IMPROVED POSITION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23517, 4 June 1938, Page 8

IMPROVED POSITION

A. AND P. SOCIETY

THE FINANCES REVIEWED * SUMMER SHOW SUCCESS A successful year and an encouraging improvement in the society’s financial position were revealed at the annual meeting last evening of the Otago Agricultural and Pastoral Society. There was an attendance of abput 50 members, over which Mr J. Hellyer presided, and the several speakers referred to the fresh enthusiasm generated by the financial outcome of the last Summer Show.

The annual report stated that from a financial point of view the year had been outstanding. The presentation of the balance sneet was a very pleasant duty, the credit balance for the year being probably the best in the society’s history. In the circumstances the committee had considered it advisable to allow larger amounts than usual for depreciation which brought the buildings and fittings accounts nearer to their correct value, and would allow a future policy of a consistent rate of depreciation. Arrangements had been made to pay £4OO off the mortgage on the Crawford street buildings on April 30, which would considerably lighten the interest bill and leave the mortgage at £4500. A more active policy of repairs and maintenance had been pursued, and although there was still a great deal to do, it was pleasing to record that the Tahuna Park buildings and grounds were in much better condition than last year. Painting work at present in hand was considerably improving the look of the park. More Accommodation

For several years past the problem of larger Winter Show buildings had been brought to the notice of members, it continued, and has been shelved each year' owing to lack of finance. The experience of last year, when every possible square foot was let and the over-crowding of the buildings every night, and especially the King’s Birthday, made it imperative that some move be made immediately, for it was impossible to make any forward move while the society was restricted to the present inadequate buildings. The committee had gone thoroughly into several propositions during the year, and although as yet it was unable to offer any definite solution to this problem, it was hoped that in the near future it might be able to lay concrete proposals before members. The report reviewed the 1937 Winter Show (at which the attendance and gate takings were records), the Summer Show (at which a profit of £IOO was made), the successful parade of Clydesdale stallions on September 23, the society’s field competitions, the fat lamb export competition, and the annual ram fair.

The Summer Show Balance

"I think this is the first time for many years that the society has been able to show a profit on the Summer Show,” the chairman said. In moving the adoption of the report and balance sheet. “Despite the fact that a number of members were beginning to doubt the wisdom of carrying on the Summer Show because of continued losses, we have at last been able to come out on- the right side of the ledger. No doubt, this was achieved by running a night carnival with the show, and judging by the popularity of this attraction, fine weather is all that is needed to make our prospects for future shows a long way brighter.” Farmers’ Prospects

At the last annual meeting, Mr Hellyer continued, the president (Mr F. J. Conn) referred to the good times being experienced by the farmers of New Zealand. Unfortunately for all, those good times had slumped to some extent this year owing to the lower prices for wool and lamb, which probably meant a decrease in revenue to the Dominion of about £6,000,000. “On top of that, the cheese position is not so good either," Mr Hellyer continued, “so it is evident that both sections of the Dominion’s primary producers are not in as good a position as they were 12 months ago. The producer of butter-fat for butter production is somewhat in the dark yet. as the final bonus payment is still to be made. High costs of production are the bugbear of the dairy farmers, and for that reason we see a tendency toward a swing over from dairying to wool and lamb production. I am afraid that sooner or later this will bring disaster to a large section of our farmers.” Wheat Imports

The Dominion’s wheat position was discussed briefly by Mr Hellyer. New Zealand was as fine a wheat-growing area as there was in Australasia, he said, and it seemed regrettable that it was necessary to import supplies from Australia and even Canada. That was a question that would have to be straightened out Mr Hellyer reviewed briefly the society’s activities of the year. The committee was not yet able to bring forward a definite proposal for an extension of space for the Winter Show, but he assured members that it had investigated the possibilities from every angle. Those investigations would be continued. It was most satisfactory that the Summer Show had paid its way. The result of this year’s fixture had been something of an inspiration to members.—(Applause.) The evening carnival had been a success, and Mr Hellyer said there seemed no reason why, given favourable weather, the society should not be able to continue a fixture that would pay its way. Financial Progress The motion was seconded by Mr S. Bowman, honorary treasurer to the society. who discussed the main points of the balance sheet. A balance of £461 was carried over from the previous year, and the profit for the past year was actually £1272, making a total of £1743. An entry of £959 was made to depreciation, leaving the profit shown as £774. A heavy item was £3Ol spent on repairs. “It is only a few years since the society had to sell £IOOO worth of inscribed stock to meet its obligations to the bank,” Mr Bowman said. “To-day it has £241 in its current account, and money invested totalling £3533.” The improved state of the society’s finances was referred to also by Mr J. M. Fraser, vice-president, who paid a tribute to the work of the society's secretary (Mr R. D. Stewart). The motion was carried without further discussion. Office-bearers The election of office-bearers for the following year resulted as follows: President, Mr J. Hellyer; vice-presi-dent, Mr J M. Fraser; honorary treasurer, Mr S. Bowman: honorary veterinary surgeons—Messrs C. V. Dayus (district superintendent). John Danskin. H. Doyle and G, McDonald: Government honorary officials —Messrs J. M. Smith (fields superintendent), D. Cunningham (dairy) G. H. Mclndoe and W. R. L. Williams (orchard), J. O. Wallace. R. G F Fountain (agriculture) and D. S. Robinson (apiary instructor); members of committee— Messrs S. Bowman. J. E. Brunton, K. Clark and J. Mee (Dunedin district), J. Allison (Bruce, Clutha and Tuapeka), R. T. Kirk and J. B. Blair (Taieri), E. M. North and W. Lee (Waikouaiti and Waihemo). and James Little (Central Otago). Motions of thanks and appreciation were carried to the Dunedin City Council, the judges, stewards, exhibitors. the police, and the press, and the meeting closed with an enthusiastic vote of appreciation of the work of the president and his officers, and the auditors, Messrs Barr, Burgess and Stewart,