CLUTHA AND MATAU A. AND P. SOCIETY.

Otago Witness, Issue 3828, 26 July 1927, Page 13

CLUTHA AND MATAU A. AND P. SOCIETY.

BALCLUTHA, July 18. The annual meeting of the Clutha and Matau A. and B. Society was held at Balclutha on July 16, when there was a very fair attendance of members, the president (Mr J. G. Weir) occupying the chair. The annual report and balance sheet showed that the society had had a successful year. The receipts amounted to £1368 Os sd, including £373 Ils 6d carried forward from the previous year. The chief items on the receipts side were:— Members’ subscriptions, £256 4s; donations, £lOO 8s; gates, £214 2s 3d; entries, £125 16s; exhibitors and side-shows, £67 3s 6d; rents, £123 17s 6d. The expenditure included £3BO 17s 6d prize money, £2OO reduction of mortgage on property, £lO5 Us interest, and £149 18s 7d on shifting and re-erecting a house at the grounds. At June 30 there was a cash cred : of £BB 8s 6d. The report and balance sheet were adopted. The President referred to the work that remained to be done during the current year in remodelling the show ground. When .the levelling and clearing that the executive had in view were carried out the ground would, he considered, be one of the best in Otago. Mr Robert Moffat, the senior vicepresident, was elected president; Mr Peter Boyd (Lovell’s Flat) was made senior vice-president, and Mr T. T. Kendall (Stirling) junior vice-president. Mr D. Wallace was re-elected secretary and treasurer. The following members of the General Committee, who retired by rotation, were re-elected: —Messrs A. Murray. W. E. Moffat, G. Maze, J. Donaldson, W. Begg, and G. Anderson. Messrs W. S. Thomson, J. G. Weir, and C. King were added to the General Committee. Messrs Robert Newson and George Reid were elected new members. Mr D. Sheddan and Mr D. T. Fleming, who had both been members for over 40 years, were elected honorary life members. After discussion, it was decided to hold a two days' show as usual, the dates agreed upon being December 1 and 2. Mr Alex. Reid, of Clifton, offered a gold medal for the best steer calf, born after August 1. led in the ring by a boy or lad up to 18 years, the calf to be a purebred on the sire’s side. Mr Russell offered a silver medal as second prize. Mr Waite. M.P., offered a prize for the boy or girl leading the best heifer calf. A discussion took place as to the advisability of agriculture being placed on the syllabus of the Clutha High School. Mr Waite, M.P., who spoke at some length on the subject, said he could not see why children should be taught mathematics and algebra, and generally trained for office and town life, to the exclusion of the science of agriculture. In an agricultural centre such as Balclutha it was vital, if the country were to progress, that there should be facilities for obtaining, at the least, a smattering of agricultural training. In these days of keen competition in the world's markets for primary products it was the country that produced the best farmers, trained on scientific lines, that was going to lead the way both in higher prices and in quality. He could not understand why such a subject had been omitted from the curriculum of the Clutha High School. Eventually, on the motion of Messrs R. Moffat and Waite, it was decided to forward a recommendation to the Department of Education asking that agriculture be included in the syllabus of the Clutha High School. Several working bees were arranged for in connection with the remodelling of the grounds, and a vote of thanks to the retiring president concluded a successful meeting. Afterwards the members were entertained at supper in the Renown Dining Rooms as the guests of the committee.