THE ROYAL SHOW.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18546, 23 November 1925, Page 13

THE ROYAL SHOW.

—• — A NORTHERN CRITICISM. "COMPLETELY SPOILED." Members of the committee of the Canterbury A. and P. Association h»v© been anticipating with some interest northern criticism of the management of the Itcyai Show held in Christchurch, as- it was understood that thcro were several visitors from across the Straits whose critical faculties hed been well keyed up for the occasion. Mbst- of the committee, no doubt, arc prepared to admit that these were inefficencies not apparent at previous Metropolitan Shows, bnt they doubtless will be staggered to learn that they made a pretty sorry bungle of this year's event. At least that is the opinion of n Palmerston North exhibitor, Mr D. Buchanan, who, also, is a member of the committee of the Manawatu A. and P. Association. Mr Buchanan unburdened himself as follows on his return to a representative of the "Wellington "Evening Post":— High-Class Stock. "The Canterbury A. and P. Association had a fine chance of making «*» name for the Royal Show, bnt ihey missed it. The cattle exhibit was one of the finest that has ever been seen in the Dominion, and the quality or " the. winning animals wsjs of the best. However, the Show was spoiled for wailt of management and foresight. "The cattle pavilion is undoubtedly the finest in the Dominion, as a building, but the interior is unsatisfactory. In a way the Association had matters arranged it wss dangerous for exhibitors to attend to their stockNorth Island exhibitors threatened to take their stock home unless better arrangements were made. The way the Association had arranged the catalogue for the cattle was very bad. No one knew where particular sections were housed, and it took a long time to fir-d out. "From All Points of View." "From the exhibitors', breeders', and visitors' points of view, the Showwas completely spoiled. 1 don't think that one of the North Island exhibitors will go back to Canterbury again. It is a great pity that the Association did not do better. The only thing that the cattle, sheep, and horse exhibitors got free was water. Grass was charged for at the rate of Gd a bundle, and the size of the bundle was subsequently reduced. Mangels, hav, straw, grazing, and paddocking, which aro given free here, had to be paid for. "From what I could hear from the different exhibitors, they were highly pleased with the judging. There were a few complaints, but they were only trivial. , "The transport facilities . were also unsatisfactory. We arrived, at Lyttelton at 7 o'clock on Sunday morniug, and did not get to Addington till o at night. Then, coming away, the train wo trucked by took five hours and three-quarters to reach Lyttelton. a distance of about eight miles. We were accommodated in a cattle truck and' were fortunate enough to have a tarpaulin to keep the rain off. The Association is much to blame for not seeing that proper transport arrangements were made." Mr; Buchanan concluded by paying a tribute to the assistance rendered to the North IsUfnd exhibitor* in connexion with the transport facilities by Wrijrht, Stephenson and Co.. Ltd., Mr Pow, secretary of the Roval Agricultural Society, and Mr J. Storry, a member of .the committee of the Canterbury Association. s A SOUTHLAND VIEW. EXHIBITORS SATISFIED. "Our exhibitors at the Royal Show aro all home again now," writes our Invercargiil correspondent, "and all of them speak in most glowing terms'of the fixture. They appear to have had a good time and speak well of the hospitality and attention shown them by the officials of the Canterbury A. and P. Association. It is good tr/bear of exhibitors coming home satisfied with everything, and I feel sure that the Canterbury Show will be patronised again by many of them."