PLOUGHING MATCH

Ellesmere Guardian, Volume LVII, Issue 3328, 4 June 1929, Page 5

PLOUGHING MATCH

RAKAIA ASSOCIATION'S ANNUAL

MEETING,

MANY VALUABLE CUPS AND OTHER TROPHIES OFFERED.

Mr James Stewart (president) was in the chair at the annual meeting of the Rakaia Ploughing Match Association, held in the Road Board Office on Friday night. There was a very representative attendance and the meeting was characterised by a good deal of enthusiasm, which augurs well for the success of the Association's annual match. Reference was made by the president to the loss suffered by the Association during the year by the death of Messrs W. J. Brown and F. B. Magson, and on his motion a resolution of condolence was carried. i ANNUAL REPORT. The following annual report was presented by the hon. secretary, Mr A. Holmes:—

"We have pleasure in submitting to you a report of the Association's sixth annual ploughing match, held at Chertsoy on the 17th July, 1928. The ground was in good condition, with the exception of one or two plots, which were a little rough in places, and the work done by the competitors was of a high order. The Association has not been fortunate in regard to weather conditions, and although it was fine overhead for last year's match, there was a bitterly cold wind all day, which no doubt kept a number of spectators away. The thanks of the Association are due to Mr R. Croy for the use of his paddock.

"The entries were satisfactory, compared with other matches, viz., 43, made up as follows: Teams, 26; tractors 17. The Association has to thank all those who contributed so generously towards the special prizes, which were considered the finest display of trophies seen at any ploughing match.

"It is with sincere regret that we record the loss to the Association of two prominent members in the persons of Mr W. J. Brown, a member of the committee and a keen worker in the interests of the-Association, and Mr F. B. Magson, a most generous subscrib-

"We also thank the judges and officials who carried out their duties so capably on the day of the match."

Mr L. Cordner, treasurer, presented the balance-sheet, showing receipts totalling £277 12s (subscriptions and donations £184 14s, gate £24, entry fees £21 10s, dance £35 13s). The expenditure amounted to £262 lis 4d (prize money £109 18s 6d, cups £66 2s) leaving a credit on the year's working of £15 0s Bd. The total credit balance at the bank was £79 0s 2d.

! Mr E. E. Oakley moved the adoption of the report and balance sheet and in seconding Mr B. McNamara said that the year had been very successful con- } sidering that the weather on the day of the annual match had been bitterly | cold. - ! ELECTION OF OFFICERS. I Proposing Mr E. E. Oakley for the office of president, Mr L, Cordner said that Mr Oakley had been a very loyal and hearty supporter of the Association since its inception. Members felt that the Association would prosper under his presidency. Mr Oakley was declared elected amidst hearty applause. On vacating the chair Mr Stewart thanked the officers and members generally for their co-operation during his term of office. He hoped the same measure of support would be accorded his successor, Mr Oakley.

The new president thanked the members for the honour they had done him and promised to do his best to advance the Association's interests. On his motion a hearty vote of thanks was accorded the retiring president, secretary, treasurer and other officers. Other officers were elected as follows :— Patrons, Messrs J. Connolly, L. White, H. Muckle, J. F. Langley, D. Jones, M.P., J. C. Lochhead, W. Boag, G. S. Hardy; J. Pye, H. E. Cook, J. Stewart.

Vive-presidents, Messrs Raymond Boag, J. G. McLachlan, C. A. Campion. T. Skevington, J. Blackley, W. Black, B. McNamara, L. Cordner, P. F. Dolan, J. Gardiner, W. F. Magson, H. A. Harrison, R, Shannon, W. Baxter, J. McPhail, W. Copland, W. Breading, W. Hood, W. J. Lee, W. Cromie, H. Sprott, W. D. Carruthers, W. J. Crozier, J. Strachan, J. Mucklc, R. Harrison, W. Wilkinson, H. Wilkinson, G. Farquhar, J. C. Irwin, I. Thompson, Archd. Stewart, F. Richards, A. V. Richards, L. Oakley, N. Richards, W. J. Benbow, C. C. Holmes, Jos. Langley, Jno. Doig, Peter Doig, Paul Doig, G. Campbell, D. Spence, J. Stubbs, D. C. Greig, R. Croy,

W. L. Harrison, F. Ironside, H. J. Crothers, W. J. Lambie, J. Lambie, O. E. Hooper, W. Swaine, A. Weaver, C. Sergeant, H. Whiting, J. J. # Johnston, J. Carmichael, E. Duncan, H. R. Hollis, R. Hollis, S. Wilson, W. Shellock, G. Hazlett, J. P. McAnulty, S. Connollly, C. Hight, A. Oakley, J. Anderson, R. Storey, W. Dunstan, M. Healey, G. Tatterson, H. Nickolls, A. Corbett, R. McPhaill, P. Tully, W. McLachlan, F. Wilson, J. Halkett, D. Campbell, Andrew Doig, A. Bray, R. Stephens, H. T. Stephens, A. M. Stephens, A. Cameron, E. W. Webster, H. J. Conway, F. B. Clausen; general committee, Messrs B. McNamara, R. Oakley, A. Holmes, J. G. McLachlan, W. J. Benbow, J. J. Duncan, L. Cordner, G. Tatterson, J. F. Langlcy, E. Duncan, Arehd. Stewart, R. Boag, R. McPhail, P. Tully, W. Black, W. Cromie, W. J. Lee, J. Blackley, W. Laraman, R. Baker, D. Spence, W. Hood, W. F. Magson, R. Shannon, R. Storey, C. Skevington, F. A. Whitcombe, H. Evans, R J. Swaine, L. Oakicy, W. Baxter, R. H. Magson, C. Hight, A. Corbett, H. E. Cook, R. Storey, J. Stewart, H. A. Nickolls, W. Shellock, J. J. Johnston; ground committee, Messrs W. Boag, B. McNamara, J. J. Duncan, J. Stewart, F. A. Whitcombe, L Cordner, W. Black, J. Gardiner, A. Holmes, J. F. Langley, L. Oakley, J. G. McLachlan, J. J. Johnston; hon. treasurer, Mr L. Cordner; hon. secretary, Mr A. Holmes. THE CONFERENCE.

Mr John Gilmour, hon. secretary of the Conference of Ploughing Match Associations, wrote conveying the recommendations carried when the delegates met in Christchurch during carnival week. The recommendations were: (1) That a class be added for threefurrow ploughs, cut as you please, which meant cut-as-you-please with coulter and shares, but using ordinary mouldboards); (2) that B class remain as at present; (3) that the Royal Match be at Lincoln this season. The date fixed for the Rakaia match was July 23. A list of judges was given by Mr Gilmour.

Messrs J. Stewart, Oakley and H. E. Cook reported briefly upo^the business done at the November conference in Christchurch. They were cordially thanked on the motion of Mr McNamara. On the motion of Mr McNamara a hearty welcome was extended to two visitors from Leeston—Mr F. B. Clausen and the representative of the Guardian. A vote of thanks was accorded the newspapers for assistance given the Association in the matter of publicity. The Ellesmere Guardian, in particular, said Mr McNamara, had treated the Association very generously last year. Thursday, June 30, was fixed upon as the date for the first meeting of the general committee. PROGRAMME REVISED.

Last year's programme was adopted with minor alterations. The list is as follows: Class A, Open.D.F., cut as you please; class B, open D.F. coulter cut-as-you-please, plain cast shares, ground as you please; class C, District D.F., coulter cut as you please, plain cast shares, ground as you please; class D, District 3-F, coulter cut as you please, plain cast shares, ground as you please; class E, open 3-F., coulter cut as you please, plain east shares, ground as you please; class F, open D.F. or 3-F (optional), coulter cut as you please, plain cast shares, ground as you please, youths under 19 years; class G, tractors, open, 3-F or 4-F (optional), couft 3 ter cut as you please, plain cast shares, ground as you please; class H, tractors, district, 3-F or 4-F (optional), coulter cut as you please, plain east shares, ground as you please; class I, district D.F. or 3-F, no cut, ordinary farm ploughing, plain standard cast shares, no false cut.

In rule 14 the word "competitors" was inserted in place of '' entries.'' An addition was made that cups should only be given in classes where there were not fewer than four competitors.

Mr Stewart moved that in the special prize list for best kept harness the words "in everyday use" should- be deleted.—Carried. Mr Alister Oakley offered the use of a 65-acre paddock for the match.— Received with thanks. Inquiries are to be made regarding other suitable paddocks. Mr H. E. Cook suggested that special prizes should be given for the best handled three, four and six horse teams.—The committee to consider the suggestion. The president, secretary and Messrs B. McNamara, E. Oakley, L. Oakley, J. Stewart and J. F. Langley were appointed a committee to inspect any paddocks offered. They agreed to meet next Thursday afternoon. Mr S. Wilson pointed out the advisability of adding a rule that any district competitor winning two first prizes should not be eligible to again compete in the district classes. There was an understanding on the point, but an addition to the rules was necessary to prevent the possibility of a man who had won twice from competing in the dis-

trict classes a third time. He moved and Mr A. Oakley seconded that a rule should be inserted.

However, it was agreed, on the motion of Messrs McNamara and P. Tully, to allow the matter to stand over for the present.

. .EXCEPTIONAL GENEROSITY. .. Mr Cordner mentioned that cups had been offered by Messrs R. A. Oakley, Blaekley's Estate, G. S. Hardy and H. E. Cook. "And the list is not yet closed," he added. Other cups were offered by the president and Mr H. Muekle. Messrs J. J. Johnston ami H. A. Nickolls offered gold medals and Mr F. B. Clausen a special similar to the one he had given last year. Messrs J. F. Langley, J. G. McLachlan, L. Oakley, B. McNamara and W. J. Lee also promisehd trophies, and Mr Sewart intimated that his wife would give a special for the youngest ploughman.

Mr J. C. Irwin promised a challenge cup valued at 10 guineas for the open class, to be won three times .not necessarily in succession, before becoming the property of any competitor.

The trophies offered were all accept ed with thanks.