TIMARU AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL ASSOCIATION.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 3155, 14 May 1883, Page 2

TIMARU AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL ASSOCIATION.

A special meeting of this Association was held on Saturday last. There were fifteen members present, and the Presi. dent, Mr A. W. Wright, presided. The Secretary stated that small accounts amounting to about £3O had been received, but there were no funds in hand to pay them. There was £SO owing on account of last year’s subscriptions and the current year’s subscriptions of 180 members would soon be coming in. The overdraft at the Bank was nearly up to the limit, viz , £SOO, and £SO interest on the purchase money of the new grounds would soon be due.

A discussion took place on the financial position of the Association, and the following resolutions were passed —(1) “ Tbpt in order to place the Association’s financial petition on a better basis, it be decided that the prizes given for all classes of exhibits be considerably reduced, and that members of the Committee individually use every effort to enlist new members of Association ” ; (2) “ That a sub-Com-mittee consisting of Messrs Moody, Ford, Mcjterrow, Grant, Khodes, Mackay, Barker, and the President be appointed, to revise the catalogue and prize list and suggest such reductions, as they may deem necessary, and report at pext meeting i three to form a quorum, and the President to be convener.”

Mr Talbot suggested that the Association should follow the example of the Christchurch Association, and request Government to take preventive measures, that diseased cattle should not be admitted into the colony, He moved ■—•‘iThat, seeing that contagious diseases exist to an alarming extent among all kinds of stock in Great Britain and other countries, the Colonial Secretary be written to, informing him that, in the opinion of this Association, the importation of stock into New Zealand should be exercised only under the strictest care and supervision, and that three months’ quarantine at least should be strictly enforced, to be relaxed only in the case of countries or districts known tp be ejearof disease.” Mr H. Ford seconded the motion, which was carried. Mr McHerrow moved, Mr Mpody seconded, and it was carried—“ That this Association is of opinion that the main interests of this colony, the agricultural and pastoral, require more special attention from Government than has hitherto been given, and that a Minister of Agriculture should be appointed whose department should embrace the subjects which bear upon these matters.” The sub-committee appointed to revise the prize list, decided to meet on Friday next at 11 a.m. The meeting then terminated,