FIRST DAY AT THE SHOW

Press, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 26887, 13 November 1952, Page 8

FIRST DAY AT THE SHOW

EMPHASIS CHIEFLY ON JUDGING

INTEREST IN FARM MACHINERY

The annual Agricultural and Pastoral show is the occasion on which it is usual to refer to the country coming to town, but at the Show Grounds yesterday there was little indication that the town was particularly interested; the day was devoted almost entirely to the real business of the show, the judging of the many stock classes, the oroduce, cooking and handcraft sections, and even when the jumping events began in the middle df the afternoon the spectators in the main stand were in small and isolated groups. Only three jumping events were held yesterday—the main programme will be put through today—but what was seen was a reminder of the strong appeal these events have to the public. The perfect condition in which the horses were paraded, and the clever combination of horse and rider help to make the jumps the most popular part of the show. If public support for the first of the jumping events and for the more diversified, if less dignified entertainment offered by the sideshows was lacking, more than usual interest was taken in the vast array of farm machinery which occupied a significantly large part of the exhibitors’ space. The modern generation of farmers has grown ud in a machine age, and the steady throb of machinery from this quarter is now an integral part of the snow. Even to the most up-to-date farmer, there is something of interest each year in the machinery section, and th- progress being made so steadily in the mechanisation of farming is something at which the city man might well wonder. To the small boy with an interest in engines, the. machinery section is a seventh heaven, and there were none more delighted yesterday than those who were allowed to sit in the driving seat of a vast and impressive tractor. Handling traffic to the grounds was really no problem to the traffic department of the City Council, and in the middle of the morning the number of officers on duty compared favourably with the number of cars on the road. In many parts of the ground, it was still a matter of last-minute preparations. Along side-show alley, there was flapping canvas, and sawdust, and hammering, and testing of loudspeakers: some of the more experienced showmen scorn such -artificial aids, and from yesterday’s choir practice it is obvious that they will be in fine form today and tomorrow. The sideshows as usual include a number of human and animal freaks, but nothing to compare with an exhibit a year or two ago—a snake which, it was alleged, played cards. An interesting angle on" Canterbury people should be obtained by comparing the popularity of two rival shows, one claiming to have the smallest horse, the other the smallest trotter. There was little activity among the sideshows which rely on people paying to throw balls at various targets, but what there was hinted that there was little improvement in the public’s markmanship. Other stalls were quiet, although raffle tickets sold well —and there were many stalls selling them—and the mysteries of a lucky dip brought brisk business to a Plunket Society stall. Changes in 30 Years

One of the showmen, who conducts a skittle alley, had some * interesting observations on the show. He has been attending Canterbury shows for 30 years, for many of them carrying on a business established by his grandfather nearly 40 years ago—the alley even invaded the then seclusion of Cathedral square. He said that the number of sideshows had grown steadily and this year there were more than ever before. There was much more machinery than 30 years ago, and the crowds were bigger, although, in keeping with the times, admission charges had risen from is to 2s 6d, and sideshows which cost 3d or 6d were now 2s or 2s 6d. He thought the type of sideshow being staged at present was very similar to the entertainment of earlier years, but the show was now not only bigger, but much noisier. He recalled bullock trains being on exhibition, and the people arriving in the old doubledecker trams, or with horses and traps. Today will be another very busy day at the show with judging, but it will also mark the transition between the comparative peace of the first day. and the bedlam of People’s Day.