COMMUNITY ASSET

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 19 August 1927, Page 9

COMMUNITY ASSET

HAWERA SHOW GROUNDS.

ASSOCIATION’S POSITION. GENERAL MEETING CALLED ❖ In mccoi'da iiee with the instruction ol the la-nnuial general meeting ol the Eigmomt A. and P. Association and the subsequent action of the general committee a general meeting ql' the association was held at Da worn to-day to consider the report of the sclecc. committee, which was set up tor the purpose of investigating the financial position of the association and -suggestbing means of retaining the grounds to the association and the district. Forty mem-bens were in attendance when the meeting opened at 1.30 p.m. The president (Air. S. C. Tonics) occupied the chair and outlined the purpose of the meeting. “The suggested scheme submitted h}' the joint committees will. if adopted, be the melans of retaining the present showgrounds for the purposes of A. and P. shtSws and recreation purposes for all time,'’ proceeded Mr. Looks. “The liability of this association under this scheme would he a rental of £2OO for the first ten years and not exceeding £3OO per annum thereafter; and In addition a sum equal to 20 per cent, of the nett annual profits, in each year, 'lilie latter sum to be used entiely for the upkeep and improvement to the grounds. “The importance of -sawing the grounds for the future cannot be too strongly -stressed. At the present time the district, of Hiawera has no other place in a handy situation capable, of accommodating a large crowd such as congregate for the representative football matches, and if the .showgrounds were not available these matches and other athletic attractions would be lost to South Taranaki, and just what this loss would mean to the district it is impossible to estimate. Tn addition to- the main scheme the select committee has considered ways and means of increasing the- revenue of the association, and in this direction it recommends:

“That arrangements be made by the association to have the show catering done by its own members. “That as fair as possible judges be appointed from the district between New Plymouth and Wanganui, saving expense in travelling fees, etc. “That the schedule committee be instructed to eliminate or reduce the pnize-monev in classes where there is no competition. “That the number of gate-keeper® be reduced by closing certain gates on the first day of the .show. “That less paid labour be emploved in making arrangements for the show, and that tills work be done by working bees. Air. Tonkfi then moved : That the report of the Select Committee, ais printed, be approved, and that the General Committee be empowered to make the necessary representations to the- \ Hawera Borough Council and the Haweria- County Council to give effect to these proposals. The president also presented the report of the select committee, which, with a slight amendment, had been approved at the meeting of the gene-rail committee on July 30, as published in “The Hawera Star” of that day. The amendment took the place of the fourth paragraph, dealing with the administration of the grounds, and re-ad as follows: Sucli legislation to make provision for the use by the Eg moot A. and P. Association during the term of its existence for a period of one month in each year of suc-h portion of the grounds as mav be required for the purpose of holding its agricultural shows at a rental toi be fixed by the- controlling committee, but not to exceed £2OO in each year for the first ten yeans, and not to exceed £3OO in each year thereafter, such maximum rentals to be subject to revision by the local authorities concerned annually, and in addition the Eg-m-ont A. and P. Association shall provide a sum equal to 20 per cent, of its net annual profits for the purpose of the upkeep and maintenance of the grounds and improvements.

Thai motion was seconded by Mr B. McCarthy, who said the liability ol' tlie association, amounting to some £13,000, was so great that it was essential that some means should be devised of meeting the .situation. The suggestion which appealed most to the speaker was that set out in the report proposing that the Hawera County Council and the Hawera. Borough Council should he approached to raise a loan l'or the purpose of acquiring the grounds. Dealing with the suggestion that the loan might involve a burden on the ratepayers, ho gave the opinion that the revenue from the sr round would provide largely against that, there being a practically certain prospect of the grounds earning £SOO annually. This would lie secured by the A. and P. Association rental of £2OO per annum, a minimum of £IOO from the Taranaki Rugby Union for the use of playftig fields,” and £2OO from the rentals of surplus areas of the grounds. Mr. P. Bond stressed that in a matter .such as that before the meeting there should he no cleavage between town and country interests. The movement aimed at the preservation of certain advantages which had been enjoyed for a considerable number of years by both town and country residents. While be appreciated the fact that the present time was not a favourable one for asking • ratepayers to endorse loan proposals, it was to be hoped there would be no lack of courage in a matter which held such vital importance to the community. For the welfare of the surrounding district it was essential that the town should prosper. The speaker urged that without trade Hawera could not prosper, and as a townsman he would be well content to pay four times the extra rate which would be levied to preserve what would be regarded as a magnificent asset, and the country wouid benefit most when the population was well distributed, it being extremely detrimental to the interests of country residents to have to travel comparatively long distances to reach centres of business Following the period of financial depression a. better tone of optimism prevailed at present, and the speaker sincerely hoped the matter would lie brought to a successful issue. Mr. F. G. Treweek, in giving support to the motion, strongly urged that an endeavour should he made to increase the membership, and he considered that if the matter were correctly represented to farmers of the district they would he practically unanimous in giving support to an institution which brought such advantage to them. Replying to Mr. Treweek, the president stated that during the last four

years the show had shown a profit, there being a credit of £56 in 1926 and £174 in 1925. Air. D. S. .Richardson suggested that while lie had no objection to the local bodies acquiring the grounds, the possibility of the- association retaining them should be thoroughly investigated before the proposed action was taken.

Air. F. W. Horner said lie did not wish to criticise the administration of the association, hut lie thought that if the ,/system were investigated there would be a greater likelihood of the association gaining the confidence of residents of the district. Air. E. C Fletcher thought that tlie association would welcome the opportunity of making any possible improvements, and he suggested that a report should he broguht down reviewing in detail economies which were known to have been made of recent periods. Mir. A. Hunter said lie could -not see that the association would prosper unless an improvement in administration was made. Over a considerable period the expenditure of the association had exceeded the revenue, and while that happened the result would be obvious. He considered that the system of administration bv a large eommitete was too cumbersome, _ and that control should be vested in a finance committee of not more than seven lie agreed with the suggestions "made by Air. Horner concerning the necessity for obtaining the oonlidence of residents of the district, and; thought that if the scheme were reviewed a happier tone would he the outcome. The savings proposed, as outlined in the president s report, would be a step in that direction and would he welcomed by all members. Air. Hunter suggested that a further economy should be possible in the matter of rates, he having always contended that the grounds should he exeriVpt from rates, and this would mean a saving of £134. Referring to statements made in letters to the Press concerning alleged offers for purchase of the grounds, he said that no favourable offers had been received, and none presented would have benefited the association. It was proposed at present, however, to dispose of some 7 J- acres, and if this was effected £4OOO would be realised to assist in the liquidation of liabilities. / Ret-plying to Air. €. H. Washer, who, asked concerning tire- prospective sale of 74 acres mentioned by Air. Hunter, the president sf&id tine proposal was to subdivide the -area 'into 27 sections fronting the Wa-i-hi Road. If they were all sold the pm of about- £4OOO wound he realised but, of course, it was questionable whether all would be sold. “There is no doubt that there are too m-any small shows in the district and they have no doubt affected us considerably in the matter of membership,” said the president in reply to a- question raised. Dealing with a c-mmpla;ilit concerning the cost of free luncheons, he con-side red that the issue of tickets was one of the show’s best advertisements, and the expense would probably be lessened by the -adoption of till© ’ proposal that the association should arrange its own catering. The seconder of the motion concluded the -discussion with the opinion that the purchase of the grounds by the local bodies would be al good commercial proposition and the -scheme appeared the only feasible one- for meeting the situation.

On being put to the meeting the motion was carried bv a large majority, only approximlarbely four voices being ncuisecl Sri -fclie negative.