THE WINTER SHOW.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 11660, 13 August 1903, Page 4

THE WINTER SHOW.

The theory that the country A. and P. i Associations declined to fall in with the i ; Canterbury Association's proposals reganl- . ing the Winter Show because they misi > uudi-rslood tlie nature of those proposals, is probably correct. The Canterbury As;;ocia- ' tion a-'ked each of the other organisations ; whether it- would co-operato with them in the show, the division of profits or loss. ' over and above- the guarantee of £200, to he on a membership basis, delegates to the central committee, being appointed on the same basis. The Associations seem to have, overloked the fact that- they were not asked to provide the guarantee fund, which is undertaken by the metropolitan body, and that the existence of that fund, as Dr. Levinge said yesterday, would reduce to a minimum their liability to make up a .deficit. The Ashburton Association M-ere under this misapprehension until Mr Studholme explained the matter clearly, and they have now given their hearty support to the movement. The Ellesmere, Courtenay. Cheviot, and South Canterbury Associations have declined to undertake the slightest financial responsibility. Yet all the responsibility they were asked to share would, at the worst, be very light. The heaviest loss made on any Winter Show in Christchurch was, we believe, under £300. Supposing that next year's venture was no more successful, tlie Canterbury Association's guarantee would reduce by £200 the amount of loss to be shared by the various participating Associations, and the remainder, allotted pro rata among these bodies.

would hardly be felt. On the other hand, if all worked hard for the success of the show, instead of the loss that is so much feared there might easily be a profit. The argument of the President of the South Canterbury Association, that if the Canterbury Society could not undertake the show on their own responsibility they had better leave it alone, is beside the mark. The show is not for the sole benefit of tho members of the, Canterbury Association, but for that of the fanners of the province, upon whose hearty co-operation its success largely depends, and it was felt that the district Associations would take keener interest in the scheme if they had a financial interest in it. They may yet, with fuller knowledge of the nature of the proposals, reconsider their decision. Mr Studholme's suggestion for giving them a voice in the management of the show, without any financial responsibility at all, if they will pro-

mise their support, is almost too generous. It savours of "representation without taxation," which is a political heresy. But it certainly proves that the Canterbury As-

sociation is not grasping, and as a guarantee of good faith in this respect, it- should have its due effect. In the meantime the metropolitan body has tho strong and loyal support of Ashburton, and mny secure that of Rangiora, and it should push on with the arrangements for holding the show during Grand National week next year.