SOUTHLAND METROPOLITAN A. & P. ASSN

Southland Times, Issue 17427, 20 August 1913, Page 2

SOUTHLAND METROPOLITAN A. & P. ASSN

ANNUAL REPORT. Following is the annual report to be presented at the annual meeting of members, to be held in Victoria Hall, on Saturday, 30th August, 1913, at 1.30 p.m. —The Council have pleasure in presenting their annual report, and in doing so, congratulate members upon another year of successful work. The finances of the Association are in a very satisfactory condition, the excess of assets over liabilities, or capital, amounting to the large sum of £9003 4s 7d. This amount is larger than twelve months ago by £915 4s 9d, which sum is made up by donations £5Ol 15s, proceeds of Myross Bush Endowment division £l6B 7s Bd, interest £SO 13s Id, and profit on the year’s operations £194 9s. The income from annual subscriptions shows an increase of £3l, and It is hoped that next year’s balance-sheet will show a very marked improvement on these figures. The gate money also shows a substantial increase, but there is a slight falling-off in the entry money and special cash prizes. The usual fixtures of the Association have been held, and have been attended with a considerable amount of success. The first of these, the horse paradt, was held in Queen’s Park in October, when for the first time for some years, both light and draught horses were judged. The entries numerically were about the same as those of the last few years, but the number of Imported horses that were on parade was much larger than usual, and this fact created much interest. The Summer Show was also held in Queen’s Park, and for the last time. The weather on both days was very good, and the attendance on the people’s day .was the largest ever seen at a Show in Invercargill, considerably over £6OO being taken at the gates for the day. The jumping programme that was carried out on the first day was the means of drawing a large number of spectators that day also. The number of entries was very large, and the quality of the stock shown was admitted on all sides to have been of a high standard, despite the unsatisfactory season that had been experienced. . For the Winter Show only the Hall was available this year, and in consequence all trade exhibits had to be cut out, and this robbed the Show of a considerable amount of attractiveness: there was, however, a creditable display of produce, which was an excellent advertisement for Southland and Its ability to grow crops under the very worst of weather conditions. The next Ram Fair will be held on the new show grounds, and new regulations have been drawn up governing the Fair. The principal alteration Is the rule which allows the vendor who, selling 10 or more flock rams, secured the highest average price at the Fair the year before, the privilege of having his rams sold first the following J year. The Fair is to be held first week in March, and with these two alterations, It is thought that the Ram Fair .will occupy a much more important position in the eyes of both vendors and purchasers of stud sheep than it has hitherto. The pens, of course, will all be covered In, and provision is being made to have all the rams penned the day before the Fair, thus enabling the sale to commence at 10.30 a.m. sharp; this should ensure the whole of the entry being offered before buyers have to leave to catch their trains in the afternoon.

The Council are very pleased to be able to report that great progress has been made with improvements on the new grounds. At the Summer Show friends of the Association were canvassed to take up debenture stock to provide funds, with very satisfactory results, £9746 being promised in sums ranging from £5 to £2OO, which was fixed as the limit. Half of this amount was payable this year, and the balance next year; no interest is payable the first year, IVi per cent, the second, and 5 per cent, thereafter. In January plans were drawn for the various buildings by Messrs Anscombe & Coombs, and a contract for all the pens, stalls, ring, etc., was let to Messrs Shields & Andrews, the contract pried being £3570. As it was found impossible to have the Grand Stand completed in time for next Summer Show, and as having the work of building going on would interfere with the Show arrangements, it was decided to hold over the building till next year/ and tenders are now being called for the job, the work to commence immediately after the Summer Show, and to be 'finished ’within nine months, which will allow three months to prepare the ground, lawn, etc., for the Show of 1914. Very satisfactory progress is being made by the contractors for the pens, and by December everything will be ready for the opening of the new grounds. RoofedIn pens are bing provide! for sheep, looseboxes for stallions and mares with foals, and roofed stalls for all horses and cattle. There will be a loading bank on the ground, and exhibitors will find that every facility for handling stock has been provided. The ground is being laid out according to a plan designed by- the Secretary.

The ground was drain ploughed in the spring with beneficial results. The automatic flood gates continued to give trouble, so a valve wjiich will screw down tight and keep all tidal water out has been put in; this work is now being carried out by Messrs Jas. Macalister, Ltd.

The three acres of land in the S.WI corner of the ground have been transferred to the Defence Department, who are engaged in erecting a large drill shed, which will be ready for next Winter Show. A floor space of 29,000 square feet will be available in June next, and ultimately this will be increased to 40,000. At last election the district representation scheme, adopted the year before, was started. All the sitting directors retired and an entirely new Council was elected. In framing the rules, the Council omitted one that had been intended, namely—that any candidate for election should reside or have his place of business in the district he wishes to represent. Notice has been given to have the omission rectified at the annual meeting. All nominations must be in the secretary’s hands by 31st July, and voting papers have been sent out with this report and must be returned by 27th August—three days before the meeting. The voting papers will be opened and counted by two scrutineers, and the result of the election announced at the meeting. The new Council at their first meeting elected Messrs John Grant, John McCrostie, John McKcrchar, and Wm. Menzies honorary life members of the Association, as an expression of appreciation of their services to the Association over a long period of years. In January last Mr R. F. Cuthbertson resigned from his position of secretary, on account of failing health, after nearly 30 years’ service. The "directors made a presentation of a massive silver salver to Mr Cuthbertson on his retirement, and it is pleasing to them to think that their gift was very much appreciated, and was a source of great joy to him. He passed away peacefully on Ist June. The assistant secretary, Mr Denniston Cuthbortson, was promoted to the position of secretary. At the last meeting of directors a general wish was expressed that Mr Hunt should allow himself to be nominated for another term as President. It was pointed out that as Mr Hunt was responsible for bringing the improvements on the show grounds to their present satisfactory state, it was very desirable that he should continue in office until they were completed. Yielding to considerable pressure, Mr Hunt consented to nomination as President by Mr Carmichael for a further term. Mr Carmichael is unopposed for the Vice-Pre-sidency. An auditor will have to be elected at the annual meeting in place of Mr William Young, who retires, but who is eligible and offers himself for re-elec-tion. In conclusion, the Council wishes to offer its hearty thanks to all who assisted in any way during the year to make the operations of the Association a success, especially donors of special prizes, judges, stewards, etc. Special reference should be made to the press, to whom the members are indebted for very full reports of the doings of the Association. It is to be hoped that during the ensuing year a very determined effort will be made to obtain a larger membership, without which the Association cannot carry out its functions with that degree of usefulness that is desirable.