EGMONT A. AND P. ASSOCIATION.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LIII, Issue LIII, 13 April 1908, Page 5

EGMONT A. AND P. ASSOCIATION.

COMMITTEE MEETING.

A meeting of the committee of the Egmont A. and P. Association was held on Saturday ; present — Messrs H. Best (President), W. A. Duokworth, H. (Jreaves, J. Thomson, J. R. Corrigan," A. L. Campbell, Livingston, A. J. Hastie, T. "Winks, "Wills, "W. Duirs, J. L. Campbell, F. A. Bremer and 6. Hobbs. CORRESPONDENCE. I Messrs G. Powell, W. L. Blennerhassett, W. A. Cleaver, and C. Hunger wrote resigning their membership. Cheltenham Dairy Co. wrote donating monetary prize won by them at last show to the Association, Slack Bros., of Palmerston North, wrote asking that "Black Deypn" pigs be included in next year's spring show classes. These pigs, the writers stated, were now one of the leading Breeds in the Manawatu, and they suggested deleting the classes for Tamworths as they were now "pigs of the past." — Held over for Catalogue Committee to deal with. PROPOSED AMALGAMATION WITH JOCKEY CLUB. The Secretary reported' that the subcommittee to confer with the Jockey Club had been unable to prepare its report for this /neeting. They had only visited the racecourse that maming. The following letter was read from the Secretary of the Jockey Club: — "The following figures and sugges- r tions were laid before my committee by the sub-committee appointed to confer with the sub-committee of the A. and P. Association : — The value of the Racing Club's land was taken at £3725 New grandstand and official buildings at 3500 Total £7225 "All fencing, old grandstand, telegraph office,- etc., were not -taken into account. The' A. and P. Association to pay half this amount, viz., £3612, it being estimated that after that they would require to spend another £1000 to fix up railway siding, boxes, etc. It was contemplated that the present produce shed in the A. and P.'s grounds would be shifted and placed up against the back of our old stand, either to stand alone or adjoining as was found practicable. It was estimated that the. two together would be sufficient for £]] requirements for years to come. "Yards and. HOrse-boxes— The Egmont Racing club would pay half the cos^ bf anything they might use themselves. No permanent buildings to be erected in the centre of the course, except that sheep-pens might be erected there. On show days the A. and P. to have the use of the course proper on the outside for jumping. The surface, however, is not to be disturbed by digging. Entrance will be given to the inside of course somewhere in the vicinity of the seven-furlong post, which would also be used for the turning point ' for .the parade, coming la again ty i, he c ? u rse proper near the distance pqs£. "Af^fcer a, discussion 1 4k§ fflemoers 0? ] the committee present were] unanimous- j ly of opinion that the report of the I sub-committee be adopted, subject, of course, to the approval of members to be obtained. at a general meeting later on. Details as to the erection of buildings, yards, etc., to be left for future arrangement by a committee representing bqth societies." , . Mr Wills favored the proposal. Mr Corrigan: We can go on the grounds only under certain restrictions. Mr Duckworth: We have certain rights, too. Mr Corrigan: Personally, I think the proposal a most retrograde step. Anybody must know that a racecourse is not a fit place for a show ground at all. Both from the exhibitors' point of view and that of the animals a racecourse was unsuitable for show purposes. If they wished to move away from the borough by all means do so. But let them get a ground of their own and prepare it to their own liking. Mr Hastie said he had not yet gone very much into the matter. But he had been told by people at Cambridge and Hastings (where there was an agreement between the local Jockey | Clubs and the A. and P. Association) that' the arrangement was very un- | satisfactory. |. Mr Greaves strongly supported the proposal of amalgamation. It appeared .'to him that the only objections the Jockey Club ha"d was. that they (the A. and P. Association) should not do anything to the course which would obstruct the view from the grandstand during race meetings. It would cost a great deal to put their present grounds in order, roughly £3000. Any improvements now made would be perishable — instancing the erection of a new stand, ring, etc. — and would need to be replenished in another 20 or 25 years. Mr Hastie said he hardly thought a good ground could be made at the* racecourse. . Mr Corrigan remarked' that . there was certain to be friction between the two bodies. A racing club and an A. and P. Association were not identical. He asked: Would it not be better" to buy the polo ground? Mr Duckworth: And pay £100 per acre for it*. - j Mr Corrigan: Even If we pay £100 I for it we would have better satisfaction for it. . . The Secretary pointed out that while they were talking about the racecourse they had not yet done anything as to what they intended to do with the A. and P. grounds. Mr Livingston said they had a good ground right in the borough. It would be better to keep to that and be their own "boss." If they weirfrto the racecourse they would rnot'W-- Again it

would cost a lot to go in. with the Jockey Club. Mr Corrigan thought it would be a good: idea,, to dispose of any surplus ground anil keep sufficient for the show. Mr Winks considered the proposal a very good move.Air Thomson asked if there was any possibility of rating on the unimproved value being done away with, . Mr J. L. Campbell was inclined to *the opinion that it would be', better .for the Association not to make -the .change; if they .had to go out of the borough then let them have a place of .their, own. . • ' Mr Hastie, in common with other .members, considered it would 1 be better to have a report from -tjheir subcommittee before further discussing the proposal. He accordingly moved,' ".That" the .committee- draw vp 1 tfreir-Te-* 1 .port, 'to be considered at a meeting of the General Committee, on Saturday, April 25. ... Mr. Corrigan seconded, and the mo- 1 tion was carried. • "- . - „G ENERAL. • '■- '• J 1 The annual.. meeting was fixed' for Saturday, May 9.- - '- °" . A sub-committee; consisting, of the' .President,, Messrs Duckworth, Greaves: and Winks, was. appointed to draw -up; (Conditions, etc., in connection with the applications to be called for. a new secretary. - • - ; Mr Budge said although his reslgna-; N tion would take effect as from , the annual meeting, he was prepared to assist the Association in .every way until the appointment of .Ms. successor. This was all the business-.