LINKING UP.

Timaru Herald, Volume XCVIII, Issue 18084, 17 November 1924, Page 12

LINKING UP.

A. AND P. ASSOCIATIONS. c OUTH ISLAND FEDERATION FORMED. A conference of repretentatnc** ol South Island Agricultural and 1 Associations was hold at UiO - church Show Grounds last week to tliscus.s a proposal td form it Kdcrauou p,’ 1 South Island Associations. Alt’ "• -li. Montgomery (Ranks Peninsula) piesided. and others present, were r-Alessr.-) J. A. Paterson (Temuka), J. D- Dah’.eil (Hawarden). J. H. Grigg (Ashburton), J. Jenkins (Courtenay), AA . C- Rudd (Marlborough), C. L. Orbed, J- E. 1. ! Cameron. and JX Grant (1 miaia), li. ! AY. Kitchinghain (West Coast), J. Jarnnui (Westland), D. J. Ross (Palmerston South), R. E. Alexander and RW. Lochheud (Canterbury), Arthur Johnson (Otago), Jas. King and DCwthberLsoii (Southland). I The proposuJ was brought forward at I a meeting of representatives of the ! Associations during the Canterbury A. | and P. Association’s Ram lair in l March hist, and as tho result of tlio | discussion a committee was set tip to formulate a constitution for the proposed body. The committee did so, and the draft constitution was discussed at a meeting of representatives of the Association, held in Dunedin during the Winter Show period, borne i alterations and amendments were suggested, and the constitution was referred back to olio committee, which ro-frained some of tho clauses of tho constitution. _ _ _ . . , The secretary (Mr G. G. Denniston) icported that out of 41 Associations communicated with, -0 had signified their approval of the proposal, two hiul disapproved of it, somo had made inquiries as to tho expense likely to be involved in connection with the matter, and a number had not answered tho Canterbury Association’s letter on tho question. Air Johnson said that although he had not been present when the question was being discussed by his Association, lie understood that members were opposed to the proposal on the grounds that it was ielt such a federation was not necessary, and that it might usurp some of the functions of lire various societies. It was also felt that the Royal Society being subsidised by the Government, would always carry, more weight than a federation. The chairman said that tho question of expense in connection with the proposal had been gone into, and it was considered that the figure would be about £l5O a year, AYith regard to tho question of a Royal Show, tho position was that while the Show was for the whole of the Dominion, the headquarters of tho society were in tho North Island. Such a position -was not satisfactory so far as the South Island was concerned. Air It. W. Lochhead (Canterbury) said that at one time there was a motor association for tho whole of the Dominion, when Wellington got all the “pull.” Subsequently a South Island Alotor Association was formed, and tho result had been most beneficial to the South Island. Ho looked at the question this way: The interests of tho North Island were not identical with those of the South Islay;'' He was sure better results wniE lie obtained if a South Island Federation wero formed. If the money spent in •sending delegates to tho North Island were pub into the federation the question ot expense could he dealt with satisfactorily- Ho would object to North Island men coming down to Christchurch to conduct theßoyal Show, being of tho belief that Canterbury should conduct its own Show. Air AV. G. Rudd said that his committee thought the Royal Society could carry out everything tho proposed federation aimed at, for the time being al least. The committee felt, however, that it .should be given a little longer to deal finally with the question. For the sake of Marlborough he hoped that the question would be deferred to a later date. In the past the Agricultural Council had not given his Association ns fair treatment as it should have received. He hoped, the Royal Society would treat it better. Air C. L. Orbell (Tiniaru) urged that the matter should be dealt, with at once—it was no good to “fiddle” about it. He thought that a federation would he able to bring about a number of improvements in matters connected with allows, such as the establishment of a register of judges and arranging for improved railway facilities. Air -Johnson said that with regard to the question of a list of judges, he felt that the A. and P. Associations ■should not ’he responsible for tho names, in his opinion being thflt it was the various Rreed Associations that should accept, that responsibility. Air Lochhead said that Cook Strait constituted a big hurdle for South Islanders. Many people from Invercargill oi' even .Dunedin found Wellington too far away to visit on business, but they would not be in a. .similar position if the federation met in various South Island centres. Air, Rudd moved that the oueslion lie deferred until March. 1925. Bv doing this, he said, replies could he received from all the Associations that had been written to. This was seconded ov Mr Johnson, hut on being put to the meeting was lost on the voices. j Air Orbell moved Hint a federation lie set up and that those societies willing to become members should hand in t heir names as members of the original fo-’V-ra t ion. Tho motion was secoiuled by Air Jenkins, was can ied. A (halt eondiiion was rrovi-ionaHy approved, rubr-ct, to amendments being made a l a gen ual meeting of dele- 1 "ate.-, in he ludd in ('h I i- 1 <-h n n-h dur- I dm file uevt, Ram Fair in Alaivli. j Messier Alexander ami Orbell and tlm heirmali wero appointed, a provision !I ' omniit'oe to alien I to necessary tnr iF'is Ik,fore flic meeting to he hold in .'• la i ch.