Financial Review FOR EXHIBITION PURPOSES

NZ Truth, Issue 1145, 10 November 1927, Page 4

Financial Review FOR EXHIBITION PURPOSES

Wellington Show Association (Incorporated)

POINTS FROM THE BALANCE-SHEET

(By "Fiat Lux.")

U Although inclement weather and the prevailing tight- || II ness of money combined is stated to have caused the 20 per || H cent, fall m the Wellington Show Association's 1927 tak- |j |f ings, the result must nevertheless be disheartening. |j *duiii!!iiii!iuiu!Z iiiiniiiiiiiiiiiii "1 urn"" i iiimiiniimimimmimm?

THE fall m the 1927 revenue is so great, however, that one Is forced to doubt the -wisdom of proceeding with such heavy capital expenditure at present, although it may bo urged m support of the building programme that it is the lack of facilities for exhibitors and of comfort for patrons which has contributed materially to the unsatisfactory figures for 1927. This argument is not altogether sound though, because, since the inauguration of the show, four years ago, the exhibitions have, each year, been held under precisely similar conditions. Therefore, this year's poor results must so far as attendance of the public goes, be due to either lack of interest or lack of ready money, or to unseasonable weather.

Actually m money value, the attendances were down b y approximately 33 1-3 per cent, compared with 1926, while apace fees fell by about 20 per cent., clearly indicating a most regrettable lack of interest m the venture on the part of manufacturers and retailers.

The show affords a splendid opportunity for furthering the interests of the Dominion's secondary industries, but this point does not seem to be fully realized by many manufacturers judging by the substantial fall m space fees. It is doubtful whether manufacturers can get any direct benefit from exhibiting their wares at the show, but the effect of showing their goods to the many thousands of patrons must have 'a beneficial effect m subsequently increasing the retail demand for the locally-manufactured article. If the show is to continue its success of its first three years the executive must bring home to potential exhibitors these- several points and obtain additional support. / Dealing with the Association's revenue account for the. year ended Sep-

Poor Support

to £931 m 1927, a decrease of £252, equal to about 20 per cent. This -writer believes that this deflection of exhibitors was the true cause of the lessened public patronage and if so the management should conduct an extensive campaign for increasing future support Notwithstanding: the lessened public patronage the side shows which, presumably are charged a percentage on their takings showed an Increase m revenue of roughly 14% per cent., the 1926 figures being £738 against £837 m 1927. Donations have fallen away almost to extinction, due, no doubt, to the financial success the Association enjoyed during the first three years. In 1925 donations totalled £328, In 1926, £127; whilst m 1927 the amount was only £16, a fall m the one year of £111 and this almost entirely offset the Interest received by the Association on invested funds.

Another profit which has now disappeared from the accounts is that arising from art unions. In 1925 this amounted to £1160 whilst m 1926 the figure was only £289 but m 1927 the item has gone altogether. Comparing the revenue for 1926 with 1927 the totals are respectively £6396 and £5065, a drop of £1331. A comparison of the expenses for the two years shows that m 1926 the total was £3340 against £2932 m 1927,- a reduction of £408. This reduction is much- more apparent than real since it would appear that during the year a manager has been appointed m place of the original part-time secretary and £520 of tho new appointee's salary has been charged up as capital expenditure on the proposed new Buildings. This writer believes that the appointment was worthy of note m the annual report and also that it is straining the