A HUB OF INDUSTRY

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 73, 30 March 1929, Page 5

A HUB OF INDUSTRY

PROGRESSIVE FIGURES

MAXAWATU'S TWO SHOWS

Owing to the weather ("the worst over a period of at least twenty years, if not in the history of the Manawatu and West Coast A. and P. Association") the last bpriug Show at l'almerston JNorlli, wtiieu was a lioyal SUow, was not so successful linancially as the' last .Koyat bhow held by the association (in li>:24). "Entries/ states the association in its annual report, "were excellent, mercantile exhibits were plentiful, and, had the weather been favourable, the show would undoubtedly have been a great record. The gross receipts have amounted to 3-,5-iM 10s iid, ana the expenditure to £4501} 7s 3d, which leaves a credit of £79i> os sd. After deducting a proportion of the general overhead expenses of tho association, the stiaru due to the iioyal Agricultural Society is £1111 Ss Gd, :l jJut tlie true progression of the association is reliccied in the iigures of the Aationai Dairy fciliow, liiric*, at which the receipts from gates, privileges, spaces, and sundries went over JJoIIUU tor the iirst time on record. Of the National. Dairy Show the association states in its annual report: "The committee is indebted to the Kail way Department for putting on a farmers' special train from the North, and also grauting generous excursion fares. Tho iNational Dairy Association again expressed a wish to hold its annual conicrence during aud at the show, and was grunted full concessions. Great assistance was given by a citizens' committee in arranging accommodation and entertainment xor the visitors, a work of some magnitude. To give some idea of the progress being made, the gates in 1911 were £710, in 10:21 £ 1-177, and in 1928 £1918. The gate receipts for the 1i)27 show amounted to £,1771 14s, so that the increase over that show is' £140. The total receipts were £3492, as against £3248 for the previous year, an increase of £244. The fixture maintains its popularity as a meeting grouud for agricultural and dairying meetings and conferences. Their Excellencies visited the show, and your committee is gratified with the general result."

Work carried out during the financial year (ended 28th February, 1929) included a new entertainment hall, which was opened in connection with the National- Dairy Show. "A further sum of £777 15s Sd was written off, leaving the amount standing against buildings and improvements at £13,000 —a vory low valuation and in accord with the policy of tho committee to write down whenever possible. Tho maintenance and repairs account has increased somewhat again this year, the sum of £447 3s -id having been written oil, as against £370 os lid last year. The amount is made up of timber, spouting and plumbing, paints, glass, hardware sundries, topdrussiug oval, labour, and various. Attention has been drawn to the fact that somo of the buildings are gutting old, and this account wiil of necessity keep fairly high."

Kogrtt i.s expressed at tlie death of thu president (Kir 11. D. D. M'Leau) and of an £\ lorary life member of the association (Mr. Frank W. Arbon), who had thirty years of service on the committee. The report will be presented to the annual meeting of the association on 10th April, wnen, among other business, will be considered an amendment to tho rules, which amendment aims to give representation to the Massey Agricultural Uollege and tho Fields Division of the Department of Agriculture. The siting of the college not far from the city, and the fixing of Palmersiou North, us headquarters of the Fields Division, give some clue tv the value of that centre as tho hub of great soil industries, and the association is not unmindful of the fact.

With its two big annual shows the association is able to point out to subscribers, and to those who are not subscribers, that the fact that "eight days of show can be obtained for £1," covers a remarkably good investment.