DISTRICT BAY

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 49, Issue 201, 11 June 1929, Page 5

DISTRICT BAY

CITY’S WINTER SHOW.

THREE A. AND P. ASSOCIATIONS.

MR D. A. MORGAN ORGANISER. A conference of representatives of the Ashburton, Methven and Mayfield Agricultural and Pastoral Associations was held in Ashburton this afternoon to discuss the organisation, of a County Bay at the Christchurch Winter Show, similar to that organised last year, when the trophy was won by the Ashburton Bay.

Mr H. C. B. Withell presided over a good attendance. \ The Christchurch Winter Show and Exhibition Executive wrote offering a grant of £7O as a subsidy to each centre entering a bay. Mr J. Watson (Methven) said his Association agreed to help in the organisation ot a bay, but was not prepared to find anything toward a deficiency as last 5 ear. XL- J. A. Fleming (Mayfield) said his Association was of like opinion. The chairman said the Ashburton Association agreed with the others, but if the expenditure was kept to a certain amount there would 1 be no trouble. Mr R. Houston asked what benefit Ashburton derived from the bay.

Members agreed there was a good deal of honour attaching to the winning of the trophy. Mr D. A. Morgan said a bay could be worked up for £7O, but he considered there was not sufficient time to work up an effective exhibit. There was a tremendous amount of work to be done and it meant toiling night and day. - - Continuing, Mr Morgan said there must be several groups of men who would be prepared to work hard at the bay, and the other districts would be organising now. There were about two months before the Show opened: The secretary (Mr W. H. Amos) said there was now three weeks longer than last year in which to organise the bay. Mr Morgan thought groups of men from the various districts should undertake the collection of exhibits in the several sections of the 'bay. Last year too much was left to one or two men.

Members agreed that the bay could not be properly'organised unless Mr Morgan undertook the work. Mr Houston pointed out that a large amount of ‘ assistance could be given by those who gave exhibits if they would prepare the exhibits before sending them in, instead of leaving the preparation to those; in charge. Mr Watson said he would see to the collection of exhibits from Methven district.

Mr Morgan said the actual expenditure this year should be only half that of last year. Mr J. McAnultv said the Winter Show Executive’s decision regarding the grant was not a fair one, as Ashburton would always have to pay more in getting exhibits to Christchurch, while the other exhibitors did not have to take their exhibits nearly so far. The secretary pointed out that it was only after some difficulty that the grant had been brought up to £7O. It was decided to write to the Show Executive pointing out the unfair distribution of the grants. On the motion of Messrs W. J. Doak and Watson it was decided to organise a bay this year.

Air Morgan was appointed organiser for the bay.

Details of requirements for the exhibition were then gone into, the organiser pointing out where difficulty had arisen.