A. AND P. ASSOCIATION

Southland Times, Issue 20940, 25 November 1929, Page 4

A. AND P. ASSOCIATION

THE GORE BODY. SHOW ARRANGEMENTS. A meeting of the committee of the Gore A. and P. Association held oil. Saturday was attended by Messrs J. E. White (president), Henry Smith, George Smith, J. Bruce, R. L. Byars, P. S. Cullen, W. Y. Dickie, E. Dodds, R. Dodds, J. F. Fortune, P. Keir, W. G. Ladbrook, M. R. Lawlor, Thomas Logan, W. L. Scott, F. Trapski, C. 11. Tripp, J. S. Waddell, George Wraytt, J. A. Edwards, Hugh Smith, R. H. Dickie, J. Drysdale, H. Mclntyre, H. P. Mclntyre, and J. S. Waddell. Apologies for absence were received from Messrs G. R. Herron, S. Inder, E. Bowmar and G. Mackay. H. J. Farrant, Invercargill, wrote relative to’ accommodation for visitors at the Royal Show. Several places were booked up, but the committee had made excellent arrangements for visitors. It was necessary that early application should be made by those requiring accommodation. The writer would receive applications up to December 2. He would give the requests urgent attention.— The letter was received, with thanks for the information.

The MacKinnon Trustees wrote forwarding a cheque for £l5 to be devoted to any object the association might decide. The medal for most points jn any class would be forwarded in due course. —Received. The Farmers’ Dairy Federation wrote forwarding cheque for £3 3/- as a prize for yearling Friesian bull. —Received. The Under-Secretary for Internal Affairs wrote stating that the application to hold pony races at the show was granted subject to no bookmakers or their agents being permitted on the grounds. The secretary of the Southland Provincial Executive of the Farmers’ Union wrote stating that trophies were presented by the Canterbury farmers who visited Southland. It appeared, stated the writer, that the trophies, instead of being competed for at the various shows in Southland, should be competed for at the Metropolitan Show only. He wished to thank the Gore committee for its co-operation in the matter.

It was decided that Mr James Stevenson ? be thanked for his donation of a medal » for the best boy rider of ponies. - y Mr R. L. Byars moved that the sum J of £1 1/- be donated as a prize for pupils $ taking the agricultural course at the Gore S High School. —Carried. 2 Mr W. Y. Dickie moved that application \ be made to have the Friesian champion- 7 ship prizes given by the Friesian Associa- 2 tion for the Gore Show in 1930. J.

The secretary reported that he had been $ unable to make any special train arrange- « ments on the Waikaka line for the first X day of the show. « Mr Dickie also stated that he had ob- $ tained a legal opinion in regard to the posi- A tion of anyone carrying out protective y, works and it seemed to be clear that a \ property owner whose land adjoined a river S had a perfect right to raise an embank- y/ ment in order to keep the water from en- X croaching on his land. y, Mr A. Hamilton said that he was pleased V to be present to discuss the matter with X them and if possible to help them to find <0 some solution to their problem. He ap- x preciated their difficulties, which, however, y

were not purely local, but existed in all parts of the Dominion. It was pitiable to see the waste of good land caused by river erosion in Canterbury, while farm lands in other parts also suffered to a considerable extent. He appreciated the manner in which the farmers present had tackled the problem. He knew of several instances in which through co-operative effort very satisfactory results had been achieved and in Southland there were several river boards, which had successfully carried out protective work and were now free of all liability. When bigger rivers such as the Mataura were concerned the problem was a much more difficult one. He would be only too glad, if the meeting made a reasonable request, to see that it was reasonably considered by the Government and if possible that it was put into-effect. He was sure that Mr McDougall would be quite prepared to do the same. He was of the opinion that the request for an expert engineer to visit the properties affected was a reasonable one and he had endeavoured to have it carried out. There had, however, been certain political difficulties in the way. While the majority of the properties were privately owned, however, he considered that the State was sufficiently concerned to warrant it taking the steps suggested. Once they had received the advice of an expert engineer they would be in a better position to know what course of action to pursue and would be. able to decide whether it would be better to carry out individual protection work or to form a river board. If the request of the meeting was mainly to secure the services of an engineer Mr McDougall and the speaker would do their best to assist them and would suggest that in the event of a definite scheme being formulated, the Government should grant a subsidy of from 20 to 25 per cent, of the cost. '• Mr D. McDougall, M.P., said that he would be pleased to assist the member for Wallace with any representations which they might desire to make. He was also of the opinion that the request was a reasonable one and believed that the Government should be prepared to assist, any farmer carrying out protective works, to the extent of bearing 50 per cent, of the cost of the labour.

Mr A. inquired whether in the event of a river board being formed, only those whose properties adjoined the river would be taxed. Mr Hamilton said that the lands would be classified and taxed according to the amount of benefit it was estimated they would receive from the protective works. Several other questions were asked and after further discussion Mr J. A. Blaikie moved that the Minister of Education, of Public Works and of Lands be urgently requested to visit the areas affected by the erosion of the Mataura and Waikaia rivers. The motion was seconded by Mr C. 0. Derrett and carried. It was also decided to seek the co-oper-ation of Messrs A. Hamilton and D. McDougall, M.P.’s, in securing the proposed visit of the Ministers. A further resolution \ empowering the present sub committee to make the necessary arrangement in connection with the visit was carried unanimously. ‘ A vote of thanks was passed to Messrs A. Hamilton, M.P., D. McDougall, M.P., and to the committee, which visited the various districts to inspect and report on the extent of the damage being caused by erosion.