A. AND P. ASSOCIATION

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 122, 22 April 1940, Page 5

A. AND P. ASSOCIATION

GENERAL COMMITTEE. DONATIONS TO PATRIOTIC FUND. At the meeting of the general committee of the Eeilding A. and P. Association it was reported that £25 5s Gd had been raised by the sale of a wether donated by Air W. G. Booth lor the local Patriotic Fund. The money is to be used as tbe Patriotic Committee considers lit. The action of the executive in raising tlm amount was confirmed. . A general discussion took place concerning the manner in which the association had responded to an appeal for a donation, and Air Short regretted that his suggestion that the interest of the funds in the bank be made available to the Patriotic Committee bad not been approved. He felt that any donation made should conic out of the association’s funds and not from any effort made by individual members. Mr T. Collins also averred that the donation was not one from the association, and he considered that the association should make a direct grant out of its funds rather than to give an amount collected by special effort and to which only about 5 per edit, of the members had contributed. Air Booth said that the matter of making a donation had been fully discussed by the executive, and it had been felt that the association could not give away its funds which were hold for a specific purpose. He pointed out that a donation of two guineas had been made to the local Patriotic Fund earlier in the war. Mr IT. B. Johnston moved that it he a recommendation to the annual meeting that members be asked to agree to pay a levy of Is on their subscriptions for the purpose of making a further donation to the Patriotic Committee; the levy to be imposed for the duration of the war. The motion was carried. THE FINANCES. In reviewing tbe financial statement for the year ended March 31, 1940, the treasurer (Air G. M. Aloffitt) referred to the loss shown on the year’s working, amounting to £lB2 10s 2d. He pointed out that the figures revealed that there was a tendency for tile expenses to mount and the income | to, diminish. It would be necessary to carefully watch the expenditure and to effect savings where possible. He went on to enumerate the items which had suffered in comparison with the previous year, and in concluding his report said that, although a loss had been shown, stock on hand at the farm and cash would offset the drop. All things considered, flic association was in a sound position. The association had practically no liabilities and could stand hard times. AJuoh of the expense in connection with maintenance would be non-recurring, and the improvements made were an asset of a permanent nature. Afr Buist said that, taken over four years, the revenue was only £2O down, hut costs were mounting and it was incumbent upon members to try to increase the revenue. Afr Booth said that it was hotter to spend money on the buildings to keep them in good order than to aspire I to a large credit balance. Ho felt that in the long run the association would' lie better off. Referring to ibe expenditure, ATr Booth said that in private operations it was found that costs were increasing, and it was hard to keep them down to income. It would be necessary to work hard to ensure that the association did not slip back in the hard times ahead. Afr II: A. Stewart said that the gate takings had l>een down, and lor some reason the association was not getting the public support. People did not take the same interest as they did in the past. Other associations were experiencing the same difficulties, but the Eeilding association had an advantage in that its ram fair and farm were profitable avenues of revenue, and helped to keep the association afloat. Air L. ,T. Mild commented that when tlie association was doing well there was a tendency for members to take things easy, and to pay for work which would in difficult times be done by members. He repeated bis suggestion that., to encourage public support, the show should be made free of admission charges. Air Booth considered that the salvation of the association could be best ensured by a drive for more members. There were at present 580 members, and it should be possible to substantially increase that number. Afr Collins said that the association was only £SO down over a period of lour years, after paying off a bank overdraft of £7OO. He considered that tlie position was cpiite satisfactory. Tbe report was then adopted. Comparative figures of income and expenditure showed that in 1937 subscriptions yielded £568. and in 1940 £580; entry foes, £428 10s. against £4-10; donations, £240 (£195). Expenditure on prize money in 1937 was £792, and in 1940 £813: and show day wages and expenses £285 as against £393. Li 1937 there was a profit of £328; in ]938, £75; in 1939, £49; and a loss in 1940.