breeds of dogs. He had been told that they wouM get a lot of

entries,

The poultry pens required painting, said the president.

j Mr John Brooks said he had been told by several school teachers that the schedule of classes for school work was always issued too late to give the various schools a chance of preparing exhibits. They thought it should go out about May, and that the result would ■be increased entries and better exhiblitß. Mr McMillan suggested issuing a sei parate leaflet giving the school classes, before the ordinary schedule was printed.

An improvement could be made at the loading bank by the railway, said Mr McGill, by providing an additional holding pen.

The secretary said that suggestions had been handed in that the loading bank should be built up and thereby made wider, and that four to six moveable hurdles should be provided for the loading bank, the hurdles fitted with /feet.

The unsatisfactory state of the sanitary conveniences for ladies was mentioned by Mr Joseph Brooks. This

matter should receive attention from the ground committee.

THE ENTRANCE,

Regarding the culvert at the Show Ground entrance, the president said Mr Williams, a Railway Department official, had attended the show, and he had taken him along to inspect the culvert and explain to him the Association's desire to have the railway fence moved back to improve the entrance to the Show Ground road from the Doyleston side. Mr Williams had assured him that there would be no difficulty in getting the Department to shift the fence back. It was hoped that the improvement would be made before next show, also that an electric light pole would be shifted back.

The secretary mentioned that he had seen Mr Williams since the show and had been advised that a letter should go forward to the District Engineer of Railways. A letter had been written in accordance with the suggestion.

Mr Inwood spoke of the risk of accident at the Show Ground entrance gates through the high iron fence. Car drivers going in could not see those coming out of the grounds, and there were many delays, with risk of accident. Possibly a portion of the iron could be replaced by pickets, or an additional gate might be provided, so that there would be one for traffic going in and one for vehicles coming out.

Mr T. W. Brooks also spoke of the danger referred to by Mr Inwood.

LINCOLN COLLEGE

It was unanimously decided to support the nomination of Mr John Deans for the vacancy on the Canterbury Agricultural College Board of Governors, as representative of the North Canterbury A. and P. Associations.

Mr T. A. Stephens, a member of the Board, spoke of Mr Deans's good work on the Board in the past. He also urged farmers in Ellesmere to make an effort to visit the College on Farmers' Day, next month. He had always been disappointed at the small attendance of Ellesmere farmers at the College on Farmers' Day. It was an interesting experience and there was a great deal of valuable information to be picked up. A very hearty vote of thanks was accorded the College Board of Governors for refunding to the Association prize money won by College stock at the recent show.

LADY MEMBERS,

Mr Rowell gave notice to move at the next meeting of the Association that ladies should be admitted to membership at a fee of 10/6.

NEW MEMBERS,

New members elected were: Harvester Co. (Christehurch),"Messrs G. HartWl (Culverden) and W. J. McMillan (Culverden).

COLLECTING SUBSCRIPTIONS.

Mr Inwood suggested that the secretary should prepare lists of outstanding subscriptions and other amounts for members to collect. It was very desirable that all amounts should be collected as soon as possible to avoid the payment of overdraft rates.

Mr McPherson supported the suggestion, which was agreed to, the secretary undertaking to have the lists prepared at once.

A FAREWELL

Mr Rdwell mentioned the meeting called for to-morrow night at Leeston to arrange for a farewell to Mr Sawyer, postmaster at Leeston, who was leaving for Palmerston South. He hoped all members of the Association who could attend would be there.