PLOUGHING MATCH

Southland Times, Issue 22008, 6 May 1933, Page 9

PLOUGHING MATCH

THE SOUTHLAND ASSOCIATION. ANNUAL MEETING. The annual meeting of the Southland Champion Ploughing Match Association was held at Invercargill yesterday morning, when Mr A. S. McNaught presided. There was an attendance of ten. The annual report was as follows:— “The ploughing match last year was held in a paddock lent by Mr Geoige Gray, the paddock proving very suitable in every way. Entries for the last three years have been according to the following table:—

15 13 15 . “As will be observed, last year there were again no entries in Class D, tractor ploughing. The attendance at the match last year showed a further falling off compared with the two preceding years, as the gate money shows: 1930, £4O 6/-; 1931, £35 2/-; 1932, £29 8/-. Those privileged to attend last year’s match were rewarded in the witnessing of a very high standard ot ploughing, and the teams of horses present at the match were of a particularly high order. The winner of the champion lot was Mr George Gray, who was also the winner of the Drummond Match, and the association offers its congratulations to him. The thanks ot the association are due to the. many donors of special prizes, to the judges, and to the committee for their efforts in making the match the success that it was. Thanks are also due to the Press for again giving its aid to publicity.. At the meeting of the association held just after the conclusion of last years match a number of suggestions were made for further increasing interest in the match, and it is hoped the result of this will be shown at the forthcoming match. It came as a very great shock to members of the association to hear of the unexpected death ot Mr W. A. Gray. Mr Gray had always been a most enthusiastic supporter and of-fice-bearer of the association, and he will be very much missed by the association.” , , , . „ The balance-sheet showed a balance in the bank at April 30, 1933, of £62 13/8 but a loss on the years working to the extent of £ll 17/10 was disclosed. Donations to the extent ot £ll 19/6, subscriptions (£lll2/6), entry fees (£l5) and gate money (£29 8/3) had been received. The sum of £56 5/6 had been paid out in prize money. . In formally moving the adoption ,ot the report and balance-sheet, the chanman said that although they had balanced on the wrong side, they, happened to be in a very souhd position before the depression set in and this had stood to them since. As a result they still had a very respectable credit balance. The ploughing match last year had proved satisfactory from every point of view. The attendance had kept up well, while the entries had shown an increase. The ploughing had been of an exceedingly high standard perhaps not excelled throughout New Zealand, while the teams were among the finest to be seen in the Dominion. The death of Mr Gray -had proved a severe loss to the association. The speaker went on to say that he could see no reason for dropping the ploughing match, despite the economic depression. They should carry on as usual, he said, although it might be necessary to curtail the prize money a little. In conclusion he extended thanks to the committee for their co-operation during his second term as president. The reports were adopted. Tire election of officers for the ensuing term resulted as follows: President. Mr A. S. McNaught (re-elected); vice-presidents, Messrs C. Gray, Andrew Ronald and V/. R. Ronald; general committee, Messrs I. Young, ,W. Clark, W. Lindsay, J. K. Bennie, J. W. Ronald, W. L. 'Gray, J. Adams, R. Gray, G. Gray, J. J. Blakie, T A. Buckingham, I. Scott, A. C. Gray, L. J. Ronald, and J. Scott; field committee, the president, vice-presidents, Mesrs J. Young, (Wallacetown), W. Lindsay, J. Scott, W. L. Gray, G. Gray, L. Ronald, A. C. Gray, J. J. Blaikie and R. Gray. It may be noted that Mr McNaught’s election to the office of president for the third time in succession is without parallel in the history of the association. It was decided to hold the champion ploughing match on the first Saturday after the Drummond fixture. Messrs J. Young (Wallacetown), J. J. Blaikie and W. L. Gray were appointed a subcommittee to report to the next meeting with regard to a suitable paddock. When the question of the football match came up for discussion, it was stated that there was no attraction in a game between two country teams. It was left to the secretary to make inquiries with a view to arranging a match with a town team.

1930 1931 1932 Class A 5 6 6 Class B 1 2 1 Class C 2 3 3 Class D 2 0 0 Class E 5 2 5