The Agricultural and Pastoral Society.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume XVIII, Issue 1730, 7 September 1885, Page 2

The Agricultural and Pastoral Society.

A DEPUTATION FROM MASTERTON WAITS UPON THE COMMITTEE. THEY WANT THE ANNUAL SHOW HELD AT MASTERTON. THE COMMITTEE DON’T SEE IT. The long talked of interview between the deputation appointed by the Masterton Farmers’ Club and the Wairarapa and East Coast Pastoral and Agricultural Society’s Show Committee took place on Friday at Carterton. That the Farmers Club of Masterton were really serious in their proposal of shifting the Show from Carterton to Masterton was evident, judging by the influential deputation sent down ; it comprised Messrs Hawkins, Perry, Meredith, Caselberg, Chamberlain, Fittou, and another. The Pastoral Society was represented by nearly all the Show Committee from all parts of the Valley. The President, Mr W. C. Buchanan, MH. 11., in opening the discussion, referred to the correspondence he had received frem the secretary of the Masterton Farmers’ Club announcing the intentions of that body and the overtures they wished to make to the Wairarapa Association.

Mr Hawkins asked them to dismiss from their minds what they had read about the matter in the papers. There was no doubt a feeling of antagonism between the towns in the Valley, but Masterton had made tapid strides since the railway had been carried through. It could not be denied that Masterton was the centre of a large population, and the gate money should be one of the greatest considerations. The deputation were against raking up the past. They would look at the question from a farmer’s and stockman’s point of view, and they should decide in forwarding the best interests of the Valley generally. There was no doubt that the present debt was hanging like a millstone round the necks of the Association.

The Chairman at some length explained that as regards the letter written by Mr Booth to the Masterton Club, Mr Booth had written the letter with the full consent and at the request of the Show Committee, and that the letter faithfully reflected the committee’s unanimous opinion in the matter. He (Mr Buchanan) reviewed, very carefully, the rise and progress of the Wairarapa Pastoral Society. He said that formerly the Society had hold their meetings alternately at Tauherenikau and Masterton, and the last time the Show was held at Masterton was in the year 1877 ; the regime under which these Shows were conducted collapsed, and then a meeting was held at Carterton for the purpose of founding the Society upon a sounder basis. At a meeting held in the second week of August of the year 1877, upon the motion of Mr Beetham, seconded by himself (Mr Buchanan), it was resolved to form the present Association. Some few days after that a meeting was held at Masteitou, the outcome of which and subsequent meetings was the Carterton Shew on June 21, 1878. The utsl step was to secure a piece of land suitable tor a Show ground, and eventually tne present site was b..ng(it from ill- Booth ana Mr Bennett Jur the sum of £OOO. A sum of CCOO was men rai.e.l by debentures to prepare the ground, ei«ct buildings, sheep and cattle pens, Ac. The settlers m the Valley generally were committed to the onus of the mortgage, to prove which he would read a memorandum subscribed to by delegates from the several pans of the Wairarapa, be (thechairman) had paid great attention to the remarks made by Mr Hawkins as the leading spokesman of the deputation. He had no more desire to rake up the past than had Mr Hawkins, but he was equally as anxious as to the success of the future- Mr Hawkins had told them that the town interests were not to be their only study, but the pastoral and farming interests demanded their greatest consideration ; he quite agreed with tliat idea, and he urged that by looking at the matter in the light shown by Mr Hawkins, it would be very unwise to take the step advocated by the Masterton deputation; he wished them to fully understand that the great majority of the exhibitors at the Shows were settlers in the southern and central parts of the valley, and even with all these resources, at present, they had not the amount of stock he would like to see exhibited at their annual shows, such as he considered the valley should produce ; how then would it be if they attempted to establish two shows every year in tho Wnirurapa. The primary object of the Shows was to encourage the stockowners to foster a spirit of emulation, in the way of producing the beat of the several kinds and continually improving the quality ■ of their breeds, not merely to beuelil the tradespeople and others living in the towns where these annual gatherings were held. He was inclined to think that the object of tho deputation was for the latter purpose. He could not possibly arrive at any other conclusion. He would, in t-uppoit of this remark refer to the observations made by the Masierlou meeting when the proposed removal was lirst mentioned.

Mr Hawkins said ho must take exception to the remarks just fallen from Mr Buchanan, they were takeu from a newspaper report only, and in his idea unreliable. Mr Buchanan said he did not wish to arguo that matter. tie was merely going to refer to the report in the Star to shew that the change was not required by any settlers outsido of Masterton, and the stockowners would endorse what he said in that respect. The general opinion all over the Valley outside of Masterlou was, that at the present time no change was necessary, and would nut conduce to success, lie quoted tiio fact of tho Wanganui Show held in the large town being a laiiure, whereas Urn Napier Show held at Hastings was eminently successful. Let them all work together for r the good of too whole valley, and leave all minor and petty local cousuleiaUons out of the question. Mr W. li. Beetbam said that no person in that room bud the interests of Masterton muie in consideration than himself. In his mind there could not be a more pleasant place, but calculating ail the obstacles in tho way he thought it inadvisable to remove tne Snow in the meantime, lie pointed out ah the necessary expenses that Wvtda be outaih d by binning, and was ot opinion that these expenses would amount lo more than was estimated. As a large landowner in Masterlon ho strongly recoining: ded them lo by a.l means avoid a spirit of antagonism to the established Association.

.Ur J. JDouuld wished to know explicitly what was Uib purpoitof the deputation s proposaxa. Were tuey prepart-a to meet the present liability. .Ur Booth said that there w«s no answer reijuuea it the Masterton Farmers’ Club had duty considered hid letter, lie was satisfied Unit there was an absence of any practical or substantial reason given by tne Masterton (hub lor the proposed change. They could not claiui it on '.he basis of population, because ui populut.cn Musteuou was in a

minority. Taking tbe gate money into consideration, or looking at it from any other point of view, it would be doing a great wrong to the majority o£ settlers in tiie Valley to remove the bhow. Oreytowu, Feuthotbton, and the Lower Valley had every right to be heard in the matter. Sometime, in the distant future, two shows might prosper, but ,nt the present time such an idea could not be entertained with any prospect of success. He said, bad the Editor of the Star been present (whoso active mind made him misebevous and meddlesome in many things) he would have told him that certain remarks made by him (die Editor) at the meeting of the Club m Masterton were uutounded ; he would have shown him that they (the Association) were not bankrupt, but had ample moans. .Mr ,I'orry in a.l'ire.-f ing the mot-ling -aid he thought the basis ol the amount of stock in the Masterton district should lie lakrn into consideration. Taking Masterton as a centre, it would be tar easier of access for '•« than Carterton, and stock U»~- -

he thought from a Imr-in. i' ' M ’.l <1 view T would bo an adv.'-.u-v ! • ' a.; • » whole to make >■; ',•!!■ t tm h-a ■ ", '- 1 ' Of course, bo knew : . hVatbmt •'< end Lower Valley had to be cornddemi ; it mignt perhaps he a litllo fmtln r'for the exliihitnis from those parts to drive their cattle, but the advantages the other way would counterbalance this. Mr W. B. Bidwlll said, that from a stockowner’s point of view he did n<d consider even Carterton n centra, hut tlmuuht Masterton altogether out of it. If the main opinion of the settlers was against any particular m;d he would he perfectly willing to waive any rights in deference to the wishes of tiro majority, hut considering that Messrs Stuckey and Booth,am had hem the only contnl.utors of stock from tlio Muhtorimi *iisti id \\“. uid not think at the present lime the Masterlcm poople had any claim for a removal of dio show. If Masterton agreed to wipe oil some of the debt they might perhaps hold two shows in the course; of the year, but the Lower Valley would nsver agree to ho,d Ihc annual show at Mnstortou. Mr Meredith said that thcywoic all MWf. that a society, called the Maelcrtou Kimm’ Club, had resolved to tako into consideration the experiment of forming a I’astoral Association, and Messrs Beclhnm, Hawkins and himself had been twitted with throwing cold water upon the project ; but it could not be concealed that there was a detenmnutmu of holding a show at Masterton. The _ deputation was present to advise the Wairatapa Society to coalesce with them in forming a powerful combination. He would exceedingly regret to see two Shows in the course of the year, jarring with one another, when one would be a success. The copulation had come there with feelings of the utmost friendliness ; they had also come there to tc-11 them (the Pastoral Society) that the nucioas of a new Society bad already been laid, and they at this side of the Waingnwa could not stop it. (A Voice— ■’ And wo don’t wish to do so.”i Ho could arsuro the Pafatmal Society that they at Masterton could command ft superior position to that the Society held at present, and he was sorry to hud that they had met at Carterton more of a public meeting than a committee. The Chairman, iu answer to -Mr Bidwill, said if any change was ever thought of, it could only bo effected by a general meeting of the Association.

Mr H. B. Bunny said they were only wasting time in discussing what must be apparent to anyone, viz., the impossibility of holding their Show at Masterton. It teemed to him that the only legitimate couise lor tho Masterton people to adopt would he to help to work off tho debt of the Wairurupa I’aderai Society, and then to have afterwards tried to persuade them that Muste-iton was the Wairarapa. lit what was called the ultimatum meant tho removal, ho could not see that it made any difference if this was a Show Committee or a general meeting of members. The Chairman said they had recently raised £OOO of the outstanding debt, aud now £601) of liiihililies only remained. Mr Hawkins in a rather warm aud emphatic maniier said he would like to know positively if the real debt of the Association was it 1200 or £OOO. Mr Booth replied that practically the debenture debt was paid off mid tue actual deficit was only £OOO.

Mr Buchanan said it Mr Hawkins would only listen to replica to his que-slh ns ho would find ihnt some of the promises were conditional. Mr Hawkins would lind that he (.Mr B.) was not usually wanting in straightforwardness, and Mr Booth had supplemented his remarks. Mr Hawkins said ho then understood that tho debt was only £OOO. His linn belief was, tnat if that was really all the deficit it could easily ho disbursed, if they would only consider the question of shifting the show to Maderlou. [No, no j Ho wished them to understand that Masterton had not repudiated the debt, and ho knew that the setilem south el the Wuingawa required tho greatest of consideration, as they hud hitherto been the greatest contributors to the Show. He would like to ask whether the Association would he prepared to shift the Show next year, and what answer wore they to take back to Masterton. They had come there with the express desire to prevent the evil of the existence of two Shows in the Valley. Mr Booth said that if it was at all likely that the proposal would be carried, ho did not think the debt would he affected to the extent of £3OO. He would point out to Mr Hawkins, who looked at only one side of the question, that they had every right to come there and give their views as to where they would like the division of the Valley. If it, at any time, turned out that it would be a good thing for the whole of the Valley to go to Masterton, then he would recognise the fact, but that time bad not conic yet ; if it did over come to that, then he would hail tho circumstance with complaisancy. He was assured that at presemt the centre and lower part of the Valley had far the strongest voice in tho matter, both on the basis of population and in the pastoral interests. He should, at any lime, decline to say that he was, in anyway, responsible for such a uivisjon as the Masterton de| ui.-i-ou advocaUd, if it unhappily takes plat. Mr Boys said U.ai v> inn the Committee were elected it was n. .-r ■ n.t plated that such a gmve *[ue. - 1■ ia. 1,-.!, .ome before them, T'r.-m u,.- unc- .-i -.. ceting of the Sock tv in ini, !< .c .. 1 1 n recognised by tin. Van. .. !■■■ i - .no present site forthc Show .. i i.., quesliou was, Were tm:;. to | i'i -i n. -nation at the request of tin- M isU.i. n . .i... .s’ Club 1 He thought licit such a., m.i " i m:,; question should he (o o-Mcicd ly ic- .-.i:< ;o i.I the members .-I the Association. A., a Show Committee ili.y could iu.-i. i..r a moment entertain the ii• •(.•m. Mr C .sella ig s-at he tic light they w. ifgoing oil at IV langic.l .n.il i-iinin.io:. il vm-m-.ves to the mow.- oi ilm ™ lie c-, i.d-.-lion were appointed by a Snch-tt l ot m emhiy.i, hut :,iie..d> in uto. 1 lie

Mastoilon hoi.'irly iiid i:oI w . aH y > bog;, lo the history of your S. mt • pm- ■ hj iieimi '• and your Society,' f 1 m .......id lid:', \\ bat answer are yo i e.r, : take bael; to .Mast: I on.' Huy ',a,b ; no disruption, but t . onim. ]• -eu.n to him that his Masterlou n ieie.is lee.i ill ugbt tint the Association would wihi g y ;..ti (tcqu'iMco in the j u po-od iln.ngi. i,u m that they appealed lo nave t'.-cn liiis'. -len. I'e: soualU lie knew noihn g ai on: .-to.-k, but ho RUppm-i d lie was a pp.e el eg imi the mq utatlen because lie leprt.-i nted i.bc ' . • in!ei —is <■{ Masterton, us iiid li;.- tneiui Mr Ib'oti;, thoi-C o' C'allei !"ii, teiicli Mr. li.iiie-ls ■. el e tUtwined wnb the faru.ei s ami , i-t.a u ini mi-sis. i J.e qiieeti. n was, t.’oiild tin itto latoies ha’.o some debaiiible ground to wmk upon ? 11s thought the debt was only nim aiguinent against Tie nmoval. (to the smith ol the Wamgawa them s, eimd to : e an opinion, ti.al, (hut-rtoii wu., (he on.;, eonipn inisw. He would eoi eee.e that Ma-miion hud its iiuviii,tapes ami id.ai its ill;. .id Ullages :Mr Hawkins had irifoimud luiu turn he thought tho people in the s. u ii Would bo prepamd to move it the pie.-cut debt was extinguished. They were told that ibis was only a uiittee, if so they shoiiid only linen to lue views from Masterton, us in giving an answer without the giiniul opinion of their society , they would bo only speaking *• without the book." The Association extended over a large area. Ho thought it would be unwise to arrive at any decision upon that occasion, as the show committee had no power to couuu't their Society either ways. He would say, Meet your Society and kt us know the result."

Mr Hawkins said lie differed from Mr Cnselberg ; lie should hold the Show Committee responsible for not calling a general meeting of its members together* before this to decide. Ho thought it hardly fair to Masterton to take any other view ot tbc matter ; ho thought they (tbe show committee) had by themselves practically settled the matter. If they had any doubt about the answer, they surely would uot have placed the deputation in a false position. The ones!urn was " Did the Show Committee hold. • ot any hopes, or did they not "" it appeared to be a general .-p hi ion mimin' the committee lira lit- uar hei i■-»")!.o m. n r ,m answer ; he was or opinion mat m lae yearn hence they wet : d get much such an answer m at

tout itmepu--<.i-t. litcy v. ic rutsud to an answer in M.-t-rt-ii by --.0r.-ay nex,. It would Lot U i..:r hj .-end t. . m back wuhcul a deci-ed answer vt a v.tom.se. The Chairman s-.d the Me question a issue was Ue hare tact of shißing iu ..Rst.rtou- lit did Lot thinK the fci , ■; .. mittte wouM o,- justuied in casing the A';.c jt.cn together to consioer sucii a m-. d question as tout. Thite weeks we to f ;v. .. t.tem by the Maateiton C ub to u-urn an answer ; did the deputation tnii.w they we e p.ii- ; t'» lush cut ciitu'ars asking li.e tw-’s of individual members ? lie no| ei tin.-, e explanations Would be suilicieut to ten him.-e;l and ratitri. rs of the bnow Cotnuott. e oiaDvi;e:.f e.iehunu the ucputatiuxi. jit. r ail, Cait.-n.-u a- a n,.i.,e .vh-iein tm,Lower Vii it tc- the toil->ii lo ~ P. was a we:, kv.w.i and c-rt An tact tha: l. t Lower Valley toiiia never to to Muateito.: (Ht.tr, hear.) Mr Chiiiuleriain sail the people in the routu had ago . : .d to tr.iv... i.u, but many pai;.« -to. . otti. they Lai not the sum.- Lencril. Me.--is 1.0i.0s aim lorns i.a i aitea-ty goon yai-is in Mattel ton which e--ui i la .-i.tali:;;! e and made tiiiuba- at a smai: ew • r..--. it U.e oputatieu f..iiid only in-li_-e I.— AsS.ciativU to g 0 to MaSlettoU they w. ui i nave a show second to n-.rre iu tut colony. Ait tj.'ou. iJ Mr Hawkin.-. who appear : to be ;ite head sp.seamht.it tin- uej atai. ■ ntt formuiited any pi-pi uni. If ne ii.nl done 6'j, and it couiu CemmeaJ it.-eif Bo majority cf the setters, be for one- woihd how to tueir decision, hut he tnought it was c ui assumption on the part oi lue deputation to assert that toe bimw Committee were nil prepared to meet them. After some further uesmtory discussion it was resolved to call a genet M meeting ol tic Association cn batuuiay week next to give a decided an»wu. Mr Hawkins then handed to the Chairman the following question to be submitted to the Association “ In the event of tire rhbt bear,, satisfactorily provided for and tit arratifiinenti mace at Masttnou, will the Society be prepared to concur with the Mastvrton Association iu holding a Show in that town ntit year ? ’’ Tie deputation then withdrew. The io.lowing were among the Show Committee present: Messrs W. C. Buchanan, M.H.R.. (Chairman), A. Matthews, H. R. Bunny, E, Dorset, J. Reynolds, W. Beetham, H. Lcetbam, N. Gaace, U. Braithwuite, J. lioaaid. B. Boys, J. W. Bidwiil, B. Kimteiiey and Andersen.