A. & P. AFFAIRS

Wairarapa Age, 11 August 1928, Page 5

A. & P. AFFAIRS

MEETING OF THE MASTERTON SOCIETY. I EETIBJNG PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS. INDICATIONS OF PROGRESS. I Although it was emphasised that more members are needed, the ruling note struck at the annual meeting of the Masterton A. and P. Association yesterday was one of confidence in the outlook. In keep- / k ing with the association's accepted policy, all the principal offices have changed hands this year. Mr. W. F. McLaren succeeds Mr. G. H. Perry as president, Mr. A. G. Lawson follows Mr. D. Ogilvy as hon. treasurer, and Mr. C. P. Vallance replaces Mr. Jas. McGregor, Senx., as patron. Moving the adoption of the annual freport and balance sheet, Mr. PerryBaid that the Show held in February last was in essentials a great success, la number and quality, the exhibits surpassed those of the previous year, but the finances of the society unfortunately suffered through rain on the second day. “The general publie, I am sure, do not realise the amount of work your committees do on Show day and at other times in connection with the Show,” Mr. Perry went on'to obteserve. “At the 1928 Show we handled ’over 1600 sheep, including 54 Lincolns, 219 Romneys, 250 Southdowns, 2 Cottiedowns and 31 Corriedales (in all, 556 stud sheep), together with 1069 fat sheep and lambs. The entries of unhoused purebred sheep are increasing, and the position generally as regards exhibits of sheep is encouraging. MORE JUDGES NEEDED. “The breed societies are, I understand, waking up to the fact that competent show judges are scarce, and I certainly should like to see more young men qualifying themselves to act in this capacity. Every judge of purebred. should have an understudy with him at the shows. Apart from the highly important work of judging farm animals, light horse judges are not too plentiful, and I really believe we may have to appoint ladies to some of these positions in future. Young men are not taking the interest in horses that girls and young women are. “We may fairly claim, I think, that our beautiful Showgrounds have been well maintained. Not only are the grounds, buildings and equipment in an excellent state, but the bush reserve, which is a splendid district asset, has been preserved with care and some trees have been planted. We can hand the grounds over to the incoming committee ir. first rate order, though to the process of improvement there is, of course, no end. “You will, I am sure, agree with mo that the duty of our organisation is not merely to organise an annual Show, but to take a sympathetic interest from the broadest standpoint in the progressive development of primary industry. We have emerged from the days of the pioneers, when rough and ready methods necessarily prevailed, and it is being brought home to us daily in many ways that the best -brains of our country are needed in farming industry in order that its problems may be solved effectively and that it may realise its full F possibilities as the foundation of national wellbeing. We must do what we can to encourage the best of our young people to engage in this industry. It offers them the most interesting profession in the world. USEFUL CRITICISM. “We should do our best also as an association to induce farmers to profit by the advice or criticism of those who handle our produce on oversea markets. The comments and criticisms of Mr. F. A. Ackroyd, of Bradford, on the deterioration of our wool have evidently borne good fruit, as he now states that the wool has improved. Criticism of this kind should in my opinion be welcomed. Well-informed and experienced experts like Mr. Ackroyd are in a position to do us a great deal of good. Every effort should be made to keep in touch with such men. One excellent means .of doing so would be to appoint a New Zealand representative to the Sheep and Wool Conference held in Bradford every year. “Another item of criticism that I noticed recently was embodied in a. statement published in Sydney last month. It was to the effect that some' of the long wool sheep sent from New Zealand to the recent Sydney stud sheep sales were far from creditable to the -breeders and that efforts would be made to secure stricter supervision by New Zealand bodies over the quality of exported animals. The sheep to which exception was taken had Flock Book registration certificates which entitled them to admission to the Australian register. It was added that the New South Wales Association had decided to submit all imported sheep to the fullest examination before acceptance and that it was probable that recent consignments would be rigorously culled if not rejected. Statements of this kind should not be passed over. On all grounds, and- not least on account of the importance of the export trade in stud sheep, it is essential that New Zealand should maintain the highest reputation where this trade is concern, od. If the Sydney criticism I have quoted is warranted, active steps should be taken to prevent any recurrence of euch an unsatisfactory state of affairs. If the criticism is not warranted, it should be rebutted. “We had an excellent display of wool at the last Show, and I hope it will be repeated this year. . concluding, I want to say a brief ' but sincere word of thanks to the committeemen and officials with whom I have been associated, some of whom are retiring this year. Their able and loyal co-operation has made my own task easy, and it has been pleasant indeed to work with them in the interests of our society and those of fanning industry. The enthusiastic work done has shown results in the increased number of Show entries. We have a young incoming committee, headed by a young president—l think the youngest we have had—and I feel sure the society will go on and prosper.” (Applause.) FINANCE AND MEMBERSHIP. In seconding the motion, the retiring hon. treasurer, Mr. D. Ogilvy, complimented the retiring president on his able address. The balance sheet, he went on to observe, showed a deficit of £155 14s. Bd. on the year’s working. This was after £336 Is. had been written, off for depreciation. The financial position of the society, however, had improved in twelve months by £159 17s

9d. The total revenue for the year amounted to £1651 12®. Bd., as against £lBB2 Bs. 9d last year. The total expenditure (including depreciation, £336 Is.) amounted to £lBO7 .7s. 4d.', ; hs : compared with £2023 6s. 3d. twelve months ago. The actual profit realised by the Show amounted to £los Is. 10d., as against £389 18s. 4d. a year ago. The annual loss on the luncheon department, Mr. Ogilvy observed, was far too heavy, and last year it was bigger than ever. He strongly advised the incoming committee to sell the rights’ for morning and afternoon tea and luncheon separately. Even if they only got five pounds apiece for these rights, this would- bo much better than incurring a loss of £5O or more. He was sorry that the membership roll did not show improvement. In a province likq the Wairarapa, there was no reason why the membership should not be lifted to 1500 or 2000. The amount of outstanding subscriptions (£222) was too high. In view of the present prosperity of farming industry, there was no excuse for delay in the payment of subscriptions. Mr. Ogilvy said, that as he had decided for private reasons not to seek re-election, this would be his last opportunity of addressing them. He had served as treasurer for five years, under four presidents and offered his thanks for the kind courtesy and consideration shown him by Mr. Perry, members of the committee, and previous presidents. (Applause.) (Continued on Pago 3.)