MEETING OF THE ASSOCIATION.

Otago Witness, Issue 2572, 1 July 1903, Page 58

MEETING OF THE ASSOCIATION.

A meeting of the South Island Poultry Association was held on Friday afternoon last at the Commercial Hotel, Timaru. The following affiliated societies were represented by delegates or proxies: — Christ church, A. Walker and E. Earnshaw ; Lawrcnoa, B. Hart and E. Wilde; Nelson, — Taylor; InvercargiH, A. Gapes; Greymouth (also Hokitika), A*. Clarksoai; Timaru, S. R. Burns (who also represented Oamaru and Rangiora) and G. Thomson ; Dunedin, R. A. Orawshaw and P. Oarolin ; Ashburtcin, R. T. Clark ; Taieri, — Grant ; Blenheim (also Pelorus), J. Thomson ; Naseby, P. Oroand ; Bruce, — Roberts. Westport, Gore, and Tapanui were not represented. Apologies were read from, Messrs Lillieo and S. S. Myers. Mr Earnsh'aw was moved to the chair.

A considerable amount of discussion took place over a disagreement between Nelson and Blenheim regarding show dates, Nelson desiring to have the July dates fixed by the association for Blenheim, and threatening to take their own way. the Nelson Society has not yet broken Uie rules the matter was left over till next meeting.

Notices of motion given at the last Dunedin meeting foi amendments of the rules were then taken.

Rule 5 directs that the annual meeting shall be held in November, and other meetings at Easter and in June or July. The Dunedin Society proposed, and Messrs Orawshaw and Burns now moved, that the Easter meeting be deleted. Mr Burns urged the difficulty of email societies sending "live" delegates to so many meetings, and if the business were done by proxies the country societies might think the big centres had too much their own way. — After an animated d'ecussion the motion was carried by 19 votes to 8.

Rule 12 was amended to require 28 instead of 14 days' notice to be given of special meetings.

Another Dunedin remit proposed that "judges" be deleted from rule 18, which disqualifies judges acting for umaffiliated societies and exhibitors for exhibiting with them. The mover. Mi Orawshaw, pointed out that in cape of % judge brought from Australia the. rule limited his possible earnings in New Zealand, and made it more difficult jo get an out«ide judge. Mr Burns and Mr Walker contended that this rule was the one safeguard of the association, and if departed from the association would soon fall to pieces. — The motion was lost by a large majority.

Mr Grant, for Taieri, propoeed to alter rule 7, which fixes the fees to be (paid by affiliated societies — one-day show 2 guineas, two days 3 guineas, three days 4- guineas. He moved that the fee lie pro rata on the number of entries, 7s per 100, with a minimum of 21s. Several delegates spoke in favour of making the fee easier for the smaller societies, some of which found it difficult to carry on ; and societies receiving large entries could well afford to pay at per 100. In reply to this it wa9 said that a large entry is not profitable, as it involves so much more expense for hall, pen?, caitage, etc. After a long discussion the original motion was withdrawn in favour of on© making the fee 1 guinea for a one-day show, 2 guineas for two days, 4 guineas for three days. — Mr Walker opposed any reduction of fc-es at present, as the acB<k ration was liable for £90 for championship prize*, and had only £57 in hand ; they had better wait a little, and reduce the fees when stronger financially. — Delegatee from sorre of the smaller societies said their organisations would be inclined to give up if the fees were not red m cd. The motion to make the fr<?ts 4 guinea*, 2 guinea', and 1 guinea wa9 carried unanimously.

Mr Crawshaw moved a second amendment of the same rule, to reduce tlie fee for a champion show from ten to fi\e guineas. Mr G. Thomson seconded,- and Mr Carolin, in supporting the motion, said that a ten-guinea fee precluded a email society from having a champ ion --hip show, if they wished for the honour and glory of having^ one. — Mr Walkrr said the ten-guinea fee was adopted Fimplv for revenue purpose. Hp. did not think a society benefited by having a champion pliow : at all events Chri»tchureh lost by theirs two ve-ars ago. — The Secretary eaid theie were three

applications for the champion ehoyr this year — Dunedin, Inveroargill, ' and Timaru ; and Mr Gapes said Invercargill was quite willing to give ten guineas for cue. — The motion to reduce the fee to five guineas was carried.

Mr Burns at once- moved that the Timaru Society be refunded half their ten-guinea fee, as they were the first society to hold a. champion show since the fee was raised from four gTuneas, and thos© ■who oam« after would only pay five. — Mr Walter seconded, and the motion was carried unanimously, for which, Mr Buni9 thanked the meeting.

The Secretary drew attention to the desirability of having the rules printed, and Qi putting at least a temporary stop to alterations. It was resolved to have the rules printed as they now are, and that they stand for two years ; tlio regulation re association "rings" to be added to the rules.

It was also resolved that each year's balance sheet be printed and distributed to affiliated societies.

It was resolved to hold the next meeting at Dunedin during the November chow week.

Mr Crawshaw gave notice to move at next meeting that a li-t of recognised judges be framed by the association and supplied to the affiliated societies.

Mr Walker remarked thab as the r.(=pociation provides the chanrpion priz.es, they certainly should have the risht to approve of the judges for champion classes.