AUCKLAND AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL ASSOCIATION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIII, Issue 7644, 22 May 1886, Page 3

AUCKLAND AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL ASSOCIATION.

ANNUAL MEETING ADJOURNED, j Tub annual meeting of the Auckland Agricultural and Pastoral Association was held at the offices of the association, Durhamstreet, yesterday afternoon. There were present: Messrs. W. Dunwoodie, A. Aitken, F. Lawry, James Wallace (Mangere), R. N. Ryburn, James Wallace (Papatoitoi), J. Wills, J. Phillipps, J. Cambridge, and W. Massie, Mr. Dunwoodie was voted to the chair. The secretary (Mr. W. Percival) read the report and balance-sheet, which were as follows Gentlemen,—ln submitting to you the annual report and balance-sheet, lyour committee regret to state that the past year's operations have not, in a financial sense, justified the anticipations of what they would be under a more liberal and extended sphere of operations. It will be fresh In the minds of members of the association that ciicalars were sent to influential and representative gentlemen in all parts of the Auckland provincial district briefly setting forth the claims of the association, and at the lame time soliciting information or suggestions calculated to extend the operations of the association, to widen its influence, and secure the co-operation of the country settlers generally. Your committee regret to sty that the responses were not equal to expectations, though many useful and practical suggestions were received, and most of these were subsequently adopted by your committee, and wera placed b»fore members and the public in pamphlet form. One particular suggestion. namely, to reduce the annual subscription of membeis from £2 2s to £1 Is was expected to have the effect of largely increasing the membership, and as a consequence maintain, if it did not actually increase, the revenues of the association from this source ; but, notwithstanding this alteration was made in deference to an almost universal public opinion, and supported by the Auckland Press, your committee regret to say that there is no appreciable increase in the number of members, and as a consequence the fees obtainable from this source are proportlonably lessened. In electing a committee at the last annual meeting, special care was taken to secure a representative committee, and gentlemen were elected from various parts of Auckland provincial district for that purpose. Notwithstanding this, your committee regret to say that there is tio practical Increase in the interest manifested in tin work of the association, and taken . altogether we are face-to face with the humiliating fact that In every particular the association is in no better position than it «as when the last annual report and balance-sheet was submitted, whilst for the first time in its existence the working or administration of the association has been prosecuted at a loss of £274 lift od. Your committee can trace this loss to a variety of causes, many of which are indicated in the foregoing remarks, but undoubtedly the main reason is Attributable to the action of Government, who caused the volunteor review to take place on the day which has always been the one on which our annual show has been hsld, and your committee are of the opinion that the authorities caused the rev ew to take place in direct violation of a promise made to the president of this association, namely, that the reviews should not be hold to clash with our annual show. Competent judges have computed that at leist 2000 persons were diverted from the show, in consequence of the review being placed in direct competition. Then, the day was somewhat inclement, and many were doubtless prevented from attending from this cause. A glance at the relative receipts taken in 1884 and 1835 will show this—in 1884 £577 IS* 91. and in 1885 £403 9s. Tour committee also direct your attention to the fact that very little prize money was given in 1884, the actual sum being £16117 i6d ; whilst in 1885 no less a sum than £306 was paid in this way, exclusive of special prizes. The entries in 1885 compare favourably with those of 1884, they being for 1884, 522; and for 1885, 575. Your committee regret to say that at the last show there was a paucity in the exhibits of agricultural implements, but this was not attributable to lack of interest, or a want of desire to support the show ; but from ati indisposition on the part of manufacturers and importers to entail the large expense which was involved in the carriage of heavy implements to and from the ground, and whilst your committee regret the fact they feel that there is justification for the falliug off in this important class of exhibits. Your committee have as briefly and as concisely as possible set the salient points of the case before you, and as it is highly important that new life should be Infused into the association, your commiitse hope that free and full discussion of the report, balancesheet, and all matter relative to the association, will characterise the meeting, and that the next year's operations will show as much cause for congratulation as the p&st has for regret. Balance-sheet on March 31, 18S0. Da.—University trustees, £3056 os ; creditors—viz., Racing club (£4 3s 41), Ketls and .Sons (£5 4s), Wilsons and Horton (£67 Os 2d), £70 7»0d); basic, £146 IDs lOd ; balance, March 31, 1885 (less unpaid subscriptions, £55 11»), £1231 lis lod ; locs to March 31, 1886, £274 lis 6d : total, £4226 l'2a Bd. Or—Land, £633 4s lid ; buildings. £3286 15s 2d ; fonalng, £52 Os 6d; stock, £102 ss; debtor, £25 ; Savings Bank, £105 ; cash in hand, £27 7s Id : total, £423612s Bd. Profit and Loss. Dr.—Secretary's salary, £25; secretary's commission, £70 9»; sundry exuenses,£ls7 19* 7d ; interest £221 3s 2d ; horse parade, £1 10s 2d; annual show, £45 lis 7d: total, £52113s 01. Cr.—Rent of cottages, £75 ; annual subscriptions, £172 2s ; balance, £274 lls6d: total, £62113s 6d. The Chairman, seconded by Mr, Massik, moved the adoption of the report and balance-sheet as read, Mr. Phillipph doubted very much that sufficient notice had been given that the meetiDg would be held, and considered that ' they should adjourn till there wag a larger attendanca, especially in view of the great importance of the meeting, after the report and balance-sheet had been submitted. He moved as an amendment, " That the secretary be instructed to issue a notice to each member calling the meeting for that day week/' Mr. Rtbubn endorsed the remarks of Mr. Phillipps, and seconded the amendment. Mr. Lawry pointed out that there was a motion before the meeting to confirm the report and balance-sheet, and that proposed by Mr. Phillipps was not an amendment on it. It was then agreed to allow the motion to bo withdrawn, and the meeting adjourned for a fortnight.