Woodville Central A. and F. Association.

Woodville Examiner, Volume XXII, Issue 3881, 1 June 1906, Page 2

Woodville Central A. and F. Association.

ANNUAL MEETING,

The annual meeting of the Wooclville Central A. and P. Association was held in the Foresters’ Hall last evening. Mr D. Hughes (Vice-President) occupied the chair, and there were about 36 members present. The Secretary read the minutes of last annual meeting, which were confirmed. Mr J. P. Lomax wrote tendering his resignation as a member of the Committee and of the Association. The resignation was accepted with regret. At this stage Mr Bolton arrived and took the chair.

The annual report and balancesheet were as follow : Gentlemen, Your Committee very much regrets that it has not a more cheerful report to place before you to-night, but it cannot very well congratulate you on the working of the Association during the year that has just passed. The Association was exceedingly unfortunate in regard to the weather about Show time, as it prevented a number of intending exhibitors from bringing their stock from home. And, as if to do the Show special harm, the morning of Show day was pouring wet till after mid-day. The result was that the attendance was smaller than during any of the four previous years. Those who did venture out, however, had a very enjoyable afternoon. In regard to the membership there has been an apparent decrease of about seven during the year, but as this is due to the removing from the roll of a large number of persons who have had no real connection with the Association for years it is more apparent than real.

The finances of the Association demand very careful consideration. It will be seen that there is a heavy balance against the Association, due very largely to the number of subscriptions outstanding. The Committee feels that some, at least, of the members do not act fairly towards the Association by leaving their subscriptions unpaid. These are the main source of income, and having to wait for them makes the work of the Committee very difficult, and injures the credit of the Association. Your Committee would venture to hope that members will make a determined effort to retrieve the position during the coming year. There have been no changes in the Committee during the year. RECEIPTS, £ s. n. Members Subs.— Current year £177 18 0 Arrears 22 9 0 Cash donations— Current year £9B 9 6 ~~ Arrears 6 11 0 A Trophy donations 22 19 6 Entry fees— Current year £159 9 6 Arrears 6 15 3 Advertisements 4 12 0 Privileges ... 30 0 0 Catalogues ... 5 10 0 Side shows ... 3 0 0 Stand ... 2 10 Gates ... 49 7 0 Rents ... 18 15 0 Income for year ... 607 11 9 Balance Ist May, 1905 ... 33 1 8 640 13 5 Overdraft 30th April, 1906 £76 12 1 Less cash in hand 34 12 0 —— 42 0 1 £682 13 6 1 EXPENDITURE. £ S. D. Cash prizes 357 14 6 Trophy prizes 22 19 6 Printing and advertising ... 44 4 0 Permanent improvements and plant 47 11 1 Ground labor 27 14 0 Show day labor and sundries 44 12 11 Secretary’s salary, on account, current year ... 21 0 0 Secretary’s salary, arrears 40 19 6 Secretary’s assistance ... 7 0 0 Judges 44 2 0 License fees, Kennel and Poultry Shows ... 22 0 1 Agricultural Conference ... 22 0 Audit fees 2 0 0 Petty cash 16 0 0 Refund ... 0 2 6 Bank interest ... ... 0 19 6 Bank charge and cheque book 1 10 0 £682 13 6 ASSETS, £ S. D. Cash in hand 34 12 0 Members’ subs, outstanding— . 1905-6 ... £B9 8 0 1904-5 ... 20 15 0 1903-4 ... 7 0 0 £ll6 18 0 Estimated to produce 90 0 0 Donations outstanding ... 17 15 0 Entry fees „ ••• 6 13 6 Advertisement outstanding 10 0 150 0 6 Office safe, stationery, &c. 10 0 0 Hurdles, posts, timber and plant, say 100 0 0 Reserve, as V Land Tax valuation (not available for debts) 164 0 0 £424 0 6 LIABILITIES. £ s. i) Overdraft and cheques out 76 12 1 Printing and advertising accounts 48 19 6 Timber and plant accounts 9 9 1 Show day sundry „ 14 17 1 Secretary, balance of salary 37 9 3 Secretary, travelling allowance 3 0 0 Rent 20 0 0 Donation to Ballance Road 5 0 0 j Refunds due 1 19 9 j £217 6 9 / The Chairman, in moving the | adoption of tho report and balance1, sheet, said that as far as last Show | was concerned, the balance-sheet i was most satisfactory, but as far as the members of the Association were concerned, it 'was most unsatisfactory. Considering the day they had h'Vthe Show was abetter success!—-B year than ever before. The fac.n however, that there was so large a sura outstanding for members’ 1

subscriptions was most unsatisfactory. Referring to the question of the overdraft, he (Mr Bolton) said that during the course of last year an overdraft up to £SO had been guaranteed by several members so that the Secretary’s salary might be paid regularly. He was not aware when that arrangement was made that the overdraft only ran until the show was over, The Secretary, however, had received a letter stating that the overdraft was called in. They would see, therefore, how necessary it was that members’subscriptions should bo paid. He moved the adoption of the report and balance-sheet.

Mr Burnett seconded the motion

Mr R. Smith (Pahiatua) said the amount paid to the judges was altogether too much. He thought they were going too far afield. There were just as good judges about here.

The Secretary said the amount paid represented 14 judges at £3 3s. Two of the judges had returned their fees. With reference to an item re expenses Agricultural Conference, £2 2s, the secretary explained what this was, and stated that neither Mr Smith nor Mr Perry claimed expenses for their attendance at the Conference.

Mr Smith said he thought the show-day expenses could be kept down. He thought £44 was too much.

It was explained that the amount included refreshments, and that 141 luncheons and 37 breakfasts had been provided. Mr Whitehead deprecated the idea of spending so much in entertaining. Both Mr Smith and the chairman combatted this, the former pointing out what Carterton, the most popular show in New Zealand, did in the way of entertainng. Mr Whitehead thought the amount received for the sale of catalogues did not compare very favorably with the amount spent in entertaining visitors. The report and balance sheet were adopted. ELECTION OF OFFICE-BEARERS. The gentlemen nominated for the position of President were Messrs S. Bolton and R. Smith. The latter withdrew in favour of Mr Bolton, who was duly declared President.

Mr Smith, in retiring from his candidature, paid a graceful tribute to Mr Bolton. He said that gentleman had given a great amount of his time to the service of the Association, and he was sure they could not find a man who took so great an interest in the affairs of Woodville or its show as Mr Bolton. * He had caused somewhat of a rumpus with the motion regarding the holding of the show in alternate years at Pahiatua. He (Mr Smith), however, knew Mr Bolton’s purpose in doing that, and it was in the interests of the Association. Mr Bolton returned thanks _ for the honor done him. He particularly thanked Mr Smith for retiring in his favour. He was sure Mr Smith had not done the right thing in withdrawing, but he (Mr Bolton) honored the feeling which prompted him. No man in the district was more interested in stock than Mr Smith, and he always had the best interests of the Association at heart. Mr Smith and he were absolutely agreed on the point that Woodville was the place to hold the show. —(Applause). Mr Bolton having been elected president, there were only three candidates left for the positions of vice-presidents, and Messrs R. E. Beattie, D. Hughes and R. Smith were declared elected. Mr H. Burnett was -re-elected treasurer, and Messrs Gothard and Whittington auditors. Hearty votes of thanks were accorded these gentlemen for the careful way in which they had carried out their duties. There were twelve nominations for eight vacancies on the committee, and the ballot resulted in the following gentlemen being returned in the order given Messrs F. S. Stace, W. Miller, A.E. Anderson, J. Falloon, H. A. Monteith, E. W. Ruddick, E. Harding and F. Grieves. NOTICE OP MOTION. In pursuance of notice, Mr Burnett moved: —“ That Rule IV. be amended by inserting a full stop after the word ‘ time ’ in line twelve, and deleting the word ‘ and ’ following, and by inserting after the word ‘ occur ’ in the same line the words ‘ among the officers or committeemen of the Association.’ ”

Mr Barnett explained that the object of the motion was to give the general committee power to fill vacancies which might occur amongst the office-bearers of the Association as well as vacancies on the committee. Mr J. Franklin seconded the motion, which was carried. Mr Bolton moved, and Mr Escott seconded, pro forma, “That the society consider the advisableness of holding the annual show every other year in the Pahiatua district.”

The motion was defeated. (A report of the discussion is held over). Mr J. Murray moved, and Mr Whitehead seconded, “ That a horse parade and bull fair be held • in the spring.” • In speaking to the motion, Mr Murray said'he thought a horse parade and bull fair were just as important to horse and cattle breeders as the ram fairs were to sheep breeders. Mr Bolton said as the matter was one of incurring expense, he would move that it be referred to the general committee with power. Mr Smith opposed Mr Murray’s

potion on the ground that PahiaKra now had a horse parade, and "it would not be fair to interfere with that.

Air Murray was not aware there

was a horse parade at Pahiatua now, but it could be optional with the Association whether they held their parade in Woodville or Pahiatua. Mr Franklin seconded the amendment, which was carried.

I'INAKCE, The President brought up the question of finance and urged the members to pay up their subscriptions regularly. Mr Burnett thought the basis of the Association wanted broadening. They had a roll number roughly of 250 members. This should be doubled. If every member set his mind to get some other fellow to join, they would soon be out of the financial wood. Messrs Smith and Franklin also spoke on this question, which was referred to the General Committee. GENERAL. A request for a donation towards a Technical School in Pahiatua was received. Messrs Munro, Oldridge and R. Shaw were elected members of the Association. Votes of thanks were accorded Mr Perry for his services as President, Mr Stevenson for his valuable assistance in connection with the show, and Mr Fennell for the splendid way in which he carried out his duties as Secretary.

A vote of thanks to Mr Bolton for presiding concluded the proceedings.