A. AND P. ASSOCIATION

Southland Times, Issue 21275, 22 December 1930, Page 8

A. AND P. ASSOCIATION

MEETING OF GORE EXECUTIVE. The monthly, meeting of the executive committee of the Gore A. and P. Association on Saturday afternoon was attended by Messrs H. Smith (chairman), P. Keir, J. Bruce, J. A. Fleming, M. R. Lawlor, T. Logan, S. G. Inder, P. Cullen, W. Y. Dickie, R. K. Dodds, J. S. . Waddell, T. Brock, W. G. Ladbrook, J. Fortune, J. A. Edwards, W. L. Scott, J. Drysdale, E. Dodds, T. Y. Dickie, D. Dickie and Hugh Smith. • An application from the Gore Trotting Club for the use of forms for the club’s Boxing Day meeting was granted. A letter wits received from Mr D. Marshall, judge of the flock ewe hogget competition recently’ conducted by the association, stating that he was of the opinion that the points awarded for numbers were too high. At first he thought that the showing of 10 hoggets from the three of the best flocks would not be worth while, but after noticing the interest created at the show and hearing the criticism (adverse and otherwise) on the work of the judge, he had changed his mind. If the public were interested, although they might not agree, it was to be preferred to indifference. He wished to congratulate the association on organizing the competition which was in the right direction. Mr A. S. Fleming, on behalf of the committee working for the Institute of the Blind, wrote thanking the association for the free use of space at the recent show. The funds of the institute had benefited to the extent of £3O.

The secretary submitted a orugh balancesheet in connection with the recent show which resulted in a deficiency of £9B. The chairman stated that in view of the conditions at present prevailing the association was to be congratulated ‘upon the result.

At the conclusion of the meeting a very pleasant function was held in the Gaiety Hall, when a welcome was tended to Mr Hugh Smith (McNab), who recently returned from a-Jrip to the Old Country. Mr Henry’ Smith, president of the association, presided, and on behalf of the members, welcomed Mr Smith back to their midst. Their guest, he stated, was one of the oldest members of the Gore A. and P. Association and was present at its first show. Ever since then he had ( been a member and had taken a very keen interest in its affairs. At one time he was a regular and successful exhibitor, and although in more recent years he had not exhibited stock, he had been a very useful member qf the committee. They were particularly glad to have him back and hoped that he would be long spared to assist the association in its work.

Messrs T. Logan, S. G. Inder, P. Cullen and H. Mclntyre also expressed appreciation of the enthusiastic interest taken in the association by Mr Smith and joined in welcoming him home.

The Mayor, Mr D. L. Poppehvell, said that he was very pleased to have the opportunity of being present on such a pleasant occasion and to welcome back one who had taken such a keen interest in his district. He had known Mr Smith for a very long time and their relations had always been of a most happy nature. The visit to the Old Country would hold particular interest for Mr Smith, as he was returning to the land of his boyhood after many years spent in New Zealand. Mr D. Dickie also extended a welcome to Mr Smith and mentioned that as the association would next year be celebrating its fiftieth anniversary it would be particularly appropriate if their guest, who had been connected with it since its inception, were elected as president. He, the speaker, as senior vice-president, would in the ordinary course of events be elected to the presidency, but he would be most happy to stand aside for one who had so long been connected with. it.

Mr Hugh Smith, in reply, thanked the members for their kindly welcome, and said it gave him a great deal of pleasure to be back once more among his old friends. Mr Smith also gave an interesting account of the places visited during his tour and mentioned that he had been particularly impressed with the wonderful display of Clydesdale horses at the Highland Society’s Sfiow and with the very fine exhibits of jumping horses at the Dublin Horse Show. At both these shows the horses were displayed to the very best advantage and he believed that their fine appearance was largely due to the care taken in their preparation. Everywhere in England farmers paid much more attention to their stock than was the case in New Zealand.