WINTER SHOW.

Waikato Times, Volume 109, Issue 18258, 20 February 1931, Page 6

WINTER SHOW.

THE OFFICIAL OPENING. GOVERNOR TO BE INVITED. APPRECIATION OF INTEREST. Appreciation of the interest which the Governor-General, Lord Bledisloe, displayed in the Waikato Winter Show on his visit to the town last June has prompted the Show Association to again invite His Excellency to open the show this year. The president, Mr J. R. Fow (speaking at a meeting of the committee today), said His Excellency last year had a very busy time, as his visit was an official one to the town, and the speaker felt that Lord Bledisloe would have liked to have spent further time at the show, in which he displayed the greatest interest.

THE SECRETARY’S SALARY. INCREASE CONFIRMED. Since the last meeting of the executive of the Waikato Winter Show Association, when the salary of the secretary, Mr W. H . Paul, was increased from £SOO to £6OO, a notice of motion to rescind the resolution has been lodged by Mr D. L. Smith. Owing to not now being a member of the executive Mr Smith was ineligible to be present at to-day’s meeting of the executive, but the motion was proceeded with in his absence. The Mayor’s Tribute. Speaking in justification of the increase, Mr Fow, who moved the original motion, said the only suggestion he could conceive that Mr Smith (had he been present), could have put forward against the increase was that the time was inopportune. He could not think of any other reason. It was not so much the work that was involved in such a position as the secretaryship of the Show that counted as the weight of responsibility. This more and more had been thrown on the secretary’s shoulders, and the result had been eminently satisfactory. The speaker compared the association's financial position today with that of ten years ago. In 1920 the assets of the association amounted to £4OO, the space fees to £696, and the entry fees to £2BB. In 1930 the association’s assets were valued at £16,592, and space revenue had risen to £2723. The entry fees had increased to £457, the increase in assets being £12,590 in 10 years. Of this' sum £SOOO was in hard cash. During that period depreciation to the amount of £5927 had been written off, which had put the association in a very sound position. There had also been expended on buildings and plant in the past 10 years £11,115. Mr l’ow also mentioned the assistance the association had given to the Agricultural and Pastoral Association, and the lead it had set to other similar institutions in helping the earthquake fund. lie referred to the manner in which the organisation had been built up from practically nothing until now it was a thriving institution, and noone woud deny the part Mr Paul had played in this. The speaker felt the meeting would be taking a retrograde step if it opposed the increase.

Guided by Results

Mr F. 11. Clapham said that as a businessman be was guided by results. With such an increase in assets and revenue it was their duty to give their secretary a salary commensurate with the results. r lhe speaker was surprised the matter had not been brought up before. Mr R. English said the reason Mr Paul had not applied for an increase earlier was that lie was desirous first of seeing the overdraft liquidated. The association years ago had considered that, it had reached the highwater mark, but each year a further record had been created, although thre must come a time when the top level would be achieved. The speaker claimed that he Knew what a job was worth, and said lie would be very sorry to see the resolution rescinded. The association would have difficulty in filling the place of Mr Paul. The notice of motion was defeated.