No Manawatu Show Until After the War

Manawatu Times, Volume 66, Issue 192, 14 August 1941, Page 7

No Manawatu Show Until After the War

According to advice received from headquarters the military authorities will require the Palmerston. North show.grounds for the duration of the war and for some time thereafter. At a special meeting of the general committee of the Manawatu and West Coast Agricultural and Pastoral Association yesterday it was resolved that during the period the showgrounds will be needed by the military authorities the association should go into recess with an office in town and with its affairs looked after by the finance committee. It was also resolved that the conditions of the lease between the military authorities and the association should bo attended to by the finance committee and later approved by the general committee. The meeting was presided over by the president (Mr. B. E. Keiller) who moved the resolution covering the above decisions. It was seconded by Mr. L. B. Wall and carried after some discussion.

The chairman explained that he had conferred with the association's solicitor and that the lease to the military authorities would be granted subject to the approval of the Manawatu Rugby Union. He added that no show could be held during the time the lease was in existence and he recommended that the duties of the general committee should be delegated to the finance committee.

Seconding the president’s motion Mr. L. B. Wall expressed the hope that during the recess the members of the committee would not lose interest in the association.

Referring to the compensation to be paid the association by the military authorities the president explained that the association’s outgoings would be taken as the basis of discussion. Ho added that the military people would take over the grounds and all the buildings and that the association would have to arrange for a suitable office in town.

It was pointed out by Mr. A. E. Mansford that when the financial arrangements were being discussed provision would have to be made for depreciation. Mr. Keiller assured him that that would be provided for. Mr. J. A. Mitchell and Mr. J. A. Russell both suggested that “stock” should be taken before the conditions of the lease were finally agreed upon. Mr. Mitchell suggested that the association should engage an architect and a good carpenter whose report on the condition of the buildings at the time of the lease would provide an adequate safeguard when after the war, the matter of depreciation was being considered.

The president thanked the speakers for their suggestion which, he thought, a good one. In answer to Mr. E. A. Shand, Mr. Keiller gave an assurance that the proposed financial arrangements between the military authorities and the association would be put before the general committee before the lease was signed.