Egmont A. and P. Association's Jubilee Show

Hawera Star, Volume LIII, 7 November 1933, Page 10

Egmont A. and P. Association's Jubilee Show

"The formation of an A. and P. Association at Hawera >vas first mooted in. 1882. The only show in South Taranaki at this time was an annual fixture at Patea, but there was considerable discontent at Hawera with the control of the Patea Association’s tttfairs, many local exhibitors refusing to show there. Efforts had been made to change the location of the show to a, . centre more convenient to South Taranaki settlers, but representations .to the. Patea Association were without result. • . ‘fit is quite time,”, commented the “Star” of May 26, 1882, “that some action was taken to have agricultural and pastoral matters placed upon a better basis. The Patea Association is a good local institution, but from the time when the show ground was shifted from lvakaramea *to Patea the sympathy ox settlers at this end of the district has grown colder. They regarded the change as marking a. desire to exalt Patea at the expense of her neighbours, and showed that they felt the slight. . . It is quite open for the Patea Association at its annual meeting to make such liberal proposals as to the places where shows shall be held and as to district representation on the managing committee as shall attract general support.” At the annual meeting of the Patea Association on May 31 a letter was read from Mr. J. Davidson suggesting that the show should be held alternately at Hawera, Patea and Waverley. *Mi* J. C. Yorke, who appeared to" be the only Hawera representative present, said that if Hawera members desired a change they should have attended the meeting or written. He believed that there was only room for one strong association between Waver ley and Opunake. The attitude of Hawera towards Patea at that time seemed to be approaching indifference. The financial position of the Paten 'Association was apparently quite sound, and the annual report presented on June 2, 1882, showed that during the year the credit balance had been increased to £262 16s 9d. One item in the balance-sheet gave rise to & good deal of adverse criticism from the Hawera end. The item was for £ls 13s 9d, and represented a loss on ■fhe annual ball. This, in conjunction with the fact that the Patea Association. was suing for subscriptions, of which there were arrears totalling £lO5, caused a good deal of soreness and raised the whole question of A. and P. administration. The separatist movement seemed to have definitely set in, but it was not till July 23, * 1883, that any action leading to practical results was recorded. On that date a paragraph in the “Star” stated that at the conclusion of a meeting in favour of establishing meat preserving and boiling works in the district, Mr. J. Winks urged that steps be taken to hold an agricultural show near Hawera. He believed that the time had come when something should be done in the matter, and he hoped that sett- 1 lers would take it iip. The views .of those present appeared to be in accord with those of Mr Winks. !

FIRST DEFINITE MOVEMENT,

The first definite movement towards the formation of an association at Hawera was made the following year An advertisement headed “Chamber of Commerce,” and signed by A. H. Dull as chairman, appeared in the “Star’’ on January 10, 1884, announcing that a meeting of settlers and others desirous of instituting an Agricultural Society in Hawera would be held in the Council Chambers that week. Dealing editorially with the matter the “Star”, in the same issue, says: “The proposal to start air A. and P. Association in Hawera is not new, but the source from which it has come is both novel and reassuring. It bodes well for the future of the association that a community of merchants and storekeepers should suggest that the 'time has now arrived when this step should be taken, and, by suggesting it, should thus indirectly promise to support the movement. . . That the district can support a good show is beyond question. In draught horses in Shorthorn cattle and in well-bred long-woolled sheep breeders and owners between Manutahi and Opunake can probably hold their own with any farmers on the coast. In fact, if anyone looks over the lists of prizetakers, either at the past two shows at Patea or the last show at New Plymouth, it will be seen that this fact is beyond dispute. Whether it would not be better to amalgamate our forces and agree to hold one show at Patea, Ha- j 'wera and New Plymouth in turn, is a question which may he debated between , the several associations at some future time. Before then it is practic- 1 aliv certain that Hawera will have formed an association and will have held at least one show to prove bevond question that this immediate 11

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After the opening formalities, Mr. A. H. Duff said that the matter had been discussed at some length by the Chamber of Commerce, and the members of that body had come to the conclusion that the time had arrived when such an association should bo formed. Hawera’s position was very central, and both Patea and Now Plymouth obtained their best exhibits from this part of the coast—at any rate the prizetakers were to be found about here. Therefore, he did not see why they should not have an association here Its existence would be beneficial to both townspeople and farmers, whose interests were really identical. If the farmers dicl their share he was quite sure that the business people would do theirs.

Mr. B. G. Robbins, who had copies of the rules and regulations of similar societies, expressed regret at the small attendance of farmers. A good HMMiiiaaaJMUiiiMiiitiiiiMvnKffiMKiiMmimMiiiiiiiiiiiimiiiaß