AUCKLAND AGRICULTURAL ASSOCIATION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 9497, 28 April 1894, Page 3

AUCKLAND AGRICULTURAL ASSOCIATION.

A meeting of the members of the Auckland Provincial Agricultural Association was held at the offices of Mr. F. A. White, 91, QueenBtreet, yesterday. There was & large and representative attendance, Mr. M. M. Kirkbride being in the chair. The meeting was called for the purpose of considering the date of the next show. The Chairman said that he expected Mr. Dunwoodie to be present, as there was a motion standing in his name, to the effect that the show should be held in the month of December. Mr. Masses - moved the resolution pro forma. Mr. J. Phillips was opposed to the resolution. He thought that the usual date could not be improved upon. If the show were held in December they would find that there would not be a very large attendance, as people would be leavingon their holidays. He understood that Mr. Dunwoodie had suggested December, on account of the weather being so unfavourable, but they mm. remember that the weather of last November was exceptional, and they were not likely to have such weather again. He moved, as an amendment, " That the show should be held as usual in November." Mr. Ambury seconded the amendment. Mr. James Wallace, of Papatoetoe, thought the show should be held a week before the Canterbury show, which would be about the first week in November. Mr. Masskv said that the Auckland Racing Club had fixed their meeting for the 9th and 10th of November, This club had. for years had this day, and they would not give up their claim. Mr. Sklby, of Waiuku, was strongly in favour of holding the show a week before the Auckland Racing Club held their meeting. At this stage of the meeting Mr. Dunwoodie arrived, and was acquainted by the chairman of the state of affairs, and asked tv express his views. Mr. Dunwoodie said he had several reasons for desiring the show to be held in December. • Ho objected to the early part of November, in the first place, because the wjeather during the past few years at that time bad been, unsettled. He also thought that the show should be held on a holiday, when people were in town. He referred to the successful shows that had been held in Australia during the last few years. In tho other colony the Shows were held at Easter, and extended over four days. The Australian Governments gave their colonies every facility for holding their shows, quite different to the treatment received in this colony from the Government.

Mr. Barriball, president of the South Franklin Society, pointed out that in Australia the season was quite different from this colony. With regard to the objection taken to November on account of the unsettled weather, he thought that they would stand the same chance as far as weather was concerned if the show were held in December. Mr. Westney, of Mangere, thought' the show should be held on the Bth and 9th November. He believed there were thousands of people in Auckland who never visited the Ellerslie races. He strongly urged that the show should be held on the 9th November.

The Chairman said he thought the best plan would be for the meeting to decide on the week for the holdiug of the show, and leave the executive to fix the day. Mr. Phillips suggested that they should try the experiment of having an autumn show next year. After further discussion the amendment was declared carried. Mr. Selby moved, "That the show be held before the races." Mr. Allen thought the question should be left to the committee. The Chairman was also of this opinion. Mr. Selby urged the meeting to fix on a day before the races. He thought if the show were held after, people would have spent all their money, and would not patronise it. He thought they ought to have first call for the show. If it were held after the races, all the money would be spent. f Mr. Gardiner, of Epsom, suggested that the Association should run a totalisator at the show, as that would probably draw the crowd. Mr. Ambury said he desired to move it as a recommendation to the committee that the show be held on the Bth and 9th November. He did not think that this would interfere with the races, and he was positive that they would get a larger attendance of the public. The country people would come to the races one day and the show the next. He begged to move, as a recommendation to the committee, " That the show should be held on (She Bth and 9th November." Mr. Westney seconded Mr. Ambury's recommendation. Mr. Phillips S9.id that past experience had taught them that a greater number of people would go to the races than to the show. Country people went to the show to see the exhibits, but town people went to the show as they patronised any exhibition where a great crowd was collected. The races being the greater attraction would take the bulk of the people. Mr. Dunwoodie thought it was very unfair to the Racing Club to hold the show on the same day as their races. In the past the Racing Club had treated them handsomely and had on two or three occasions given way to them. He did not think it right to run counter-attractions on the same day. He was sure that the bulk of the people would fo to the races in preference to the show, le also wished to state that a great many country folk were as fond of the races as these living in the town and got there all the same. Mr. Ambury did not wish to appear antagonistic to the Racing Club, but they were all aware that in previous years Saturday afternoon had not taken well, and had on many occasions been declared against by many of the committee. If the day was wet it could not be held until the Monday. The motion was lost on the voices. Mr. Allen wanted to know in what way the Agricultural Association was under an obligation to the Racing Club. Mr. Dunwoodie said that on one occasion the Racing Club gave way to the Agricultural Association, and as a result got a wet day for their race meeting, while the ..Agricultural Association had a fine day. Mr. Massey thought they might ask the Racing Club to give them the 9th November. He was sure that they could not have a successful show if they held it on the same day as the races. Many people who attended the races were members of their Association. After further discussion it was decided to leave the matter of deciding upon the day to the committee.