MANAWATU SHOWS

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIX, Issue 111, 10 April 1929, Page 7

MANAWATU SHOWS

FUNCTIONS HELD LAST YEAR, REVIEW OF OPERATIONS. SATISFACTORY POSITION. Speaking at the annual meeting of the Manawatu Agricultural and Pastoral Association this afternoon in moving the adoption of the annual report and balance-sheet (already published) Mr J. Linklater, M.P., said that it gave him pleasure to state that the jaosition of the association was sound and the finances stable. The association had had another good year, marked with steady progress and the National Dairy Show was a marked success. The association was indebted to the Railway Department for bringing a large number to the show by special train from the north, and for its special excursion rates. The National Dairy Association had held its annual conference in the lecture hall and the members had been granted full visitors’ privileges. The weather was moderately good and the gate returns were good, tile steady growth of Palmerston North beginning to have an appreciable effect on the gates. ROYAL SHOW. “After several changes of plans on the part of the Royal Society Council, an agreement was reached by which the fifth Royal Show was to be held on Palmerston North. The Government subsidy of £IOOO was to be handed over and the association undertook to run the show, foot the bills, and divide the profits on a fitty-hlty basis. This roughly was the arrangements with other minor details. Unfortunately, the weather was atrociously bad which had a disastrous effect on the gates. The entries were good and exhibits plentiful, and if the weather had been friendly we should undoubtedly have had a record show. There was no hitch at either of the two shows and I wish to express my appreciation of the splendid team work ot the committee and the other unpaid stewards. WORK ON GROUNDS. “Work on the grounds during 'the year comprises tne new entertainment nail, Piunkot room, and ladies' lavatory and a long needed remodelling oi tne olhce accommodation, along with general maintenance and repairs. A commencement was also maue on tile re-erecuon ot a new tence round the oval. Tins is another 'work that lack the funds and opportunity held up lor many years and tne appearance ui the grounds is greatly improved by its completion, what is now urgently required is paint and repairs to tne caretaker’s cuttage. Otherwise your premises and appurtenances are in nrstclass order and 1 wish to pay a tribute to the constant care and watchluiness of our caretaker, Mr Parker. He met with a serious accident wiien making the office alterations', but is, 1 am pleased to say, almost himself again and has resumed light work. “We are the trustees of a splendid heritage in the grounds, buildings, appurtenances and organisation built up by a great deal ot labour and sen sacrifice by some who have passed on and some who are still with us standing up to the work of love notwithstanding advancing years—my they be with us lor many more years to come. Let us therefore not weary in the work not only of maintaining our pride of place amongst A. and P. Associations, but of raising the prestige to such a standard that our position is absolutely unassailable. MEMBERSHIP LIST. “I would like to impress upon the members of committee that one of the most important duties is to enlarge the membership list. Membership is the life blood of the association, and before we got so many local associations around us we had many members m those districts. Notwithstanding this we still ought to have a very much larger roll than we now have in these outside places as well as in town. Ihe privileges are extraordinarily generous and are well worth the £1 spent on them quite apart from the loyal spuit we seek from our citizens. “The larger the association glows, the greater the upkeep. Valuable assets are all very well, but it is money that runs shows and we must have the revenue. You can only load your assets with as much interest as you can comfortably pay. . , “Before closing my remarks I wish to tender my thanks and appreciation to the members of the committee for their loyal support and venture to ask for a continuation of that support duiing my own term ° f °® Ce n ° W C ° m " mencing.” TREASURER’S STATEMENT. COMPREHENSIVE SURVEY. “It is not my intention to make an exhaustive statement at this meeting because the annual report printed and circulated amongst members has gone into the financial side more particularly than usual, as this was necessary owing to our Spring Show being a Royal Show this year, said the treasurer Mr J. M. Johnston. Also, it is not desirable and it does not give a fair comparison to compare these figures with our ordinary show figures of last year; no more can a reasonable comparison be made owing to the most atrocious weather we had to contend with each of the three days. Without exception, it was the worst weather we have' ever experienced to my knowledge for over thirty-five years Had the weather been favourab e, I think it is admitted that the show would have been the best held under Royal Society auspices for the exhibits were there Still, notwithstanding the weather, I contend that we did remarkably well and we were able to hand over £lO4 8s 6d to die Royal Society. To this has to be added subscriptions the Royal Society got and retained, amounting to £395 18s, and their own members’ subscriptions, say, £SOO, which gives them approximately £IOOB to their own revenue. The £IOOO Government contribution was more than eaten up in extra prize moneys. “The total amount of subscriptions we obtained from the members of the Royal Society Council was only £3O 15s. We were not so well supported bv the presence of members of the Jloyal Council or by donations from them, and if the Royal Society is going to be a success it requires more activity on the part of Royal Council members. Our profits for the previous three years exceed this year’s credit. NATIONAL DAIRY SHOW. “The National Dairy Show continues with a gradual increase each year; without any allowance for members’ subscriptions, this year’s receipts reached a record of £3492, which is £250 better than last year and £1684 better than ten years ago. The expenditure has also been increased to a record of £2335, but only £37 more than last year and £IOB7 more thaii ten years ago. The prize money was £997 last year and only £135 better than seven years ago. I do not think this proportion right—there is ample room to increase the prize money and I feel confident it would bring good

results. There is a most material increase in advertising, printing and general charges and labour, for it has in seven years increased by £457. Still, this is the show that pays and it must bo remembered that no donations aro asked for this show. “Members’ subscriptions remain fairly steady, but this is not as it should be as they are now only £1817; they were close on £2OOO some years back, and with the increaesd population in the district and town of Palmerston North, they should increase considerably. IMPROVEMENTS. “The new hall for entertainments, Plunket rooms and Ladies’ cloak room, etc., cost £4378 3s 2d, from which is deducted £I6OO 7s 6d, being the balance of a special improvement fund earmarked for the purpose, the balance, £2777 15s Bd, was provided from capital. The new entertainment hall should prove a paying proposition and givo great satisfaction when it becomes more widely known. “I feel with the great strides this district is making, and especially the town, it really is desirablo that the committee should take into consideration further ground improvements, even if they accepted further liabilities. Our population is steadily mounting and is beginning to have an appreciable effect on our gate receipts. Each year appears to me to strengthen the importance and stability of our Showground and the .association. It must be admitted that the Massey College will be a great factor towards advancing farming interests to an extent not yet realised as science and research will revolutionise the present farming methods. CAPITAL. “Our .assets at a very low valuation amount to £39,439 15s .Id against which we owe by way of overdraft and mortgage, etc., £14,167, leaving a surplus of £25.271 17s 7d—a very sound position witn the landed property, going up in value every year. There is a matter regarding rating which requires careful attention and with which the secretary is dealing. It is most important to the association that this should be strongly supported. GENERAL. “Our expenditure keeps on increasing and it seems impossible to be more careful than we are, but as the association progresses, so must expenditure go up arid, receipts should increase in proportion. It is most gratifying to see how ably Sir George Fowlds, , liis council and professors foster the interest of the Massey College and how quickly they are getting into working order. We are amending the rules to allow of the college and Agricultural Department being represented on the-committee, which should tend to give increased interest in the association and the college. I continue to keep the figures of comparison under the various headings from 1911 to date. I would just like in closing to add with deep regret the great loss we have sustained by the death of Sir Douglas Mac Lean and the late Mr F. W. Arbon, men we can ill afford to lose. “I would also like to mention a matter which I think has been overlooked in the annual report, and that is the most valuable services rendered this association by Mr H. S. M. Quigley and his assistant, Miss Miller, during the last National Dairy Show, when Mr Penny was suddenly taken very ill and was quite unable to be at the office. We telephoned Mr Quigley, who is secretary to the Dannevirke A. and P. Association and one of the most" capable secretaries in the Dominion, regarding Mr Penny, and within two hours he was over taking full charge and carried out the work to our entire satisfaction, and for. which we are deeply thankful and your committee recognised the services rendered so well and so promptly. “Invercargill, I desire to say, deserve to be congratulated in taking a firm stand in getting the Royal Show next year. lam not and never have been in favour of centralising the Royal Show to two centres in the Dominion, year about. It is admitted that New Zealand is not a well shaped country, owing to the distance from far north to far south for an itinerate Royal Show, but a district like Southland and the very fine grounds of the A. and P. Association warrant the holding of the show there. They are quite capable of having a first class Royal Show and all the South Island can show with little trouble at Invercargill, even if the north does not compete. Some of the land in the western district of Southland is qijite as good in quality as any of our land in this district and the only difference is the climate. They have the men to run it all right and they will produce the funds when wanted.”