IMPROVED FINANCES

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 30 May 1928, Page 11

IMPROVED FINANCES

EGMONT SHOW ASSOCIATION. SUCCESSFUL YEAR REVIEWED. GAIN OF £IOOO. Improved finances 'to the extent of £IOOO as compared witli tire position at tlie close of the previous year were disclosed at the annual general meeting of the Egmont A. and P. Association, which was held at Hawera this afternoon. When the meeting opened under the presidency of Mr .S. <C. Tonks, the attendance numibered 26. 'Six apologies for absence .were received. It has been very gratifying to the committee to be in the position of placing before you a statement of accounts disclosing a profit of £598 for the year, ’ ’ said the president during the course of a short review of the activities of the association during the year. ‘'When it is remembered that cn a similar occasion last year the loss shown amounted to £4Ol you will see that your association Was improved its finances by £IOOO during the period under review,” he continued. “It is admitted that £OSO of this amount is directly due to the proceeds of the ‘‘ El Dorado ’ ’ Art Union, but allowing for this figure there lias been an improvement of £350. This, I think you will agree, is highly satisfactory. “Under instructions from the last annual general meeting a select committee was set up to thoroughly investigate the association’s position. This committee reported to a general meeting held on August 19, 1927. The report was a recommendation that the association’s showgrounds should be placed under offer ito the Hawera Borough Council and the [Hawera (County Council at the sum of £13,000. This amount would be sufficient to defray the total liabilities of the association with the exception of the mortgage of £ISOO on the office 'buildings in Nelson Street. The full details of the proposal have already been circulated through the Press, and it is hardly necessary for me to deal with them at any length at this moment. I can s'ay that the proposal ha'd been placed before the Hawera Borough [Council, and is at present receiving the consideration of th'a't body. Before leaving this matter I want to express the committee’s appreciation of the assistance rendered by the members of the Hawera Bo tar y Club in formulating the foregoing proposal. PROFIT ON SHOW.

“The annual show held during November was well up to the standard of the past and .from the financial point of view .was one .of the onost successful that the association has held, the profit amounting to £249 3’s Id. It 'was unfortunate that wet weather marred .the fixture, or the returns would have .been still better. It will be necessary for the incoming .committee to go carefully into the .question of providing extra attractions for the public this year, as our experience in the past has shown that we cannot expect to draw (the crowds unless some events are provided' in addition to the ordinary ring competitions.

“The .committee explored .two now sources of revenue last year, first bv conducting its own catering for the show, and .second by arranging a .gymkhana. Both these ventures proved successful and the funds benefited to the extent of £224 19s 7d. Also the greater part of the labour necessary in preparing fpr the. show and gymkhana was supplied free, by the members of the committee and stewards. “In conclusion I wish, on behalf of the 'association, to thank the ladies who undertook the 'catering and management. of the produce shed, the stewards who assisted at the show and gymkhana, the members of the Various committees, the Press, the donors of special prizes aud all Who assisted the association in any 4 way during the past vear. ’ ’ FINANCIAL* FIGURE'S. The profit and loss account showed a profit balance of £590 8s 7d, the principal avenues of revenue 'being £654 7,s fid from the art union; £553 10s in members’ subscriptions; £3Ol 15s Id, rents; £331 6s fid, show gates; £340 2s Sd, farm account; £221 4s 7d donations; £2lB 7.5, .show entry fees; £172 9js, show space; £132 ss, gymkhana; and £92 14s 7d, show catering. Principal costs were interest, £B9l 5s 3d; £627 6s Bd, prize money; £468 Bs, salaries; and £137 Is 6d, rates. The surplus of assets over liabilities was shown as £IBO4 14s 6d. The report of the auditors (Messrs. Walkley and Cameron) 'stated, inter alia, it was pleasing to note, the conisiderable decrease in all expenses and general show outgoings. Against this, however, there had been a falling off in the general income, and' by taking out the art union figures of £654 7s 6d the result was a net loss of £55 18s lid on the year’s working. No depredation had been written off the buildings for some years, and this must he taken into consideration against the book surplus appearing in the balancesheet. The adoption of the report and bal-ance-sheet* was moved by the president. Mr. D. Crocker seconded the motion, which was carried without discussion. ELECTION OF OFFICERS.

Officers were elected unopposed ns follow:

President: Mr. W. AlpL’Dowie (Matapu). Vice-president: Mr. C. H. Washer (Hawera). Treasurer: -Mr. R. McOay (Hawera), re-elected.

Twenty-seven nominations were included in t-lie ballot for the election of 25 members of the general committee. The ballot resulted in the election of the following: , Messrs. P. Bremer (Okaiawa). TV. R. Butler (Hawera). D. Crocker (Normanby), J. N. Ci-ocher (Okaiawa), A. E. Death (Hawera),. E. L. Death '(Arnrata), John Forbes (Normanby), B. C. Gibson (Normanby). F. Gillanders (Hawea), F. Hoskin, (Matapu), H. E. Johnson (Tokaora), J. Kerrisk, iunr. (Ohangai), A. Hankow (Manaia), J. B. Daurenson (Hawera), B. C. Lysaght (Mokola), F. Mills, iunr. (Tokaora), John Pettigrew (Pihama), T. J. Salmon (Hawera). J. D. Scott (Hawera). D. Stewart (Normanbv). G. TV. Stubbs (Hawera), J. Thom--lin son (Hawera), S. C. Tonks (Hawera), E. A. Washer (Okaiawa), T. Wilson (Arnrata). SERVICES APPRECIATED.

On the motion of the .president, who paid tribute to Mr B. C. Lysaght in recognition of the latter’s vahiab'e services on the farm committee, a vote of thanks to Mr Lysaght was carried by acctamaitian. “Mr Tonks took over the presidency of the association at a time when things were at a very low ebb, and! when it

was seriously doubted whether the association would be able to carry on,” said Mr F. Gilllandors,- in proposing a vote of thanks to the retiring president. “He ha® given untiring service,” continued All- Gillanders. “and as the result of the energy with which Air Tonks carried l out his duties and the assistance given by the committne, we have now groat hopes of getting .round the corner.” The vote of thanks to Air Tonks was carried by acclamation. In reply. Air Tonks raid his three years ao president oi the association had afforded him a great deal of pleasure. Ho expressed his keen appreciation of the loyal manner in which memfcprcs of the committee had co-operated ing giving attention to the affairs of the assoeation. as}d hi appealing for similar support to the newly-elected president, expressed the hope that it would! result in again placing thp association in the strong position merited -by its activities.