THE INDUSTRIES PAIR

Press, Volume LXXV, Issue 22796, 23 August 1939, Page 16

THE INDUSTRIES PAIR

TO THIS EDITOR OF THE PHES3. Sir, —I quite agree with your correspondent, “Onlooker,” in his .observations concerning the comparatively poor displays at the Industries Fair, which has just closed. The winter Shows held in the King. Edward Barracks were much superior in their appeal and educational value to city and country people alike, and concerted efforts should be made to bring the two associations, governing agricultural and manufacturing interests, together again in a united effort to hold a show worthy of Canterbury. Why should this province be definitely inferior to the winter displays in Southland and in the Waikato? In one important respect, a decided change should be made in the display of articles in the handwork sections. Many of the exhibits, especially those in the glass-covered receptacles, were overlying one another, and patterns, designs, etc., were not always clearly visible to be of much 'educational value to the many members of the fair sex who went there to learn all they could concerning up-to-date methods and ideas in plain and fancy handicraft. I visited the winter show held in the agricultural hall at Invercargill, on May 11 and 12 last, and found the arrangements made for the display of needlecraft and fancywork sections were a distinct advance on the system adopted here. The erection of a tent-shaped structure with open isosceles ends enabled the exhibits to be shown to much greater advantage when fastened at full length to the two sloping sides, the whole being surrounded by stout wire-netting enclosures, so that no articles could be fingered by the general public, as was the case here with exhibits that were not in the glass-covered cases. The lay-out of the'women’s sections at the Southland show could easily be adopted here with considerable advantage to all concerned. I sincerely hope the tip given will be put into effect by the authorities of the winter fixture next year.— Yours, etc., ADVANCE CANTERBURY. August 22, 1939.