LOSS NEARLY £1700.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 230, 28 September 1934, Page 3

LOSS NEARLY £1700.

ROYAL SHOW IN AUCKLAND. EFFECT OF WET WEATHER. Although the Royal Show had resulted in a financial loss, it had been highly successful as regards the number and quality of entries, said Mr. W. F. O'Donncll, managing secretary, at the annual meeting of the Auckland Agricultural and Pastoral Association this afternoon. The exhibition of stock far surpassed in quality the display at the last Auckland Royal Show in 1926, and formed a striking tribute to the perseverance and enterprise of North Island breeders in spite of adverse times during the previous four seasons. It was clearly apparent that breeders had concentrated on quality. No finer exhibition of cattle and pigs had ever been seen in the Dominion before, though the display of sheep was not large, owing to the season of the year. The outstanding features were the entries for cattle and pigs, and for competitions, especially those for children. The entries were considerably in excess of those of 1926, and all that was required was fine weather, but conditions proved traitorous. Rain prevailed throughout the show period, reaching a climax on the Saturday morning, when heavy showers converted the ground into quagmires. Over 1000 sacks of sawdust were used to fill up the muddiest patches and to form footpaths to the various sheds. The financial results were adversely affected by the weather. On judging day about" £60 was taken at the gates; on children's day only £220, as compared with £500 at the previous Royal Show, and on people's day only £300, as compared with £1800 at the previous Royal Show. Expenditure on the show totalled £3779, while receipts were £2082, resulting in a loss of £1697. Held in conjunction with the Auckland Manufacturers' Association, the Winter Exhibition returned a profit of about £720. In accordance with the proposed new reconstruction scheme, a new permanent pavilion was erected at the showgrounds during the year. A temporary sheep pavilion and 100 additional covered pens for cattle were also erected and all the horse pens were covered, while additional accommodation was needed for dogs. The association's general revenue account showed a credit balance of £632, but taking into account the loss of £1697 on the Royal Show, and a debit ■balance of £331 on the showground account, the vear resulted in a loss of £1396.