The Press Friday, November 9, 1928. People's Day.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 19463, 9 November 1928, Page 10

The Press Friday, November 9, 1928. People's Day.

If the weather to-day is no worse than it was yesterday—and it was veny good yesterday when the gale had passed — everybody will be on the Show Grounds who is not just over the fence. It will be remembered that the attendance on People's Day last year was not less than 45,000, and although the Association will hardly expect such a big gathering as that to-day, it is quite possible that the crowd will approach 40,000, which would be an enormous attendance at any function held in a city no bigger than Christchurch. The Association is not compelled yet to look about for further accommodation for such multitudes, but the time cannot be very far distant when it will have to do so. Even as matters stand there is not quite as much room in the ring as the judges require, and there is certainly not enough accommodation now in the stands, free or paid for, while the hunters are in the ring or during the Grand Parade. It looks indeed as if the Association may have to ask itself soon whether it can go on indefinitely parking so mapy thousands of motor-cars inside its gates, in spite of the advantage it is to members to be able to drive right into the grounds. In Sydney and other large centres cars are no longer permitted to enter the grounds, and it would at least be advisable to consider what other arrangements could be made, and will indeed have to be made if the Show itself sfoqs on growing. Some people would of course gain spaqe by closing up the side-shows, but it is doubtful if the Dthers would be grateful. There is after all only one Summer Show a year, and if it were merely an educational function and not something of a carnival ag well People's Day would be a rather solemp occasion. There may bp differences of opinion about the lengths to which showmen should be permitted to go, but very few people would not be sorry if they disappeared altogether, iven under the pressure of space. It seems to be quite certain that the Assosiation will always have to allow for :heir presence on the ground, and either provide permanent accommoda;ion for them pr reserve an increasing unount of ground each year on which ihey can provide accommodation for iheipsplves. It must be remembered tfsp that Christchurch is likely for nany years to come to have a Royal Show every second November. It is ndeed pot likely that any other centre < n the South Island qow seriously sighs !or I?oyal Shows—first because there I qno other Show ground nesr enough 1 ;o the centre of the Dominion to toe , reached conveniently by live-stock from i ill other parts, iW also because the j jther centres now realise how much , money has to be spent, and how much < time apd energy must be devoted to ' the work of organisation, before a 1 Royal Show can be held anywhere. « The Canterbury Association of course j deserves jnTjch credit for the work it f has already done in improving the grounds and their appointments. The provision now made for sheep and jflttle is on a §eale'ffhich a few years igq. would have seemed pot merely artnjvagapt Jipt absurd, and it is of :purse a great advantage that the grounds are skirted on one side by a railway line and on the other by a louble line <jf trams. But it would » unwise, all the same, to think that ipough has beep least for an pdeflpite .period. Tl?e site of the Show 6 Sfrqupds could hardly be better. The ® size of them, though pot sufficient, is j. 'till very satisfactory. But as there is jot piuch chance now of adding further t >pen space, there will , have to be a d pore ecoppjpical use of the area already ® jnclosed, ancj the Association can hardly begin too soon planning for this. 11