THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. SATURDAY, AUGUST 11, 1928. THE A. AND P. ASSOCIATION

Wairarapa Age, 11 August 1928, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. SATURDAY, AUGUST 11, 1928. THE A. AND P. ASSOCIATION

In many . respects, the Masterton A. and P. Association is* enviably ? placed. The fine Showgrounds at iSolway are not only noteworthy for their beauty, but are a very commercial asset, Financially, the association is in a very strong position, and the nominal loss suffered on last year's Show counts for little against the fact that the buildings and ether improvements at Solway are valued on the association’s books at considerably les? than a third of their real .value. The value of the association! to the AjSfirict,; and its ability to pursue the pdiicy of progressive enterprise to which it is committed are, however, measured and will continue to be measured less by factors of this kind than by the amount of active support it .receives from the people of town and country. • The amount of good the association can do in fostering primary industry and in encouraging the adoption of improved methods is determined by the amount of support it receives from financial! members. As the retiring treasurer (Mr. D. Ogilvy) pointed;out yesterday, there is no reason why, in a district like this, the association should not double its present membership. At the same time, it is obviously very much to the advantage of the district that the association should attain the biggest membership possible. The ultimate effect of the association’s enterprise is to increase and cheapen production, and this is the true and only way\of promoting and extending general prosperity. It should be the easier for the society to secure an increased membership since it is being administered from a thoroughly progressive standpoint. Good work has been done by Mr G. H. Perry, Mr. D. Ogilvy and" the other officials who retired yesterday, and there is no doubt that this work will be continued capably by the incoming president (Mr. W. F. McLaren), executive and committee. Ample scope is being given for the energy and enthusiasm of young men in the administration of the association, a policy that was warmly endorsed yesterday by a number of speakers, and notably by Mr. James McGregor Senr. Mr. McGregor is himself about as bad an example as could be cited of tho wisdiom of preferring young;mem to men cf mature age in positions of administrative responsibility, because he combines in an_ altogether exceptional degree the tempered experience of the veteran wit»h an energy and enthusiasm wholly youthful. There are other veteran members* of the association—men like Mr. David Smith—who also show themselves capable of taking a keen and active part in its affairs. In .general, however/ the policy of letting young men take the load is well-advis-ed. In approving a motion proposed

yesterday by Mr. Perry, that past pr«■sideii'Ls should have a seat on tho committee without voting power, the association appears to have femnd an excellent means pf retaining some of its veterans in useful serviee while putting the principal load of working responsibility on yeung men.