ASHBURTON.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume VI, Issue 1785, 3 November 1919, Page 8

ASHBURTON.

tr • \ A. AND P. ASSOCIATION. fj ■ f" From Our Own Corresvondent. A meeting of the General Committee •Of the Ashburton A. and P. Association •was held in the association's rooms •on Saturday afternoon, the president, Mr A. Horsey presiding. The following new members were elected: —H. E. ■George, R. Hope, and A. Adams (Low•cliffe), O. Biddick (Anama), R. Quinn, .and E. A. Hillier (Eiffelton), and A. H. Belliwell (Greenstreet). The Board of Managers of the Ashfcurton Technical School wrote agreeing to take over the grandstand and part of the Show Grounds for a period not exceeding four months at an annual charge of £lO. The board suggested that it was not necessary to go to the expense of preparing a legal lease, and the secretary was instructed to lave an agreement drawn up. The New Zealand Council of Agriculture asked the association's support to the following resolutions passed Dy the annual conference of the council:-^

(1) That, now the war is over, and conditions arc returning to normal, the time has arrived when A. and P. Associations should take into consideration what arc the best means to adopt to improve the work ■s&r the societies, nnd add to their usefulness as a means of advancing knowledge in the practice of agriculture and the breeding of live stoek, and that it should he an instruction to the incoming executive to submit ■concrete proposals to societies for consideration by them, prior to the next annual conference. , ST2) That all A. and P. Associations adopt •i standard rule with regard to the measuring, at shows, of horses with shoes on. <3> That onlv registered sheep and cattle be eligible to compete in purebred classes at shows. ■ (4) That where challenge trophies are competed for in jumping events at shows, and two or more horses tie. even after an additional round has been ordered, the council be asked to decide the best method of dealing with the matter <s> That the following motion, submitted to the annual conference, 1919, by the Manawatu and East Coast A. and P. Society be referred to the associations, and if threefourths of the associations agree that it should be made operative, the matter be again brought up at next conference for a final decision on the proposed amendment of the rule. ~tt,„. «,» The motion referred to reads— That the following words be added to Hule J: •Except in the case of conference remits relating to rules and regulations governing A. and P. Associations and shows, which. If carried bv a three-fourths majority ol the conference, shall be deemed onerative and binding on all A. and P. Societies affiliated hereto."

I It was decided to submit the eorI respondenee to the various sub-eommit-I tees for their consideration. I The New Zealand Jersey Cattle Association wrote offering a HroM medal for competition at the next Kmmai show for a class for Jersey HKeifers. It was decided to accept the ■ offer and thank the association. E Mr B. E. Alexander, Canterbury Agricultural College, forwarded a list of books suitable for the association's proposed new library. The question of offering certificates for the best kept primary school garden in the county was discussed at some length. The committee recommended that certificates of merit be awarded instead of money prizes. The committee also recommended that in the eompeti- . tions for best collection of injurious weeds first, second and third awards be given. Two donations were received. Several donations were offered for the school garden competition, but, were later wtihdrawu, it being recognised that if accepted, it would defeat the object of the committee. The committee's recommendation was adopted. With regard to the wool-classing competition which the Ashburton association proposes to hold at its annual show, Mr P. G. Stevens, wool instructor Ashburton Technical School, suggested that the classes be arranged as follow: —(1) Open class (district) was an alternative, an open class for those who have attended classes of instruction. (2) a junior class for youths of 18 years or under. (:!) A class for farmers' sons, 21 years or under. If entries warrant it, a class for returned soldiers who have attended classes of instruction could also be added. Mr Stevens submitted conditions. In reBpeet to these competitions the Com- < petitions Committee recommended that they could be conducted to better advantage by the Ashburton Technical Association in connection with their ""'shearing classes. The committee fur- ! ther recommended that prizes be offered by the A. and P. Association for a f wool-classing competition to be held ""'while the technical shearing classes are ; In progress. Mr A. Drumihond, the prime mover in this matter said that he ' would much prefer to see the competitions held at the show. Mr Brown also favoured the competitions being held at the March show. After further discussion it was decided to refer the matter back to the committee asking them -to arrange that the competitions be held at the annual show.