SHOW ASSOCIATION

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 110, 5 November 1935, Page 10

SHOW ASSOCIATION

BRIGHTER PROSPECTS

INCREASING INCOME

DEBENTURE INTEREST

Expressing pleasure at the position of the Wellington Show Association, which had shown an increased return on the previous year, the president (Mr. C. J. B. Norwood) said at the annual meeting of the association lan night that the executive had confidencs in the future. It was true that thera was no great reason for satisfaction in the balance-sheet (already published), but it showed that the association, like other bodies, was getting back to normal. If attention were paid to the figures since the inception of the show in 1928, it would be seen thai the income had dropped from £11,000-od:l in the first three years to half that amount in 1932, and that it reached its lowest in 1933, when it was £3733.-That figure compared favourably with those when the show was held outside the present buildings. Those buildings could not have been erected without borrowed money, which created a liability, so on the actual net profit there was a difference, but those buildings had meant a profit in prosperous times. Even in 1933 there was a profit of £643. The profit last year was £1633. He hoped that the ratio of progress would continue. Since the last exhibition the executive had been going into matters fully and certain conditions were suggested which it was believed would make a great differ-1 ence. Exhibitors would have more heart to put forward efficient advertising in view of the better prospects. ONE BIG LIABILITX. • Referring to the item of £8402 14s 4d on the liability side, debenture interest, Mr. Norwood said he hoped that the association would be able to redeem what it owed on these debentures. The present was not an opportune time, but when things were a little more definite he intended to ask the debenture holders to reduce interest, the association to create a redemption fund on the lines of tha'. in connection with the Harboui Board £80,000 loan, the debenture holders being paid by lot. He had no hesitation in saying that if they could get their income back to £10,000 a year, the wiping-off of the interest on the debentures would be a simple matter for the committee. The stock section had proved so popular, that it was proposed to extend it to three days. Promises had been,made of prizes outside the immediate funds of the association for certain of these events, and it was intended to make this fixture an annual one, which would encourage exhibitors. Hg moved the adoption of the report and balance-sheet. Mr. R. H. Nimmo, seconding the motion, said that few realised the difficulties of the past tew years They could congratulate themselves, and it must be a matter of congratulation to the debenture holders, to know thai they still had the patronage and confidence of the public. Exhibitors also had stood by them. Advertising by occupying space was an excellent medium, but too many people put goods on their stands withoyp display and without proper personality. The finance committee recommended that this year the manager should have assistance, particularly in regard to the sale of space. He asked citizens to r& train from criticisms of the show unless they were constructive. The manager had been successful in promoting sport"interest on the top ground, where League footballers had put t'resh life into their game. So much interest had been aroused that the question of a suitable stand could be considered. The committee realised its obligations to those taking space, and a substantial reduction in rates was forthcoming. INDOOR SPORTS. Mr. W. S. Wilson congratulated the chairman on his statement that he would approach the debenture holders He pointed out that rents were £400 j over* the amount they were last year. ' That amount would be much increased lif they appointed a committee from the association to meet the centenary committee in connection with the ex hibition of 1940. The front of the association's building could be finished, at a cost of about £10,000, with th-? idea of making it the headquarters of indoor sports. If the building were finished, the rent resulting from tha encouragement of sports would pay expenses and debenture interest Mr. J. G. Marshall agreed that the result would be the. finishing of Int.building practically without cost. Ho asked if any profit had been made out of the show, of which they ha? not had a .balance-sheet. "A balance-sheet of the show is placed before the executive,' replied Mr. Norwood. Mr. Marshall said that they had not had a balance-sheet of the show itself. Mr. Norwood: Every item is put before members. Mr. Marshall: It seems not to be the policy of the Show Association to produce a show balance-sheet. "The executive has had all the fig ures before; it," said Mr, Norwood "This is the annual meeting of the association, and you have tne details there. The main items are shown under the different headings." Mr. Marshall said that rent, membership, and interest seemed to make the profit. Mr. J. Myers congratulated the executive on the improved conditions for the past year, and the increase in returns. He pointed out that the show was first brought forward as a winter show, and he strongly recommended the committee to make it a real winter show," to be held in July, when there was always good weather. Councillor J. Burns, one of the City Council's representatives, welcomed the statement by old members that the show was improving, but he thought that Mr. Marshall's question deserve-i a fuller explanation. It might be that the details had been supplied io the various committees, but surely nobody was out of order in asking for fuller information. It had been suggested by Mr. Nimmo that further expenses would be incurred by the apjpointment of an assistant to the manaI ger. He noted that salaries and wages totalled £1250, and when he considered the amount of money put through the association in a year. £1250 might not be too much, but it was enough. He would like to know why further expense should be incurred. The salaries and wages in bulk and the lumped rents did not give much information. In other respects the balance-sheet was a matter for congratulation WAGES AND SALARIES. The chairman said that the great bulk of the wages was wages charged to tenants for services rendered. There were also wages spent on the grounds. Partitions were necessary to accommodate games such as badminton, and the workmen had to be paid. The stock show had given a wonderful return for a very small outlay. The manager's salary had twice been reduced by personal consent, and now it was absurdly low. It was an entirely voluntary reduction on the manager's part. Questions such as had been asked by Councillor Burns should be quite specific. Councillor Burns said that what he.

[ ■ j had asked for was a more detailed statement ..of expenditure. When a member of the association, like himself, was not in.a position, to, answer debenture holders' questions because he was not a member of the executive, it was unfortunate. , Mr. Nimmo said that the assistance to the manager, as recommended -by the executive, was in the sale of shareSj and educating exhibitors as to the value of the show. . Councillor Burns: I have no objection to that. , Mr. C. E. Singleton said that it would be interesting to have profits from the show, and profits from the stock shown. ' The chairman said that it was impossible to tell how the gate money was attracted. They could attribute a big gate' during the stock show to that show, but people might have been attracted by something entirely different. •.■■■•• The report and balance-s.'\eet were adopted. On the motion of Mr. W. j. Wilson, Messrs. Norwood, Nimmo, G. W. Slade, J. I. Goldsmith, the manager (Mr. G. Mitchell), and the mover were appointed a committee, with power to add, to' interview the centenary committee. Votes of thanks were passed to the manager and staff. ' ELECTION OF OFFICERS. The election 'of officers resulted as follows:—Patron, Lord Galway; vicepatron, the Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes; president. Mr. C. J. B. Norwood; vice-' presidents, the Mayor of Wellington (Mr. T.C. A. Hislop), Dr. Reakes (Director of Agriculture), and Messrs. D. J. McGowan, W. S. Wilson, W. H. Booth, F. Campbell, W. McLay, R. H. Nimmo, J. Myers, J. I. Goldsmith, J. Abel, L. R. Partridge; hon. treasurer, Mr. Geo. W. Slade; hon. solicitor, Mr. J. F. B. Stevenson; hon. veterinary sur|geon, Mr. W. Barry; auditors, Messrs. Ernest Hunt, Turner, and Heslop; general committee. Messrs. J. H. Bur-goyne-Thomas, J. Gray, H. W. Tolan, E. W. Hunt, R. H. Nimmo, W. J. Mason, Geo. W. Slade, C. Stone, T. A. Wells, J. I. Goldsmith, N. B. Boyd,. E. Bull, T. Waugh, G. Day. J. Abel, H. Field, R. R. Scott, C. E. Singleton, A. P. Smith, D. J. McGowan, H. F. Wood, J. G. Marshall, F. Kennedy, P. C. Watt, and V. M. Simpson.