AUCKLAND AGRICULTURAL ASSOCIATION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 11872, 25 January 1902, Page 6

AUCKLAND AGRICULTURAL ASSOCIATION.

A meeting of the Show and finance Committee of tho Auckland Provincial Agricultural Association was hold at their office yesterday afternoon. The vice-president (Mr. John Massey) occupied the chair, and there was a good attendance of the mom bers.

A letter was received from, the Department of Agriculture, with respect to the resolution passed at tho recent Agricultural Conference, . that the time had arrived when the sheep tax should be abolished, which stated that the matter would be considered when tho amendments were being made in the Stock Act. The Department also wrote, with reference to the • suggestion that tho Government should compensate farmers for the loss: sustained by them in taking steps to stamp out anthrax, pointing cut that a sum had been voted' by ' Parliament last session for this purpose. Mr. W. F. Massey, M.H.R., detailed the result of the conference with the Auckland Hospital and Charitable Aid Board with regard to the proposed exchange of the hospital reserve at Ellerslie for other Crown land, with the view of utilising this reserve for tho purposes of a provincial showground. He pointed out that the association would have to be duly incororated, so that the -property in question could be legally vested in their executive. Aft-or a short discussion it wa« agreed to incorporate the association undor the Agricultural and Pastoral Societies Act of 1877, and Mr. W F. Massey, M.H.R., and the secretary were requested to take oh necessary stops to. give effect to the resolution. ■ - ' >.

The consideration of a letter from Mr. 0. Ritchie, secretary of the Department of Agriculture, requesting the committee to forward their opinion on the Land and Live Stock Auctions Bill, laid before the House during the recent session, was deferred 1 ntil the next meeting. The secretary was instructed to write to the Auckland Harbour Board, pointing out that a sum of £750 had been placed on the Estimates by the Government towards tho formation of a road to Okahu Point, and asking the Board to proceed with the erec tion of the wharf.

The following gentlemen were eleoted members of the association:—Messrs. Geo. Sinclair, J. 0. Muir, E. C. Pilkington, T. Tobias, J. M. Lennox, J. B. Hay, Alf. Bell, T. C. P. Whjteley, T. Ching, Madlll, fun. , and Dr. Maitland.

In reply to a suggestion from the recent Agricultural Conference that , lands used for agricultural and pastoral purposes should be assessed for taxes on their using and letting values, as was customary in Great Britain, the Hon. C. If. Mills, Minister in charge of the Land and Income Tax Department, wrote stating that it would be extremely difficult to attempt, to make a valuation on the productive values of country lands, and that he was unable to accept the recommendation. , J? 'vPu 4° the proposal . of Mr. John Bollard, M.H.K., re establishing an agricultural school near Auck nd, Mr. Ritchie wrote stating that the matter will not bo lost sight of, but must stand over for the present.