EGMONT SHOW.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLII, Issue XLII, 27 March 1922, Page 5

EGMONT SHOW.

TO BE HELD IN SPRING.

There was a large attendance at the general meeting of the Egmont A. and P. Association held on Saturday to consider the question of whether the Association should revert to a spring show. Mr E. Washer presided, and in opening the meeting said he had been asked why the matter could not be decided at the annual meeting, but he had I found that the minds of members were much exercised and as the annual meeting would not be held till sometime later 'he thought it best to give them an opportunity to come to a decision right away. He thought that if a spring show was decided >upon they could have the annual meeting in May, which would enable them to get to work early. Replying to Mr F. Mills, the president said that any decision arrived at by the meeting would stand, and there would' be no need to rescind any , resolution in the minute book. Mr Tonks read a resolution passed on August 7, 1918, requesting the committee to go into the question of holding an autumn show. He was inclined to think that this would have to be rescinded. Mr Betts asked how the entries for an autumn show compared with those for a spring show. The secretary said that for the spring show held in 1916 the entries totalled 1607, and for the autumn show, 1922, there were 1325 entries. In 1913 the spring show entries Svere over 2000, and for the 1921 autumn show they had 1777 entries. Comparisons made in this way, it was pointed out, were hardly fair, as special circumstances were not taken into consideration. Mr Tonks moved that they revert to a spring show. This was seconded by Mr Crocker. Mr MeL'Dowie pointed out that the destruction of the Whenuakura bridge had affected the entries last year". A member said the Stratford people desired to see a spring show at Hawera, and if a spring show was held were prepared to give all the assistance they could. \ Mr Dunn said it was desirable that shows should be held in rotation, so that a man who got his stock up for show purposes could exhibit at a number of different shows. They had spring shows at Palmerston North, .Wanganui and Stratford, and the Haw.era show should be held at a time - that would fit in with the others. A. spring show would appear to suit them best. Mr Bailey: You have overlooked Waverley, which holds an autumn show and had entries that were astonishingly large. Mr Dunlop said the schedule time was July 1, but cows usually came in in duly, August or September, and what chance would these cows have against cows coming in in January? A man would have to breed his stock to suit .the show if he wanted to be suecessfful. The autumn show also counted against the progeny. He favoured a spring show. | Mr Mills: I am waiting to hear what the opposition has to say. A voice: There is none. Mr Mills said he ftad been in favour of a spring show previously and had not changed his opinion. He had tried to support the autumn show, but his heart had not been in it./ From a business and sentimental point of view spring was the best. There was only one argument in favour of an autumn show, and that argument had been' knocked from under their feet. He would not cay more than that. He sympathised with the committee, who had tried to do their best in adverse circumstances. Mr Bailey was of the opinion that a cow ctfuld be judged just as well in the autumn as the spring. Mr Betts said he 'belonged to the opposition. He considered that the matter should have been dealt.with at the annual meeting. According to the number of members on the books they could not consider the meeting a full one. The chairman said he had been very pleased to see such a large attendance, and they may not have ni"or,e at the annual meeting. : Mr Bailey asked if it was not a fact that there were record entries for their first autunin show. The president said the record was reached in 1921. Mr Gillanders said they had to de- i pend on the gates and members' subscriptions for support, and if they were favoured with decent weather they could rely on bigger gates at an autumn show. They were up against it financially, and unless they obtained more money, either from the gates or by increased membership fees, they could not continue as they were going much longer. If they could show him that they would get bigger gates at a spring show he would favour the change. The mere fact that a cow could not be shown to the same advantage in the autumn as in the spring was not a- fair argument. The conditions were the same for all. He was not tied up to an autumn show if there was evidence that, a spring show would ba better.

Mr S. J. Bennett (Manaia) said that a man could not show his cattle as well in the autumn as in the spring. In February a cow would be well on in calf. To get a cow to a show from Manaia he would have to drive her 12 miles, whether he was showing at Hawera or at New Plymouth. This disposed of the argument that the conditions were the same for all. He came there to support an autumn show.

Mr C. J. Campbell said he also favoured an autumn show. With an autumn show they had reached a membership of 957 and had taken at the gates £420. The last show could not be accepted as a guide. He would work just as hard for a spring show, though he favoured an autumn show, which, in addition to other advantages, suited the sheep breeders. In regard" to-Mr Bennett's argument he said he would not, if he possessed a valuable cow, drive her to Hawera from Manaia, while she was in the flush of her milk Mr Bennett said he would like all the shows brought into line, so that a man could exhibit at successive shows.

A member pointed out that a spring show was best suited to the implement exhibitors. In the spring a farmer was interested in implements, but by the autumn he had seen all he wanted to see of them.

Mr Mills, referring to the early date at which the last show was held, asked if there was any indication that this difficulty would not recur during the coming year. > The president: There is every likelihood that we will have the same difficulty.

Mr Gillanders:, No doubt we struck a wrong date, and had the show been held m March it would have been much better Of course they made mistakes but they had heard too much about mistakes. They had even b^en told that they should have changed the show dates when the Whenuakura

"%ridge was destroyed, but ii was impossible at the stage reached to make a change. The president explained that they Ittd been forced to take the date fixed upon, by other associations and racing clubs. Mr Bailey asked Mr Bennett why all the cattle demonstrations were held in, the autumn if the spring was more suitable. Mr Bennett said this was not their fault. They had to hold the demonstrations when the best demonstrators -were available, and that was about the time of the show* Mr S. Blake favoured a spring snow, and said that a cow in full profit in January or February was of no use. He urged that all should pull together, so as to place the finances of the association on a better basis. • Mr Gilbert said the Retailers' Association supported a spring show, which would be more profitable from a "business point of view. Some of them lad also given their word that they would be prepared, if a spring show was leld, to increase their donations. Mr Tonks said, with regard to showing sheep, he totally' disagreed with Mr Campbell. A man would prefer to Buy a sheep when it had its full wool, aot when its wool was about an inch long. The motion was carried with only ■four dissentients. j Mr Blake moved that the books close On March 31. This was carried. Messrs Gilbert and Sage, representing the Retailers' Association, waited «pon the meeting with reference to people's day for the show, which they desired should be on the Wednesday instead of a Thursday. It would then fit an with the half-holiday, and cause less inconvenience to "business people. The president said he did not know tow that would affect people coming from Wanganui and Palmerston North. He was pleased to have the matter brought up, which showed that the townspeople were taking some interest in the- show. At the annual meeting a committee would be elected, and they loped to have some of the townspeople ■on that committee. The matter would "then be gone into.-