MARKED PROGRESS

Manawatu Standard, Volume L, Issue 114, 10 April 1930, Page 3

MARKED PROGRESS

I OF.A. AND P.. ASSOCIATION. DEVELOPMENT IN DECENT YEARS Addressing members of the Manawatu A. and P. Association at the annual meeting yesterday, "-the retiring president, Mr J. Linklater, M.P., referred to the progress made. His remarks were later amplified ' by the treasurer, Mr T. R. Hodder. “Let me remark on the steady and constant progress of the association,” said Mr Linklater, “Anyone who has ibeen familiar with the Showgrounds over a number of years cannot but be struck with the remarkable changes that have taken place during the last 15 to 20 years. Only tho other week a gentleman from Queensland visited the grounds. This gentleman (known to some of you)—Air F. G. Couper—was on the committee from 1896 to 1899 and expressed both pleasure and amazement at the changes which have taken place.” “I have sometimes heard it stated that the association has not made progress commensurate with the growth' of the district,” remarked Mr Hodder, “but, if one takes a glance back at tho last three decades, it will astonish anyone. In 1900 the only building on the ground was a small stand seating between two and three hundred people; the cattle were penned in stalls along the Pascal Street fence, and the sheep there was no secretary’s office. Today, the area of land has increased along the Cuba Street fence ; and from 9 acres to 34 acres; the grounds are virtually covered with buildings, all of which are in first-class order and without a doubt we may claim to have the most up-to-date and well equipped Showground in the Dominion. All this has been made possible by the labours and the self-sacrifice of some who have passed on, and others who, in spite of long service, are still assisting the younger generation, to carry on the good work. It is interesting to note that 30 years ago our land was valued at £2390; to-day, it is valued at £26,368; our total assets then were £7788; to-day, they stand at £38,838. Our membership then was qjjly a few hundred; to-day it stands at 2368. There has been steady progress on sound lines all through the years and this will be even more marked as the years go by.