TARANAKI POULTRY

Taranaki Daily News, 1 November 1935, Page 3

TARANAKI POULTRY

A. AND P. CLUB ANNUAL MEETING.

REVIEW OF YEAR’S OPERATIONS. - The annual meeting of the Taranaki A. and P. Poultry Club was held at New Plymouth last night. Mr. Walter Jones presided over a good attendance. Although it was not directly concerned with finances, as the club was a branch of the Taranaki Agricultural Society, the committee, said the report, considered itself morally bound to keep a careful check upon the expenditure and to use its best endeavours to raise funds so that the burden upon the society should not become too heavy and thereby prejudice the sympathetic attention the society had given to all the' club's requirements from time to time. It had always been the aim of the committee to raise by its own efforts the amount allotted for special prizes at the annual shows. Flag five hundred evenings were held, and at the commencement these were a financial success, but later in the season, when competition in this field of enterprise became more pronounced, the attendance dwindled and it was found necessary to abandon them. The year was marked by at least two important events, the consummation of which the club, in co-operation with other poultry clubs iu Taranaki, had been endeavouring to bring about for some time past. The first was the compromise effected between the New Zealand Federation of Cage Bird Clubs and the North Island association, and the second was the holding of the annual conference of the North Island association at a time other than when a poultry show was in progress. These two reforms had been received with general satisfaction by all the clubs affiliated to the association. Shows had been improved, and confidence in the parent body had been restored as a result. The club was unfortunate in losing the services of Mr. A. B. Meiklejohn early in the season. Mr. Meiklejohn was transferred to Auckland shortly after his appointment as chairman of the committee, and was therefore unable to be in office for the annual show. As a member of the committee for a number of years Mr. Meiklejohn gave splendid service, while among exponents of the fancy he had become to be recognised as an exhibitor of outstanding ability. At last annual meeting members of the club were delighted to see him accept the chairmanship because they knew of his keenness and ability to advance the interests of the club.' Two shows were held during the year. The first was the young bird show on March 30, when 161 birds were exhibited, compared with 139 the previous year. The second was the club’s main poultry, pigeon and cage bird show held annually in conjunction with the Taranaki A. and P. Society’s winter show. For this show 762 entries were received against 645 the previous year. The club was favoured with the New Zealand Orpington and New Zealand Leghorn Club shows, and the support of members of the New Plymouth Canary and Cage Bird Club. The show, which was attractively arranged and well managed, was a feature of the winter show. The club’s annual dinner was held on the first night of the winter show. Visiting judges and exhibitors, and representatives of kindred clubs were guests. Good work by the committee in charge, together with the assistance of the women’s committee of the Taranaki A. and P. Society and the generosity of Mr. Walter Scott, combined to make the gathering successful. Mr. S. Beauchamp, who for several years had acted as the club’s delegate on the council of the North Island association, was transferred to Westmere and on that account was compelled to cease acting as delegate. Mr. P. D. Wills, Palmerston North, undertook the duties, and he had carried them out well. The thanks of the club were due to many persons for assistance. Messrs. G. Wigley and H. J. Hall, although not members of the committee, had given invaluable service, while stewards, judges and many others had helped to make the shows successful. The work of Mr. C. C. Webb deserved special mention. Mr. Webb took particular pride in the duties entrusted to him during the show, and

the committee and exhibitors appreciated his woi'k. The chairman, in moving the adoption of the report, commended the secretary, Mr. W. P. Okey, for his work for the club. He was pleased to be able to announce that the club’s next show was to include the Old English Game Club, the exhibits from which would no doubt be an acquisition. He regretted that the club had been out of pocket over the young bird show. In seconding the adoption of the report Mr. A. P. Lister said he was sorry to learn there had been a loss on the young bird show. Unless the club could make them a success financially it seemed that it would have to stop holding these shows, which were club affairs not connected with the Agricultural Society. The following were appointed to act on the committee in addition to those nominated by the Agricultural Society: Messrs. C. C. Webb, P. J. Palmer, G. [Fetch, J. T. Rogers, H. McNeill, C. 'Annand, J. James, E. James, M. Jury, A. : J. Mills, W. H. Thomas and L. R. Briggs. I Mr. W. P. Okey was appointed delegate to the annual conference of the North Island Poultry, Pigeon and Canary Association at Palmerston North on November 2. Mr. Okey was instructed to make inquiries regarding contributions by the association towards the payment of delegates’ expenses. A remit was adopted urging that a full report of thebusiness of the conference should be sent to each affiliated club. The conference will be asked to supply details of the cost of the New Zealand utility poultry standard, and the delegate will inquire regarding the question of securing an English judging standard for racing homers. Other remits recommended the enforcement of rule 39, which provides that clubs not operating should forfeit trophies flot won outright, and the enforcement of show date§ allotted by the council.

It was decided to keep in view a suggestion by Mr. A. C. Howlett that a trophy should be obtained for the Palmerston North to New Plymouth homing pigeon race held in conjunction with the winter show.

At the conclusion of the meeting the chairman, on behalf of members of the club, presented Mr. J. James with a rose bowl. Mr. James was married recently.