OTAGO AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL SOCIETY

Otago Witness, Issue 3003, 4 October 1911, Page 19

OTAGO AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL SOCIETY

The monthly meeting of the committee of the Otago A. and P. Society was held on Wednesday, Sept. 27, when the following members were present;—Messrs A. S. Onbell (president), J. A. Roberto, J. Smith, D. Murray, J. Ross, D. Andrew, J. Gow, A, Johnson, J. Elliott, T. Ritchie, J. Nimmo, ,E. F. Duthie. W. Gardiner, J. Macandrew, J. Patrick, Joseph Allan, W. J. Charters, T. E. Jefooate, A. Fleming, and E. Bowler. Apologies for absence were received from Messrs J. W. Blair, W. Laidlaw, R. A. S. Cantrell, A. M‘Farlane, -W. Souter, and John Roberts, The For bury Park Trotting Club wrote offering special prizes in connection with the light horse classes at the summer, show.—lt was resolved that the club b® thanked for its generous offer.

A letter was received from the Minister of Agriculture in connection with the title to Tahuna Park. The Minister offered tc assist the society in every way possible in the direction of > having the property brought under the provisions of section 9 of the Agricultural and Pastoral Societies' Act, 1908, which will have the effect of enabling the society to raise money on the Tahuna Park property, if it so desires, or to lease it for a lengthy term._ —Tho communication was referred to the Finance Committee with power to act* . ' A report was received from the committee set up at the last Agricultural Conference on the question of the establishment of a Dominion Agricultural Society. The committee reported that it considered it was essential for the better government of the A. and P. associations that some executive foody should be constituted/ and recommended! that steps be taken by conference to- form a, duly-registered national society, to be governed toy a council elected by the A. and P. associations throughout the Dominion. The objects of the associatran, it is 6et out, shall be to watch over and protect tha rjghts and privileges of the associated societies, to take action in relation to any subject, or to any legislation affecting their interests; to bring about euoh a union of the societies as will enable reasonable influence to be brought to bear in any desirable direction; to bring about uni-. formity of rules, as. far as practicable j compile a satisfactory list of' judges; negotiate show dates in a friendly manner J collect and disseminate information calculated to assist and benefit the societies, develop the resources and advance Jfcha material interests of the country, and to eneoiwage the most advanced systems ol agriculture, and the general development of the natural resources of the Dominion. Such a society would have power to register affiliated agricultural associations, or any other societies tlhat make application for registration, to prepare list of show judges, to disqualify any stock shown at unregistered shows, to confirm, adopt, or remove any disqualification imposed by the society, and to arbitrate between associations when dates clash.—The report wa« considered by the committee, and it waa decided to accord the society's approval of the proposat. The Standing Committee of' the Agri. cultural Conference forwarded—copies ol resolutions passed at the recent Agricultural and Pastoral Societies' Conference, and asked the co-operation of the Otago Society in having tibem given effect to. The com-

mittee considered these at length and sis? nified its approval of. the following proposals contained in the resolutions:—Unt ; form colours of prize tickets at shows namely, first prize ticket, red, second blue, 'third orange, v.h.c. greeri),'h.o. white, commended yellow, champion red. white, and blue; that the sole right of selecting judges be retained by A. and P. Societies; that, when offering prizes for mounted infantry horses, a standard height riot exceeding 15 hands two inches and not under 14 hands three inohes be observed; .that members of A. and P. associations afford every facility to the Agricultural Department in collectdng .agricultural statistics ;'.■• that .Aand P. associaions do everything possible to further the adoption of proper pasteurisation of separated milk and whey in., all factories and creameries. The committee also approved of the proposal that placed animals in breeding classes of draught classes at shows should be passed by a; veterinary surgeon as free from hereditary unsoundness before the prizes are allotted. It was decided not to observe this principle until-the Summer Show of 1912. - '•.. The following sub-opmmittees were set up for the year■:— Finance —Messrs J. Loudon, John Roberts, James Hazlebt, Win. Patrick, Wm. Soutor, A. Todd, E. F. Duthie; Buildings—Messrs A. Todd, James HazLett, James Gow, G. H. Mac Ewan, & F. Duttoie, W. J. Charters, John Loudon; Grounds—Messrs T. T. Ritchie, J. Gow, F. Freeman, J. Nimmo, Jos; . Allan, W. J Charters, J. H. Gilroy; Amusements— Messrs W. J. Charters, E. F. Duthie, G. H. Mac Ewan, T. E. Jefcoate, F. Freeman, R.. A. S Cantrell; Sheep—Messrs James Smith, D. Murray, James Ross, T. E. Jefcoate, W. Laidlaw, R. A. S. Cantrell, W. Shennan; Cattle—Messrs W. Souter, James Gow, A. M'Farlane, J. Macandrew, D. Andrew, A. Fleming, J. Elliott; Draught Horses—Messrs W. J. Charters, W. Gardiner, James Gow, J. W. Blair, James Patrick, J. Nimmo, T. Scott, James Smith; Light Horses —Messrs A. Johnson, T. T. Ritchie, T. E. Jefcbato, W. Laidlaw, H. M. Driver, F. Freeman, Jos. Allan; Jump ing Contests—Messrs F. Freeman, H. M. Driver, "T. T. Ritchie, W. Laidlaw,' R. A. S. Cantrell; Butter and Cheese —Messrs J. R. Scott, G. H. Mac Ewan, A. M'Farlane, W. Souter, E. F. Duthie; Grain and Seed—Messrs T." T. Ritchie, A. Fleming, D. Andrew, E. Bowler, H. M. Driver; Roots—Messrs G. H. Gilroy, J. Nimano, J. W. Blair, A. Johnson; Bread and Scones —Messrs W. Souter, R. A. S. Cantrell, Jas. Macandrew, A. M'Farlane, J. Loudon; Refreshments—Messrs G. H. Mac Ewan, J. R. Scott, J. Hazlett, A. M'Farlane; Space —Messrs E. F. Duthie, G. H. Mac Ewan!, •T. Ritchie,-A. Todd; president, vice-presi-dent, and the hen. treasurer to be members of all sub-committees. The question of nominating judges for the forthcoming Summer Show was considered and. several names put forward for the various classes. - It was.resolved that future meetings of the committee be held on'"the third Thursday in each.month. Fifteen hew members were proposed and duly elected. A considerable amount of detail business was also dealt with.