WANGANUI AGRICULTURAL ASSOCIATION.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXI, Issue 16604, 27 April 1916, Page 6

WANGANUI AGRICULTURAL ASSOCIATION.

THE ANNUAL MEETING.

REVIEW OF YEAR'S, OPERATIONS

ELECTION OF OFFICERS

- The annual general meeting of the Wanganui Agricultural Association was held yesterday afternoon at the Wanganui Freezing- Company's . Boardroom. There were present: The President, Mr C. G. Russell (in the chair), and Messrs L. P. Sherriff, C-Smith, J. Gorman, A. Burnett, T. D. Cummins, H. G. Lewis, A. Robinson, J. Barnes, D. McGregor, J. G. Feeney, A. C. Lees, J. Hodges, Jas. Grant, A. O. Hardy, Jas. Higgie. J. McGregor J. Allison, E. N. Liffiton^. D-. G. Poison, J. McMillan, C. Burnett r F. Moore. Apologies were received for the absence of Messrs H. V. Hammond Geo. Smith. F. W. G. Herdman, J. T. Sinclair. PRESIDENTIAL REPORT. The President (Mr C. G. Russell) presented the following report:— In submitting the balance sheet for the year, your committee has to. report, despite the influence of the war, a, successful year's work. The Show, from all points of view, compared favoxirably with former Shows. The heavy horses and fat cattle were very fine exhibits. The subscriptions received during the year -amounted to £813, including two life members. -We have now a membership of 180 life and 1100 ordinary meumbers ; of these, I am proud to report, over two hundred are. taking part in military -operations in different parts of the world. : -

' 1/am sorry to say there is over £500 of unpaid subscriptions, and I would ask the members to pay-up as soon as possible, as the. Association is urgently in need of this money. - ■. i

The committee are very grateful to the ladies of the town and country for the very valuable assistance they have given to this Association. We have, also to thank the Wanganui Jockey Club for the free use of: the, grounds, and the Wanganui Freezing Company for the free use of their rooms and freezing space. • . V .In conclusion I would, ask all members to do all they can to help the Association in the coming years. Your committee has spent a lot of time in preparing a scheme for the economic worlnng of the Association. This scheme will be presented to the incoming committee, and if carried out, will, I am sure, put the Association on a sound financial footing.

The President, in speaking to the report, said he was sorry "that the past year was not as good,;: perhaps, as previous years. ' When Mr Hammond left the presidential chair the Association was at,the "top of its form," but since then a strenuous time had bo^n experienced. Possibly mistakes had been made, but the biggest "mistake" was a generous one—the collection of funds for .patriotic purposes on the Show grounds, which amounted to £362 lls. 9d. The members of the Association were; only too anxious to assist such a laudable object, but had the Association run a patriotic show on its own the money would, have gone through their receipts. To-day the Association was practically £400 worse oft' than before. Continuing, the President said they would all be proud of the fact that 2i'O members were --taking ; part-in ..niliivu-y service somewhere in the world. This meant that the Association did ~ot.receive those subscriptions, . nor did they I regret that fact. A number of l.ieaibers had also resigned. In conclusion the President thaniwd : the outgoing committee for the way they a 'carried out their duties, and for the splendid attendances at rjie committee meetings. NEED FOB, ECONOMY. Mr F. Moore said the Association had a serious position to face, as the balance sheet showed a loss of £487 compared with the previous year. They .were faced with two alternatives — either they would-have to abandon the Show while the war was on—that would Ibo regrettable-^or else work off £500 on the expenses side. The committee went carefully into the matter of prize money, but it cou'd not be knocked down much without affecting the standard of the Show. He thought perhaps that judges could be secured closer at hand, seeing that one was brought from Invercargili last year. Wages would haye1 to be reduced, and members might have to consider doing some of the work themselves. It was no good talking in an optimistic way. Had they had bad weather for the Show they might have been faced with a loss of £1000 on the year's working. If they decided to hold the Show as usual, the members would have to be determined on working to improve the position. Mr J. Hodges, in endorsing the remarks of the previous speaker, said thafc the expenses of the two days killed the Show. He suggested that.classes which only drew one or two entries could be cut out, and he questioned whether it was necessary to have sin entrance near the recreation ground. Something would have to -be done by voluntary work. He did not like the idea of abandonment. It was very nice' to give a lot of people lunch, brit it did not pay. They would have to go into the whole matter,,and practice economy. ! THE WICKET STILL GOOD. Mr T. D. Cummins said the position was largely due to optimistic notions in connection with the Show. They had given a great deal more I money last year than they should have done. They thought they would run on the same lines as in previous • years and add to their popularity by increasing the prize money. There were prob. 1 ably 250 members away at the front, 1 whose subscriptions would be kept , going. Those two items alone, would cover the amount lost. It would be absurd to abandon the Show. (Hear, hear.) Personally he would not allow himself to be nominated for the com- \ mittee, except for the fact that he knew i they would face, the position and get ' the money back. If-things were v<orJied properly this year the committee would be able to carry on the mow, and pull out of their difficulties. There was no doubt about that." ." In' spite of what they had gone through, they wer<s still on a good wicket. If "they were careful and the position was properly ' faced there would be no doubt ;*bont I the future. . • .-.-.. Mr Allan Robinson said h<? did n?t see any reason for discouragement. Tlk> position was encouraging. They bad

1 paid £998 in prize money,'/wHich was the largest ampunt paid in the history of the Association. _ fie did not liiink it would'be difficult" to save the amount lost last'year; If'they reduced ' the prize money £200, the exhibitors woui.l be satisfied. He would be sorry if the .members thought they were in deep water and could not get out. The position could be retrieved very easily. Members: Hear, .hear/ , SHOW TO BE HELD. The President said £he next ques&ion to decide was whether, the Show would be held this year. Personally he had no doubt- of its success. Shows were an education to the public, and particularly to any one. who intended to go on the land. It.rthe Show, was abandoned ' they would .have to- start r:ght from the bottom again. In past years they had been in a worse position tl'an at.-the present-tintse. Already s: tions had been made to improve the position. The President^then moved that the Show be held-as usual this year.Mr. F. Moore: I merely stressed the need of economy, and I am also of the opinion that the Show should be held.

Mr A. Burnett drew attention to the fact that the gross receipts, were but £130 less than for the previous year. Personally he could remember a time when he was one of the guarantors of £1500. They should remember that when the war was on things would not go on so smoothly, but there was no need to be discouraged. It would be deplorable if they were to close down for even one 'year, as the results of past organisation would be lost, and they would have to build up again. They had assets," and were not bankrupt. As a patriotic Show the last Show was a good one, and a great success. (Hear, hear). Mr C. Burnett said splendid work had been done by the members of the committee, and particularly by the secretary. (Hear, hear.) They had had an unhill fight, but it would be a mistake not to hold the Show. The President's motion was carried unanimously. GRAND MARSHAL. The President paid a warm tribute to the Grand Marshal, Mr J. T. Sinclair, who he said had done yeoman service in the past. The President moved that this officer should be elected at the annual meeting, and that he should hold an ■ ex-officio position on the committee. The motion was carried. ELECTION OF OFFICERS. The following officers were elected: President, Mr C. G. Russell (re-elect-ed) ; vice-presidents, 'Messrs. Alfred Burnett, Don McGregor (re-elected), and G. McGregor; Grand MarshnJ, Mr J. T. Sinclair (re-elected); committee, Messrs J. B. Murray, J., T.. Sinclair, G. McGregor, A.' Rotiinson, A. O. Hardy, Norman Moore, J. McMillan, F. C. Fantham, T. D. Cummms. James Grant, L. P. Sherriff, W. G. Moore. H. G. Lewis, H. R. Cornford, A. C. Galloway, Claud Smith, W. H. Baines, J. G. Feeney, Fred-Handley, F. G. W. Herdman, A. P. Mullins, G. McGregor, E. O'Meara, C. G. Ross, P. Snowden Taylor, F. W. Ward, D. Ross, J. Wilson; hon. veterinary surgeon, Major Maxwell Edgar (re-elect-ed) ; hon. architect, Mr T. H. James (re-elected); hon. solicitor, Mr. T. Allison (re-ejected); hjon. treasurer, Mr A. O. Hardy (re-elected); hon. Surgeon, Dr. Hatheriy; auditor (reelected), Mr W. G- F. Hall (re-elect-ed.)