A. AND P.

Timaru Herald, Volume XCVIII, Issue 18030, 19 January 1923, Page 5

A. AND P.

TIMARU ASvSOCIATION.

THE ANNUAL REPORT.

The following is a precis of the re port to be presented at the annua meeting of the A. and P. ,Associatior to-day by the President (Mr T. It Rhodes): — I have pleasure in stating that from the. point of view of the Society’s activities as well as from. a financial standpoint, the past year has been one of the most successful years in the Association’s annuals. The balance sheet shows remarkable progress. The capital balance as at the year ending 31st December, 1921, stood at £4484 6s lOd, and this year this amount has been increased to £4848 9s, an advance in assets over liabilities of £364 .2s 2d net profit for the year. This amount could have been increased, but we are gradually adding to the Show many new attractions with a corresponding increase in

prize money. During the year the Association has lost some valuable members —Patron, Mr Arthur E. G. Rhodes; committeeman, Mr A. E. T. Rhodes- life members, Mr John Withell and Miss McLean. The loss to the Society has indeed been a serious one, particularly the. loss of Mr A. E. T. Rhodes, who,; besides oocupying an official position in the Association, also took an active, enthusiastic and helpful interest in the working of the Show. During the year, the grounds have received every attention and improvements have been effected. A substantial new- cattle shed of 52 stalls has been built. The pig pens ware pulled down and removed to a place north of the cattle pens. . This allows more room for the cattle section and in place of the pig pens, a new cattle judging ring was formed and much appreciated during the Show. A long ielt want has been met in the making of 13 sheep holding paddocks, which were farmed on a piece of the Show grounds behind the horse boxes. These were very much appreciated by the exhibitors at the late Show, and saved the necessity of removing the sheep men the grounds over night.

Representatives of the Forestry Department were introduced by Mr T. D. Burnett, M.P., to l the sub-committee of the _ Association. This committee went with the Department’s representatives to various parts of South Canterbury inspecting plantations and loolcmg into possibilities of afforestation. A good deal of useful information was collected, and as a result a permanent sub-committee of the Association has been formed to watch this side of the district’s progress, and to confer from time to time with the Forestry Department. The Council of Agriculture has been endeavouring for some time to institute in this Dominion an event which takes

pride of place amongst all other agrieuitural exiiiLutiozid iu tile Old Juana — that is, a Royal Agricultural know, — aim to tins end the Oouncii approached uuring the year your Committee, with tlie ouject ox soliciting our co-operation m obtaining members. The suggested Royal fcUow would be held iu various agricultural sliow centres in New Zealand, and would do a good deal to attract to the Dominion visitors interested in agricultural and pastoral development. ■ The Show would be a movable one, the various centres would take turn in holding it, and its awards would obtain almost a world-wide recognition. The five years’ lease of the show grounds expired in November last, and fresh tenders were called for another five-year period. The successful tenderers were the North End Golf Club, and they have taken oil the grounds at an annual rental of £52, this showing a fair increase over the amount paid by the previous lessees. The new arrangements made with the “Timaru Herald” Company! for printing the catalogues and schtiduies have not only meant a big saving to the Association, but tend to greater efficiency and expedition in getting out the work. The last annual show was not favoured with the most suitable weafiher. Notwithstanding this, however, 'the gates showed no appreciable decrease, and the many attractions succeeded in making the crowds forget to a great extent the actual discomfiture of the day by the keenness of the competitions and the quality of the exhibits. Besides the regular prizes, donations of three valuable cups were made, as under; —“Timaru Herald” Company, given for most points in Jersey cattle; A. S. Eliworthy's Holme Station Challenge Cup, for the South Canterbury cow producing the greatest butter-fat test; All- I. Andrew’s cup for most

points in Border Leicesters. These donors were suitably thanked' by the Committee for their generosity. The cutstanding feature of the Show this year was the Jersey cattle exhibit. This, no doubt, has been caused by the endeavours and fostering care of the S.C. Jersey Cattle Club; and, judging by the high standard of the exhibits and the great public interest taken in them, this section will now be one of the main attractions of the Show for cattle breeders and all interested in stock. The cattle throughout, all sections were well up to previous standards. A departure this year wero special demonstrations of the breeds of various cattle in the cattle-judging ring. These (were to have been held, but owing to the cattle sale having to be postponed from the previous night till next morning the

holding of the demonstrations had to be delayed, and the high wind blowing ■ mado it almost impossible to hold a satisfactory demonstration. However, j Air Dermer, the judge of Jersey cattle, gave a very' interesting lecture, which j was very much appreciated. Another departure which the Committee inaugurated this year- was the cattle sale, which took place'on the grounds. The sale was a decided success, Jerseys were in particularly strong demand, good, prices were obtained, and this will now be another permanent feature at the annual show gatherings. The sections for horses and shoep more than held their own against previous years, and the judging in the® sections, as in all other sections, gave general satisfaction. The pig section also allowed a big increase in entries, and the holding accommodation of the pens was over-

taxed. Under the capable management j of the various officials the working of the annual Show passed off without one j disagreeable incident and a smoothness and absence of friction that speak volumes for all who took partßand reflects incidentally on the work of the secretary, who seems to have the facility for getting the best out of the Committee without any obtrusiveness on his part. Considering the great difficulty, also, in judging the multitude of entries, and the fact that in many cases the decision becomes a matter of personal opinion, the general endorsement given to.the finding of the judges reflects most favourably on the impartiality of these gentlemen arid on the sportsmanlike spirit of the exhibitors. The Association wislh to express their appreciation of the strong support given by the farming and agricultural community of South Canterbury, whose valued support in membership, entries and attendance has made it now one of the leading Show's in New Zealand. Nevertheless, your directors consider that further improvements can be looked for on the lines of more exhibits and

increased membership, and would suggest to members that this year each one. obtain another member for-the Association before the date of the next annual meeting. The Association wishi the farming community a prosperous ’23, and feel that there is something substantial towards the realisatioh of this wish in the position of the wool market and the fine prices that they are now obtaining at the stock sales. I wish in conclusion to record our thanks to the donors of special prizes, to the various officials who heloed in the working of the Association during the year, and particularly to the secretary, who has the interests of the Association so much at heart.