A. AND P. ASSOCIATION

Greymouth Evening Star, 26 July 1930, Page 12

A. AND P. ASSOCIATION

ANNUAL MEETING The eighth annual meeting of the West Coast Agricultural, Pastoral and Industrial Association, was held yesterday afternoon at the Town Hall. In the unavoidable absence of the President, Mr. H. W. Kitchingham, the meeting was presided over by Mr. A. J. Palmer, Vice-President. Other members present were Messrs T. Topliss, J. Brown, N. B. McCallum, W. Hughes, H. G. Carter, P. Blanchfield, jr., W. Wilson, W. E. Norton, W. Fisher, A. Bradley, W. Clayton, D. H. Roberts, Kim Williams, A. M. Carroll, and the Secretary, Mr. J. Saunders. Apologies for absence were received from the President and Messrs J. Mulcare, R. Armstrong, A. H. McKane and J. Ryan. , The President, Mr H. W. Kitchingham, in his annual report, stated:-—ln submitting the Eighth Annual Report and Balance Sheet of the Association I have to congratulate members on the very satisfactory financial results which have attended the efforts of the Association. Two factors helped very materially in increasing the takings of the Show, viz., the change of days from Wednesday and Thursday, to Friday and Saturday, and the very large amount of interest taken in the steer-riding contest, and a word of praise is due to those who worked so hard to make this particular contest the success it undoubtedly was. I 1 think it proper to mention (hat though the accounts show a substantial profit on the year’s working there is still very much headway to be made. During the financial year the guaranteed overdraft was permanently reduced by £7O (this liability now standing at £100), while £O5 was. returned to Debenture Holders, leaving £3OO still due under this hea'ding. Whilst the financial results will no doubt afford pleasure to members there are certain aspects in connection with the Show which are not so satisfactory. The main object of the Association is to improve our cattle, sheep and pigs, but the paucity of entries in the cattle and pig classes indicates that' something has to be done to improve the position

in this respect and at the last Committee Meeting it was decided to recommend the Cattle Committee to take such steps as it may think advisable to effect an improvement in the number of entries —no doubt steps will be taken to ensure increased entries of cattle, sheep and pigs at our next Show. Another disappointing feature last year was the small number of members. There will be a recommendation from the Committee for consideration by the General Meet ing towards giving members additional privileges, and it is to be hoped that these additional privileges will have the effect of increasing (he membership. With these two exceptions the year's operations must be considered very satisfactory, and the good work put in by the Secretary has helped very considerably in attaining the results shown by the balance sheet. The thanks of the Association are also due to our Honorary Auditor, Mr E: Warnes, for the services he has readily, and at. all times, given to the Society. It is pleasing to note that the farmers are making a. move towards herd-testing:' the Association has at all times urged the necessity of this, and. with a. proper system of herdtesting, results will justify the extra expense, and many useless cows will be replaced by profitable ones to the great benefit of ' the farmers whose herds have been tested and found wanting. The Committees having charge of the various sections and functions of the t&how carried out their duties most, satisfactorily and efficiently, and the members of the Association fully appreciate the good work done by the various Committees which tended to make the Show such J a success. A special word of praise is i duo to Mrs Lindop and the Ladies’ Committee who have run the- various socials so successfully, and in this con nection the committee Ims arranged to hold a social on the evening of the day appointed for holding the Annua’ Meeting, viz., 25th July. At this social there will be old time and mod ern dances, and a room is being specially heated for those wishing to play cards. It is hoped that members and their friends will make this a success and they will appreciate rhe efforts of

the committee in giving this oppor tunity of members meeting one an other and renewing old friendships. The annual report, was adopted. Reviewing the balance-sheet, Air Saunders stated that it was gratifying to know that the Association had eu joyed a successful year, and receipts had been far in excess of expenditure The balance sheet was adopted. The election of officers forxthe on suing year resulted in the return oi the whole of last year’s office-bearers as follow: President, Mr. H. W. Kitch inghain; Vice-President, Mr. A, J. Pal mer; Hon. Treasurer, Mr. T. E. Coates General Committee: Messrs R. Arm strong, J. Mulcare, John Brown, N. B McCallum, A. Bradley, A. H. McKane A. Carroll, P. J. McLean, H. G. Carter W. E. Norton, W. Clayton, Wm, O’Malley, T. E._ Coates, W. H. Parfitt, P. kirnish, W. Rankin, J. Donaldson, D H. Roberts, W. Fisher, John Ryan, P J. Fitzgerald, P. Ryder, M. J. Fogarty, W.fG. Scott, P. Hamer, D. Shannahan. P. C. Heaphy, Allan Smith, W. Hughes. T. Topliss, J. Hutton, E. Warnes, D. Kidd, Kim Killiains, T. G. Kitchingham, Wm. Wilson, E. R. Moss, F. Wise. Hon. Auditor: Mr. E. Warnes. In nominating Mr. Kitchingham for re-election as President, Mr. AV. Clayton mentioned tluit in doing so he bad in rnind the valuable work which Mr. Kitchingham had carried out during the past years when the Association had been struggling along under handicaps. This was the first annual meeting at which a balance sheet had been presented—and found to be on the right side. This satisfactory position was greatly due to the efforts of Mr. Kitchingham who had always put in a. lot of time, and taken keen interest in the welfare of the Association. Mr. Carter in seconding the nomination stated that Mr. Kitchingham had done a power of work for the Association, and was the mainstay of it. The initiative and vigorous policy with which he had conducted the Association’s business had been responsible for bringing it to such an improved financial position to-day. Mr. Carter went on to say that in Greymouth the Association depended on people who followed the coal and milling industries to bring about the success of the Show, and it was gratifying to know that the business people and the public were responding to assist the Association.

The following resolution from the Committee was discussed and carried: “That it be a. recommendation to the general meeting that in future the concession to members be as follows: En-

trance for member and lady to show each day. Entrance co grand-stand for each day for member and lady. One afternoon tea ticket. Also that a charge of sixpence per day be made for admission of the general public to the grandstand.” A recommendation to the General Committee for a reduction where possible, on entry fees, particularly in live stock classes, was sent forward. A vote of thanks to Mr. E. Warnes for his services as Auditor was recorded.

The fixing of dates for the next. Show was left, to the committee to arrange, with a recommendation that the days be a Friday and Saturday, and to be at the end of February or early in March 1931. Mr. Roberts moved that it be a recommendation to the sports committee that a tug-o’-war be held at the next Show. He remarked that a tug-o’-war had once been a popular attraction in Greymoutb but appeared to have got into disfavour, but a revival with teams of miners and timber workers would be popular. Mr. Brown: What about, some teams from the farmers? Mr. Carter: They tug enough against each other as it is, without pulling on a rope. Mr. Williams said that the tug-o - war would be a good innovation, but the prizes would require to be fairly good. He suggested that the miners and timber workers would enter teams, and possibly there could be an open class also. Mr. Brown: Yes, the farmers could get a team; you all seem to. think that the farmer is good for nothing but getting his leg pulled. Mr. Williams seconded the motion, which was carried. Mr. Bradley moved that the Association write to the Agricultural Department and endeavour to arrange for a field-day at the State Farm at Waimangu before the milking season commences. He considered that, two oi three Government instructors could be obtained, and interesting addresses and demonstrations given to farmers. The motion was seconded and carried. A vote of thanks and appreciation to Mr. C. Watson, caretaker of Victoria Park, for his services to the Association was unanimously carried.

ANNUAL DANCE. The brightly decorated Trotting Pavilion was well filled last evening, when the A. and P. Association held their annual- ball(. A varied programme of music was provided .by Steel’s Orchestra, and the Old Time dances were particularly popular on account of the cold. Non-dancei’S played cards, the prize, a rose-bowl, being won by Mrs Steel. In the supper room made gay with streamers, birch and flowers, a dainty supper was served by a Ladies’ Committee, consisting of Mesdames Lindop, G. Schaef. Seebeck. Brown, Congreve, Robertson, Carter, Mackley, Rose, G. Kitchingham, H. Kitchingham, Scott and,Miss Lindop. Among those dancing were: —Mesdames H. Carter, black taffeta; F. A. Kitchingham, primrose georgette; Meade, green crepe-de-chine; I-lignet, black velvet; A. Warnes, champagne taffeta; Misses Stops, brown crepe-de-chine; Hignett, green satin; Morrison, royal blue georgette; Jack, blue taffeta; Fry, . rfed lace:. Schaef, green satin; Topliss, green georgette; D. McKay. pink net; Hopgood, wine georgette; Schaef rose chenille: Skinner, floral georgette; Feirgufson, flame velvet; Hanna, pink taffeta and net; Quinn, black not; Atkinson, pink georgette; Sampson, white georgette; Hambleton, blub georgette; C. Costello, white satin; D. Costello, black georgette; D. Costello, pink taffeta; M. Ogilvie, white lace; Warren, rose satin; Mills, apricot satin; Street, cyclamen satin; Kyle, rose satin; Cunliffe, flame satin; Peillon, green lace: Hughes, rose satin; Webster, black net; Greaney, pink satin; Thomson, black net; Hursley (Christchurch), floral taffeta; Johnston, black satin; Ross, cyclamen georgette; Nelson, blue taffeta; Messrs F. A. Kitchingham, H. Carter, Higgins, Ross, Doogan, Scott, Warnes, McKay, Jamieson, Brown, Dylnberg, Timlin, Kyle, Mayell, White. de Freatus, Guy, Johnston, Turnbull, T. Ryder, Hobbs, Costello, Warren, Buchanan, Dodson, Murfleld, Richards.