AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 16876, 25 October 1920, Page 5

AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.

ANNUAL MEETING. The annual meeting of the Taranaki Agricultural Society was held at the New Plymouth Soldiers’ Club on Saturday afternoon, Air. AV. B. Grant (president) presiding over a fair attendance, including a number of ladies. CHAIRMAN’S ADDRESS. The president, in moving the adoption of the annual report (particulai's of which have already been published), said it was very gratifying to find that steady progress had been maintained and that members had continued to take a i keen interest in the affairs of the society. Referring to the showgrounds at AA’aiwakaiho, nearly £6OO had been spent during the year on various improvements. Fifty additional cattle stalls had been roofed over and various outbuildings erected, all forming part of the completed scheme they had in view, and providing additional comfort and convenience for exhibitors and patrons. Laud had been acquired adjoining the show grounds for the paddocking of stock during show time. This uoul.i to al largo pxtent relievo the society from imjjosiug upon the- generosity of owners of paddocks near the grounds, as in the past it had always been a difficulty to obtain suitable accommodation for stock over nighr,. There was no doubt that exhibitors would much appreciate the new arrangement, The society’s appointments for the Autumn Show were now right up to the moment in almost every detail. Exhibitors had expressed their appreciation of the excellent conditions under which their stock was shown. One of the chief aims of the society had been to cater well for the exhibitor, it being recognised that many came long distances at great expense to themselves The society had and he trusted always Mould assist exhibitors because nothing could popularise a shoM' more Ilian the attention to them. That the efforts of the society had been appreciated by exhibitors M'as reflected in the success of the Autumn Shows since they had been held in the society’s new grounds. Continuing Air. Grant referred to the success of the last stock show avid then wont on to say that the Win ter Show M - as successful from a financial point of view, and certainly an improvement from a spectacular point of view on shoM’s hold during the last few years. No satisfactory scheme had vet been put fonvard to solve the problem of increased accommodation at the AVieter Show, but tho incoming committee Mould no doubt rovieiv tho situation during their term of office. Air. Grant specially thanked those gent.’omen who judged the field acreage competitions and said that he felt it was not generally realiserr the vast amount of time and energy the jin u vs of these competitions put into i..eiV work. Messrs. H. King, F. Andrews, 11. H. Giddy, B. S. Longstaff, G. A r . Tate, H. R. Cattley, T. Dickson and H. 0. Samp-son-had given the society a great deal of their time in going about judging both the field acreage and the home l itchen garden competitions, and preSiring reports on the crops. Air. J. AV. eem, of the Agricultural Department, had also earned tho sincere thanks of the society for having judged the district field root competitions. Mr. Deem was < Iways willing to assist tho society M’henevec it required his services. Any remarks 1 might make, continued Air. Grant, would be sadly incomplete without a special word of praise for the lady members, who had once more willingly come forward and assisted the society through another year. He was confident that all would agree M'hcn lie said that the result of their work in tho various departments had been nothing short of marvellous and called for their highest appreoiaiiou. Tho ladies had now assisted the society for three years and the total amount of profits made by them during the three years had amounted to over £900.. (Applause). This had been the result in cash, but the result in popularity of .the shows could not bo easily gauged. They did know, however, that the work of the ladies was favourably commented on a!! over the North Island. AVicdout the assistance of the ladies it would have been impossible for the society to carry out the permanent work that had been done during rho past three years. He could net find words to adequately thank the ladies for tho lift along they had given the society. Sympathetic reference was made to the death of several members of the society during the year. In conclusion the chairman urged all members to continue their interest in tho welfare of tho society and to do all they- could to secure new members. He pointed out that there had boon many changer, throughout the district, particularly during tho last twelve months,, and he M-as satisfied that if newcomers were actively canvassed a considerable increase in membership would bo recorded. He took the opportunity of thanking the committee for their hearty co-operation during his year of office and lie also spoke in appreciative terms of tho work of the secretary, Air. AV. P. Okoy. On behalf of Airs. Grant, he also tendered thanks io the members of the ladies’ committee ■or their splendid help. (Applause). Air. J. S. Conuett seconded the morion and extended his hearty congratulations on tho very fine progress that had been made during the year under review. He referred to the permanent improvements that had been made at the show grounds at AATiiwakoiho and Expressed tlio hope that this progressive policy would be continued. Tho fact that £B7O had been received in members’ subscriptions was a very fine record, but with the chairman, he felt it ought to be possible to pass the one thousand mark. One aspect of the balance sheet he thought was disappointing and that was the small amount received in donations and he expressed tho hope that it would he possible to largely increase those another year. Referring to the AVinter Show ho was satisfied that for the time being it was not possible to extend the buildings, but he hoped the time would come when a comprehensive scheme would be em barked upon. In the meantime he expressed tlie hope that the AVinter Show would be continued, even though the buildings were not extended. Air. J. A. Kurth also made a few congratulatory remarks concerning the progress made during the year and referred specially to the splendid services ol tho ladies and the wonderful results they had achieved. Air. Grant, referring to the question of donations, said that last year no special canvass was made because it was felt that there had been so many appeals fo_r funds for different purposes. ELECTION OF OFFICERS. Officers were elected as follows for the ensuing year President, Air. AV. B. Grant; vice-presidents, Alessrs. H. C. Sampson and C. Pairbrother- committee, Alessrs, A. E. AVasher, AV. Hall, G. AV. Browne, A. P. Lister. T. Smellie, J. Gannett, A. J. Luxton, A. R. Gud-

opp, A. G. Short J. A. Kurth, E. 0. Stanley, A. Turnbull, N. W. Hill, C. Dobson, AV. APKenzie, A. T. Moore, F. Dodunski, C. Hoskin, J. Hurle, AV. D. Linn, Z. L. Walker, P. Wellington, B. Honcyfiekl, S. Topless, G.H. Bell, S. Vickors, B. Blackball, 6. Cunningham, J. R. Hill, AV. Scott, AV. H. Jury, E. D. Ansford, AV. Honeyfiold, H. AVard, W. K. Morris, A. R. Davies, F. AV. Sandford, F. Stanley, A. B. Leech, H. H. Olson, B. H. Pigott, H. Linn, A. H. Halcombe, G. Colson. L. Jackson, H. 0. Skelton, AV. Moeller, G. M. Longstaft; veterinary surgeon, Mr. R. S. Wood; auditor, Mr. J. S. S. Medley. Appreciative reference was made by several speakers to the valued services which had been rendered by Mr. Grant during the past year and said that no effort was spared on his part to ensure tlio success of the society’s operations. Mr. AA r ashcr, who had been one of the vice presidents during the past year was nominated but, for private reasons, declined to accept the office for a further term. After a short discussion it was agreed that the ladies’ committee should also be appointed at this meeting and all the ladies present—Mesdames Grant, Andrews, Hill, Smcllie, Kurth, Langley, Groom, Giddy, Bates and F. Sampson were elected, with power to add to their number. GENERAL. Hearty votes of thanks were accorded to the judges, stewards, the Farmers Moat AA’orks. those who had lent paddocks, and all who had in any way rendered the society assistance during the year. A special vote of thanks was accorded to thej ladies’ committee for their efforts cn behalf of the society, and the hope was expressed that they would continue the same active interest in the affairs of the society.

A very hearty vote of thanks was also accorded the press, and the meeting terminated with a similar compliment to the president.