(published daily.) TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 1887. THE EGMONT CATTLE SHOW.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume IX, Issue 1786, 22 November 1887, Page 2

(published daily.) TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 1887. THE EGMONT CATTLE SHOW.

♦ — > On "Wednesday the entries for the forthcoming show close. We were of opinion that there was little more to be said on the subject, but Ares' letter published on Monday, opened up some novel and unexpected views of the subject, which may be worthy of notice. In the first place it is evident that Ares never attended any meeting called by the Association. Th« notion of any class feeling erer

being shown by members or even thought of, could not possibly be entertained by any one who had ever been present at one of the A. and P. meetings. A few plain practical farmers, get together and talk about stock, crops, sh6w-entries, frozen mutton, meat-tinning and such like in the simplest possible language, and listen far more attentively to the experienced cottager who offers sugabout the pie-classes, than they would do to " my Lord Tom Noddy" if ho intruded small talk which seemed not to be to the point. As to the rate of subscription, .£1 is the usual thing ; and as funds this year were short and there seemed little or no prospect, under the circumstances, of doubling the number of members, the Association couid not conscientiously recommend the half rates suggested by Ares. Had the latter looked at the A. and P. Society's advertisement, he would have seen a paragraph to this effect "Members are strongly urged i to iry &r>& i»Dreasß BYrne-rical styeEgth of the Society." Some of them, and ! especially the Secretary, have canvassed i actively, and the result is that the numbers on the roll have increased. If Ares would join he might, perhaps, convince the rest that 10s or 5s membership fees would be ample. As to the holding of office if Ares desired any office from that of patron down to gate-keeper, and had evinced any degree of fitness for any of the official billets, he need only mention his desire to rule in the place of the hypothetical "autocrat with upturned nose," and he would find the present office holder most happy to resign in " Ares' " favor. Members of the Association so far from being exclusive have shown a liberal spirit in their dealings with non-members. The classes for milch cows, for dairy exhibits and produce are open to members and to non-members on equal terms, whereas if double fees had been charged to non-members, as in the live stock classes, the deficit of last year would hare been far more than covered. If Ares and his friends would but join the society first and criticise and attempt to reform it afterwards, they would find that the leading members are honestly anxious to strengthen the society by any means which can be suggested and that commends itself to their judgment. They welcome each addition to their members most heartily, and if Ares will subscribe 10s for last year and 10s for this year, he will, we are sure, not regret the investment. The advice of those who stand off and tell others what they should do, without fering to put their own shoulders to the wheel does not generally command the attention which, to out-siders, it may seem to deseve. The Egmont A. and P. Society has had some uphill work, it highly values the services of hearty volunteeis, who show their sincerity by taking a share of the labor ; but few of its members care to squeeze subscriptions out of unwilling purses. There are some members who would say bluntly — "If ' Ares ' can show us how to manage better, we'll give him every opportunity ; but before we take his afoicfc, vje'ii take Ms po\nid for membership." In everyday life that is the rule. It is almost a certain cure for constant grumbling at rates and taxes and the blunders of local bodies to elect the growler a member of one oi' those bodies,so that he may have a taste of public opinion and criticism of his blunders. The man who thinks the members of a friendly society, choral society, library committee, or the like, are a blundering lot of idiots, can sometimes be persuaded to join the ranks and take a share of the responsibility. At the end of his term of office he will be amazed to find that a lot of his friends speak just as disrespectfully of the body of which he has been an active reforming member, as he used to do before he took part in it. If he is wise, he lays the lesson to heart. He has learnt that those who fancy they see all sorts of mistakes without knowing the difficulties, tbe responsibilities, the funds at the disposal of any local governing body, would find if they took office, that they must often be content to do a very little, and that little not very well ; wh*n with larger funds, more members of their own way of thinking, more scope and fewer unforeseen difficulties to cope with, instead of resting satisfied with such small results, they would have launched forth brilliant schemes, such as their candid friends, free from all responsibility, are in the habit of confidently recommending, and which sound feasible enough, but are quite impracticable.