A. and P. Association.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XL, Issue 7567, 18 April 1903, Page 8

A. and P. Association.

The seventeenth annual meeting of the iVf&nawatu A- and P. Association was held in the Theatre Royal to-day. There was a large attendance and the President; Mr li. Gillies, occupied the chiiir. Mr W. Rutherfurd was elected Returning Officer'in connection with the election of the General Committee and Messrs Hodder, F. J. Nathan, Sutherland, Hunter nnd"W. Ryan, scrutineers. The report and balance-sheet were taken as read. In moving the adoption of the balancesheet and report, the Chairman expressed pleasure in being able to congratulate the members on the continued progress of the Association. Looking back on the past seventeen years and noting the progress of the Association he thought it reflected great credit upon the district, the members and public for its support and on the Committee for its management. To have attained a membership of 1600. to" expend prize money of £1376 and to receive gate fees almost touching £1200, he thought, was a wonderful record. He pointed out also that the prize money paid by the Association last year was £250 more than paid in any other part of the colony. It was also gratifying to note the suDport given by breeders to the JSovember show, which had now established a reputation for the excellence of its stock. Special reference was made to the fat lambs forwarded to Smithfield/ London, and to the judge's report thereon the carcases with the *b"e"St exhibits sent fromj the A. and P. Show in Canterbury under somewhat similar conditions. Classes of this kind proved an excellent educational medium to those desirous of improving the fat lamb trade, and in this connection a perusal of the New Zealand Mock Book of 1903 was very instructive, there being m increase of 25 pure-bred herds in the Down classes for that year. It was also noticeable how the dairying industry had created a demand for the best milking strains and had given a great impetus to the breeding of Jersey, Ayrshire and Shorthorn catile. There was no doubt that in the near future North Island breeders will have established a colonial reputation for excellence in all classes of stock. .Reference wbs made to the Agriculture Conference held during the year and the thanks of the Association were due to Messrs J. G. Wilson and Geo. Wheeler, delegates, for the services rendered by them. The dairy farm competition instituted during the year had also proved most successful and should assist in bringing about better conditions than now exist on many of. the dairy farms. Details vrere given of the competitors and of the districts represented, which have already been published. The president also stated the thanks of the Association were due to Messrs J. Nathan and Co., who donated £30 to the prize fund, N.Z. Farmers' Dairy Union £20. Cheltenham, Rongotea, and Glen Oroua dairy companies £5- eac-h and Mr W. W. Corpe £5. It was hoped to establish veterinary classes during the current year, and a special committee had been appointed to confer with Mr Gilruth, chief veterinarian, on the subject. The President stated details of the classes, which have already been published, and expressed the hope the innovation was a step in the right direction. The committee had also taken such steps as were desirable in advocating the permanent establishment of a dairy school in this part of the island. In doing so, they followed a course pursued in the United States and Canada, two countries unequalled in the progress made in dairying as a science. Eererence was also made to the resolution passed by a conference of Wairarapa dairymen to support the proposal to establish a school here as being the most central and convenient position. Considering the supreme importance of dairying to this island, it is to be regretted that the matter is not, at present, receiving the due consideration it deserves from the Minister of Agriculture. Reference was made to details git-en of the forthcoming Winter Show, and the hope expressed that the town and district would rise to the occasion and make the show a success, not only with exhibits but fiuanevaliy. Concluding, the President thanked the executive oliicers and committee for the great assistance afforded him in the discharge of his office. The president then formally moved the adoption of the report and balance sheet, already published in full in the Standabd.

motion was seconded by Mr Geo. Wheeler and carried without discussion. The treasurer presented the following financial statement in connection with the Association's afiairs :—Receipts in 1901, £3480 ; 1902, £3626, an increase of £145 17s 2d . 1903) £4017> au . increase of £390 12s lOd, The expenditure during 1901 was £2497 6s 9d • 1902, £2473 14s, a decrease of £23 12s 9d r and in 1903, £3156 los od, an increase of £713 3 s 5d due principally to £425 14s for prizes. In 1901 prize money totalled £902 Os 6d ; 1902, £935 3s, an increase of £33 2s Gd ; and in 1903 £1360 17s 10d, an increase of £420 14s 10d.. In 1901 entry fees totalled £307 16s 6d ; and 1902, £342 4s 2d, an increase of £34 7 S 8d ; and in 1903, £394 16s 4d an increase of £52 12s 2d. In 1901 the gate money was £868 10s 8d ' 1902, £1125 7s 9d, an increase of £256 17s Id r and in 1903, £1192 17s 9d, an increase of £77 io s Details were also supplied of the ' decrease that had taken place in : the amounts due to Messrs McHar- ' dy Bros., which had decreased by £1720 in three years, or £520 more j [ than the Association expected to be able to pay off. Life membership subscriptions totalling £460 had been used in the payment of this amount. The assets of the Association in 1901 were. £7897 ; in isc.o'o^ 195, 10 d; and in 1903 ±,bJOd (s Id, and increase of £760 7s 3d. Liabilities—l9ol, £4131 15s 6d ; 1902, £3224 6s Gd, a decrease of £907 9s ; 1903, £8295 16s Sd, an increase of £71 10s, due principally to the dairy farm competition. In 1901 members' subscriptions totalled £967, life members £240 ; 1902—£934 4s, life £140 ; 1903—£1075 11s, life £80. Congratulatory reference to the financial state of the Association was made by Capt. Hewitt and Mr Cohen, the former stating he would like to see a combination effected between the Association and the Farmers' Union. 'If both bodies pulled together he considered other progress th*n that shown by figures wo\ild be attained-

Mr. Cohen considered the position of the Association was particularly gratifying and at the same time made reference to the very considerable part played by life members' subscriptions in the reductio* of

the McHardy amount, particularly as he claimed credit for the suggestion which had had such beneficial effects. It was decided that the financial year should terminate on January rfist, and the annual subscription be due in advance on February Ist in each year. ■■Lrlt^ Of,.u dcci" ded on the motion of Mr Mr Wheeler, seconded by Major" Bunk that the spring show should held during November, the latter expressing the hope that clashing with the Canterbury Association would be avoided when dates were selected. r Wneeler moved that the member, of. tficj district be .requested during the coming session 'to introduce an amendment to the V and P. Association Act granting the power of sale to mortgagees In soeaking to the motion ilr Wheeler pointed out the necessity of the Association paying off th"c debt-clue to Messrs McHardy Bros., which to keep in continuance, was only trespassing on their kindness. To grant anyone the power of mortgage and yet to withhold the power of sale was ridiculous and' rendered the privilege of mortgage' inoperative. .No one would lend money on such conditions. The motion was seconded by Mr Cohen, who said that fortunately the Association was now in such a business position that no financial institution would hesitate in doing business with it, still under the present Act, unless they got it altered, it was not safe for anyone to cover their expenditure. He added that once or twice the Association although it had thousands at its back, had been hard pushed for a few immediate hundreds to meet contractors and other expenses The motion was then put and carried with only one dissentient. A vote of thanks was accorded the outgoing President, Mr Gillies The election of the committee resulted as follows .-—Messrs L 4. Abraham, F. W. Arbon. Jo Batchelar, H. Gillies, W. H. Hartgill, V. F. Jacob, S. R. Lancaster G A. J. Levett, S. W. Luxford, R J Munro, H. M. Simmonds, and * l' Wallis. Major Dunk was elected President and Mr J. M. Johnston re-elected treasurer. The former returned thanks for his elevation to the office, stating he felt very highly the honour accorded him. He trusted, with the loyal support of the executive, to forward the interests of the Association in every way. (Left sitting.)