OTAGO A. AND P. SOCIETY

Otago Witness, Issue 4042, 1 September 1931, Page 16

OTAGO A. AND P. SOCIETY

MONTHLY MEETING The monthly meeting of the committee of the Otago .A.- and P. Society wag held in the board room on Friday afternoon and was attended by Messrs H. Turner (president, in the chair), H. C. Campbell, F. J. Conn, John Mee, W. O. M’Kellar. Joseph Mosley, W. S. Thomson, J. W. Blair, T. J. Gawn, A. Johnson, George Ross, D. Andrew, John Hellyer and R. T. Kirk. Mr A. Cecil Day, private secretary to Ins Excellency the Governor-General (Lord Bledisloc), advised that his Excellency regretted that owing to an important meeting in Wellington he could not accept the committee’s invitation to be present at the show.—The president expressed his regret that bis Excellency was unable to attend. On the. motion of Mr H. C. Campbell, the Finance Committee's report, recommending the payment of accounts amounting to £6G 2s Sd, was approved. At the last meeting of the committee various matters affecting the position of the society were referred to the executive, which reported as follows:—The secretary’s report dealing with the financial position and the actual earnings of the various properties held by the society was noted, and instructions were given that all properties should be utilised to the best advantage and care exercised in expenditure. In regard to the Summer Show, it wag decided to appeal’ to all members to use their influence in obtaining entries for the show and also new members, and thus give the society an assured revenue. —Both of these suggestions were approved-

In connection- with the extension of the railway line into Tahuna Park, it was stated that this proposal had been fully considered on several occasions, bat unfortunately, owing to the capital cost entailed, and the expense that would be incurred in the running and maintaining of the line, the executive did not feel justified in approving of any money being spent in that direction. The committee fully recognised the advantages to

Breeders of having a direct railway into the grounds, but in addition to the cost involved, no guarantee could be obtained that this line would be available for the Conveyance of stock for any given time. The question of the covering,? of sheep pens was recognised as being important, but in the meantime until a full report was obtained as to the condition of the present sheep pens and their position in the park, the executive decided that the matter should stand over.

In regard to the proposal to hold the annual Kam and Ewe Fair at Tahuna Park, the executive regretted that owing to the present conditions the society was not in a position to carry through. the Mam Fair satisfactorily. Mr Joseph Mosley and others made a Strong appeal to the committee to reconsider both the question of the covering of the sheep pens and the constructing of a railway line into the ground as being most essential in the interests of breeders and the society.—After several members had fully expressed their opinions on the matter, MrAV. O. Al'Kellar pointed out that during his term of presidency the question of extending *he railway line into Tahuna Park had been exhaustively gone into. Plans had been obtained as well as the estimate of the cost, but until some guarantee could be obtained that the present line would be available for stock the committee was not justified in committing the society to any large expenditure. The conditions at the present time had not changed, and were practically the same as when it was unanimously decided not to proceed further with this matter.

A suggestion was received that the entrance money should be increased at the Summer Show. —It was decided that no alterations should be made for this year. The president stated that the report received from the executive was a long one, and had been very carefully considered. It dealt with various matters of the utmost importance to the society, and it was very gratifying to see the interest that members took in these matters. The question of the improvements at the park and other facilities for the handling of the stock was most important,- and, if it was impossible to obtain a railway connection into rhe grounds, the other alternative that appeared to him would be to try and secure suitable grounds close to the city, which would meet the requirements of the committee. The various sub-committecs had carefully revised the schedule for the different sections, which were all agreed to with minor alterations. It was stated that the dividing up of the committee into smaller sub-committecs had a most beneficial effect in getting the different sections revised and approved of by the General Committee.

The Canterbury A. and P. Association wrote asking for the committee’s opinion and support for a proposal that steps should be taken to improve the flocks and herds of the Dominion. The association believed that the elimination of the scrub sires from sales would be a big step towards the advancement of -the standard of sheep, cattle, horses and pigs. —lt was decided to support the Canterbury A. and P. Association in its proposals. The question of utilising Brydone Hall for the purpose of the classing of wool was left in the hands of the executive, which was also authorised to arrange for the use of the building by the -Dunedin Badminton Club, provided that the whole building was reserved for the purpose of holding the Winter Show.

On the motion of Mr Arthur Johnson, Mr George Law, of Gimmerburn, was duly elected a member of the society.

Messrs H. Turner, Joseph Mosley, W. O. Al'Kellar, and J. W. Blair were appointed a sub-committce to wait on the Burnside Saleyards Company in connection with any improvements in regard to the annual Ham and Ewe Fair. The Southdown Sheep Society wrote advising that its gold medal would be offered for the best two-tooth Southdown ram, registered and owned by a member of the society.—Received with thanks.