LIVING ON CHARITY

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVIII, Issue 21560, 24 January 1940, Page 8

LIVING ON CHARITY

Position of Waimate Winter Show Threats To Resign WAIMATE, January 23. “For years we have been living on charity,” was one of the descriptive remarks made by the newly-elected president of the Waimate Winter Show Society (Mr A. E. Wilson) when the Society’s financial position was being discussed at a special meeting to-night. The discussion on the Society’s finances was further enlivened by brisk interchanges between the secretary (Mr S. d’A. L. Grut) and Mr J. McRae, a member of the committee, both of whom threatened to resign. At the opening of the meeting, the president IMr F. J. Bailey) tendered his resignation. his principal reason being that he had not time to attend to the work. Mr Wilson, who was senior vicepresident. was elected in his place.

After thanking members for electing him to the office of president, Mr Wilson said he had been connected with the show for 20 years, and had been a judge for a considerable time. “I am stepping into office when the Society is at a very low ebb,” he continued. "This is a time when a man can do something. I am going to speak plainly. I do not want to hurt anyone’s feelings; I would be the last man to try to do that. This Society has really not deserved success. We have been going down and down. As an instance, we had four sub-com-mittees appointed and only one brought forward a report.”

Mr Wilson went on to say that the retiring president had mentioned that there had been poor support for the show. But no matter how hard a president worked, he needed loyalty and support. “If a man has a grievance, let him ventilate it at the table.” he added. “We have had a number of members leave the Society owing to personal grievances. They were merely pleasing the persons against whom they had the grievance, and at the same time they injured the Society. Two things require discussion: whether we can hold the show and whether we can make this a live Society. I believe we can make it a live Society.” (Applause.) “For years,” Mr Wilson remarked, “we have been living on charity. Without the generosity of the business men of the town we would not have been able to hold the show.” Loss On Show The secretary said there was an aggregate loss on the show of £24/1/8. Of that amount, £lO/8/1 had already been paid, and the balance was outstanding. In two years, the loss on the show had been £4l/11/11. Mr F. J. Bailey said that along with several others he had not collected prize money because the Society was in a difficult financial position. He would like to know if those amounts had been included in the loss. The secretary: I have paid out prize money to anyone who made application.

Mr Bailey: A few of us were under the impression that we should not collect the money in the meantime. I am not quibbling over a pound or two, but just want to show that the loss is greater than we think. The president said the secretary’s statement certainly showed that the position was very black. He thought prize money was a definite liability, and it should not be held back. He was of the opinion that the meeting should discuss the best ways of meeting the loss. Mr Bailey said the minutes mentioned that wealthy farmers should be approached. The secretary: “Are there any left?” He added that the minutes mentioned “provident farmers.” Mr Bailey: There are some wealthy ones. too. It was decided to enrol a minimum of 100 members at 5'- each. “Saying a Few Things” “I am going to say a few things, and I hope I do not tread on anyone's corns," Mr Mcßae said. He went on to state that sideshows had previously been suggested as a money-making proposition. The president: I do not think anything is to be gained by bringing up what happened last year. Mr Mcßae: We must have some attraction. The secretary: That means that people don’t want to attend for the sake of the poultry show? The chairman: The discussion should be confined to the liquidation of the debit balance. Mr Mcßae: The meeting will remember that we decided to invite representatives of other bodies to our annual meeting in 1939. How far did that go? The secretary: The invitations went out.

Mr Mcßae: Have you a copy of tin letter?

The secretary: “Yes." As he handed the file to Mr Mcßae, he remarked: “I hope you did not doubt my word.” Mr Mcßae: Mr Chairman, the secretary implies that I doubted his word. I would like to make it clear that I did not do so. There was an interchange of remarks between Mr Mcßae and the secretary,

the last-named claiming that Mr McRae had known the answer to the question he asked. In his question, he had given the year 1939 instead of 1938. Mr Grut thereupon threatened to resign. The chairman: I appeal to you strongly to bury the hatchet. I have been on societies all my life, and I have never allowed personalities to enter. If you allow this to proceed, we will lose both of you. I appeal to you Mr Mcßae to sink your difference. | Mr Mcßae: Why should we move resolutions, pass them, and not carry them out? The president: I will this year see that every decision is carried out. If Mr Grut and Mr Mcßae pull out. we might as well all pull out. Secretary’s Explanation Mr Grut: I would like to make an explanation. In 1938, I was instructed to send invitations for other bodies to attend our annual meeting. Some months later, I informed a meeting of the Society that I had omitted to do so. After that explanation, I thought the matter had closed. If any member is aware that I have not done what I should have done, I should like him to bring the matter up. But I did not like a trap being set by Mr Mcßae. He said 1939 instead of 1938. If members of the committee are not going to co-operate with me, I no longer want to be secretary. If it is going to be a case of masterly inactivity with the right to unrestricted criticism, then I don't want the work or the money. Mr Mcßae: I do not like this trap business. Mr Grut: Neither do I. Mr Mcßae: I do noj; want to do anything to put the Society out of existence, but I know in my own mind what I am going to do.

Mr Grut: So far as I am concerned, the subject is closed. It was decided to hold the annual meeting on February 20. A deputation is to wait on the Waimate A. and P. Society and the Waimate Branch of the Farmers’ Union to ask for support. The meeting passed a recommendation to the annual meeting that the show should be held.