A. & P. “SUBS.”

Wairarapa Age, 14 August 1930, Page 5

A. & P. “SUBS.”

EXPERIMENTS IN TICKET DISTRIBUTION. CREDIT OR PREPAYMENT? There were several comments, at the annual meeting of the A. and P. Association yesterday, on the fact that some members who used their tickets at the last show had not yet paid their subscriptions. The hon. treasurer (Mr. A. G. Lawson) in touching on this question, said that it was too soon yet to say how the method adopted last year of sending out tickets in advance of the payment of subscriptions would work out Mr. H. Bannister wanted to know whether it would not be possible to stir up members who had not paid their subscriptions. The president (Mr. R. J. Barton) said that of 76 members listed in this category, two or three had paid up. They would get quite a lot of the remainder. Some members not only paid their subscriptions, but gave donations as well. Mr. H. Evans thought it would be a mistake not to- issue tickets to those who had not paid up. It would be better to write off unpaid subscriptions or else to send out tickets to these members the same as to everybody else, they should not make two classes. Mr. T. Caverhill thought the plan of sending out tickets before subscriptions had been paid should be tried out. Those who had not paid surely would do so. They could be summoned: if necessary. Mr. W. Perry said he was quite interested in this question. As an old member of the association, he recalled that they used to send out tickets in advance and the position got worse and worse, until they would have as much as £3OO on the books. Eventually it was decided to insist on pljSnent ’before tickets were sent out. /There was a great row over it at thOme, but the association was able to live through it. He did not want to be a prophet, but the next year or two would show whether they had been right m going back to the svstem of issuing tickets without prior payment of subscriptions. They would have other difficulty in changing the system back again. Mr. Caverhill said that times had changed. Many people did not care whether they went to the show or not If tickets were not sent out, these people would not come. There were too many amusements to-day. “These are people who have had their amusement out of us ” In answer to Mr. G. H. Perry Mr Caverhill said that 66 per cent, of the show societies sent out tickets before subscriptions had been paid. Mr. Barton said that at most of the shows he had visited the tickets bore a notification that tickets would not be sent out unless payment were made. Mr G. H. Perry said they should ascertain from the North Island A and P. Association what the practice was It was agreed that this should be