EGMONT A. AND P. ASSOCIATION.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 3083, 25 March 1892, Page 2

EGMONT A. AND P. ASSOCIATION.

The annual general meeting of members of the above Association will be held on Thursday next. After many years of financial difficulties, never very serious, but always enough to hamper progress, the Society has at last cleared off. its debts. It is true, there are still a few pounds worth of liabilities outstanding, but the un,paid subscriptions of members, who are quite able to pay when required, more than cover the small balance of liabilities still unpaid. We hear that it is probable a motion will be made that the Society take over the 52 acres now held by "the five trustees on behalf of the Association. There is an active demand for a few fiveacre allotments around Hawera, and, if seven five- acre lots were cut out of the show ground, leaving 15 acres or so m one block for the use of the Association, the Society's funds would, we feel sure, greatly benefit by the change. Ifc is estimated that five-acre allotments in that 50-acre section would let on an average for £9 to ,£l.O pet allotment. Even at the Jesaer amount the bociety would make £18 or .£2O a year more than the interest payable od the money invested in the la.nd ; and it would also have the rent from the 15 acres reserved actually for show purposes. Probably two and a half acres would have to be set aside for streets, and cost of surveying the several sections would also have to be provided for. Many of the younger members of the association may not know that the term of five years during wh,ich the association may take, pvei' the block at £15 per acre from the trustees expires in December, 1893; and all such changes of ownership, especially where a corporate boc[y is, concerned, eommonjy tafce a. loqg time to complete: The Bgmont flacing Olub has from time to time talked of taking over this property from the A. and P. Society for the purposes of a training-ground. We do not know whether that project has been dropped of late j but if the .Racing Club has any such intention it would 4q wel} to come to a definite conclusion o.n the po|n|; before lo,n>. T^e' Racing Olub wqul4 probably not cut up the property for building purposes, but, on the other hand, it might be able to offer a good rent to the A. and P. {Society, and also undertake to lay out its trammg-track so as not to interfere with the show ground in any way. The Egmont Cattle, Show h£j,s grown steadily from year to year. The last one was in many of the classes superior evert to that at Palmeraton, and the total number of entries was by far tie beat on record. Better accommodation must be provided for the ladias before the assqciation can hope to cqn^n^a ( n 1 d their attendance. }q la^ge numbers j and this, alsoj' is one of the matters which should receive attention at the general meeting. It is, we believe, admitted by all who have had experience of. large shows that the time has n.QW, arrived when a two days' show must be arranged- This is a matter which concents both town and country, gqd should of ifcaetf' induce a large attendanop of ra.ember-8. A two days' show cannot prove a success unless substantial prizes are offered in the more important classes. Such prizes attract exhibitors from a distance, and the success of the Palmereton show is largely due to their liberality in this respect. The town levies heavy tolls on the visitors to a two (Javß* snow, and can, therefore* well afford to subsidise the Association's p.risse fund. A two days' show has many great advantages over a one day's show. The first day is devoted to business ; farmers and grazier* can see and examine the stud sheep, purebred cattle, and draught horses, and oan make all necessary arrangements with the breeders. The second day is more of a holiday, and on it lovers of hacks and racehorses can devote their time and attention to these classes, which certainly have far greater attraction for the general public. It is essential to the success of a two days' show that excursion feres at very lo\y rates should be granted by thja Jlailwiiy Commissioners, and? these can best' be aecured by joint action on the part of , all the A., and P. Societies. One other important

point remains to be dealt with : that is the arranging of the dates of the several shows in this island so that they shall not clash. Napier leads the way, of course, because the shearing there is always early. Auckland should come next, then Carterton, Hawera, Palmerston, and finally Wellington in the order named. The Egmont date has long been fixed either for the Tuesday, "Wednesday, or Thursday which fall on or nearest to November 5, Monday, IPriday, and Saturday not being suitable. Last year Egmont Show Buffered because Carterton Show fell on the same day, and Auckland Show also came too close. It should be possible to avoid any such clashing, i£ only ; timely counsel were held. It is more difficult to arrange for a two than a one day's show which shall not clash with 1 other shows at a distance. From the above it will be seen that a long and hard afternoon's work awaits the j members on Thursday next. j