better take $255 of that and divide it among the various classes, thus making it more educational.

I move the adoption of our President's address. The motion was seconded by J. T. Murphy, and carried.

REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT.

J. LOCKIE WILSON, TORONTO.

It is very gratifying to see such a splendid representation from every section of the Province, from Kenora in the northwest to Glengarry in the east, with representatives from all the counties lying in between. We have come to the time in the history of our Agricultural Societies when a forward movement is taking place. Never before have we had such a magnificent gathering as we have here to-day; never so many Agricultural Societies represented.

The Agricultural Societies of Ontario are to be congratulated on another most successful year, which was marred only by the fact that about fifty of them were unfortunate in experiencing bad weather on the days selected for their exhibitions. With this exception, prosperity was visible everywhere, and the exhibits and attendance were all that could be desired. The returns for 1909 have not all been made to the Department, but taking seven representative Societies as compared with 1908, the prize money paid in the live stock classes has increased several hundred dollars in these Fairs. The most conspicuous showing was in the horse department.

Looking through the Agricultural Report of 1881, I find the returns of four Societies reported, and, comparing these returns with those of 1908, the horse entries have increased four hundred and fifty-five, and the sheep three hundred and twenty-five, notwithstanding that the sheep industry has gone back somewhat in recent years.

The principal amendments to the Agricultural Societies' Act were, "Upon the recommendation of the Superintendent of Agricultural Societies, the Minister may authorize any Society to elect six Directors in addition to those already provided for."

There has also been a change in the form of the Affidavit, which now reads as follows:

AFFIDAVIT AS TO MEMBERSHIP AND PAYMENTS FOR AGRICULTURAL PURPOSES.

County of

To Wit: I..

of

treasurer of the

Agricultural Society, make oath and say that during the year ending 31st day of December, 19. the said Agricultural Society expended the sum of dollars, solely for agricultural purposes, in accordance with the Act, as set forth in the audited financial statement of the Society, and that no prizes for horse races or special attractions, and no prize money other than cash is included in the above amount, and that the number of members of the said Society for 19 is

:

Many Secretaries in making their returns do not seem to understand that the Legislative Grant is based on the money expended by Agricultural Societies in this Province for purely agricultural purposes. They did not know exactly what items of expenditure could be included in this. In many instances, through no fault of the officers, the returns have not been made out as they should have been. To avoid this, some little change has been made, and we now have an affidavit clearly defining the expenditure for agricultural purposes. Every item upon which the grant is based appears on it.

A notice of motion of a change in the constitution subdividing the Province into districts has been received from Mr. C. L. Stephens, Orillia, and in accordance therewith, I beg leave to submit the following subdivision: The proposition is that Ontario be divided into twelve districts with a representative elected at this convention who is a resident of that district. By this method, each section of the Province will be represented at this Convention.

If you decide to adopt these, you will have the opportunity to-morrow to elect a director from each of these districts.

For half a hundred years Agricultural Societies at frequent intervals have been more or less crippled by wet weather on exhibition days, and consequent decrease in gate receipts, causing serious financial loss. It frequently happens that on the first day of the fair the weather is fine when the bulk of the exhibits are brought in. These are then judged, and the prize money awarded, even although the gate receipts on the second day are practically nil on account of rain. I have received letters from all over the Province asking me if something could not be done in some way to assist such unfortunate Societies, and at your last Annual Convention a resolution was passed asking me to look into this matter, and see if some remedy, in part at least, could not be devised. I beg leave to submit two methods for your consideration.

In order to put the insurance scheme on a satisfactory basis, it will be necessary to provide a fund each year of $12,000. The first plan is to deduct this amount from the $67,000 available. The total grant is $70,000, but out of this have to be deducted $2,000 for stock and new societies, and $1,000 for societies which charge no gate receipts, and which, of course, would not be entitled to participate in this proposition, leaving the available amount $67,000. Taking the year 1909, during which, probably, more fairs met with bad weather conditions than ever before, the $12,000 of a reserve fund would, in my opinion, be sufficient to cover 75 per cent. of the average losses in gate receipts each year. If this plan were adopted, there would be a deduction all round from the grant of each Society of about 17 per cent. I would recommend that this fund be limited to $12,000, and if we have a season of good weather the percentage to be deducted would be correspondingly reduced, and the balance of the $12,000 would remain part of the regular appropriation and be divided among all the societies in the usual way provided for under the Act.

The losses would be paid on the recommendation of the Superintendent on the basis of the average gate receipts for the three previous years in the same manner as the Government grant is apportioned.

The second plan would be workable only in the event of your having increased. funds that could be utilized for this purpose. You have on your programme the subject of "Increased Municipal and Legislative Assistance." Assuming that your expectations are realized and that the amount at your disposal would be increased by, say, $14,000, then $12,000 could be deducted therefrom in the same manner as suggested in the first plan, which would leave $72,000, and of this, $2,000 would be for the stock societies, leaving the full $70,000 to be apportioned among the Societies holding exhibitions, which would place them in a better position than they are in to-day in so far as their regular grants are concerned, besides having made provision for losses from wet weather. In the event of an extraordinarily wet season, when a larger number than usual of societies met with losses the $12,000 would be apportioned pro rata among them. If, on account of good weather con

ditions, only a small portion of this $12,000 was required to meet losses, the remainder of the $12,000 would be apportioned among all the societies in the regular way, according to expenditure for agricultural purposes as laid down in the Act.

With the adoption of one of these propositions, those societies which meet with bad weather can go on in confidence with their educational work, and personal liability of officers and directors for the payment of prize money would be completely done away with. This uncertainty and liability has been a great drawback to the successful carrying on of fairs and exhibitions in the past. In order to prevent fraud it would be necessary for those societies applying for relief in this behalf to forward to the Superintendent within ten days after the fair a joint state

ment giving the facts sworn to by the President, Secretary and Treasurer. In considering losses in gate receipts it must be distinctly proved that the rainfall occurred previous to 2 p.m. on the principal day or days of the fairs, and was sufficient to interfere with the gate receipts. In order to make this proposition legal it would be necessary to have the Act amended by the Legislature.

Such is the outline in the move for protecting fairs and exhibitions from financial loss owing to the weather conditions. It will be in order for this Convention to. thoroughly discuss it and make suggestions.

The work of the Standing Field Crop Competitions is continuing to meet with