AGRICULTURAL SHOWS

Press, Volume XCIV, Issue 28009, 2 July 1956, Page 10

AGRICULTURAL SHOWS

Rules Of Royal Society CANTERBURY OPPOSES STANDARDISATION Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association delegates to the annual meeting of the Royal Agricultural Society in Wellington last week strongly opposed a resolution making by-laws and regulations for the conduct of shows, passed by the annual conference, binding on affiliated associations. Supported by delegates from the Otago association, they said that local associations had differing conditions and should not be dictated to on how to run their shows. Passed by 52 votes to 23, the resolution makes by-laws and regulations adopted by a three-fifths majority at an annual conference, after five months’ notice having been given to the secretary of the Royal Agricultural Society and confirmed at the next annual conference, binding on ail affiliated associations, except where exemption has been granted to any particular association by the council. During the conference, there had been references to newspaper reports of discussion by the Canterbury association, said Mr C. H. Bethell. “I have nothing to apologise for,” he said. "This is a free country, and everyone can say what he wants.” He had great respect for his friends of the press, but he would say he had not used the word “disaffiliation” in. the discussion. What suited one district did not necessarily suit another, Mr Bethell said, and it would be a retrograde step if the society took powers to force conditions on member associations. “Dangerous to Standardise” Mr Bethell said he knew there was provision for exemptions, but it was dangerous to standardise throughout the country what classes should be provided, what prices should be charged, to whom lunch tickets should be given or to whom there should be an invitation to have a drink. “That might be carrying the matter to absurdity, but it could arise," he said. Past conferences had been excellent, he said. All associations could put forward different ideas and gain from one another, but he was opposed to any dictatorship. “I feel it will cause such ill-feeling in the South Island that it will do far more harm than good," said Mr J. L. Macfarlane (Canterbury). “We are an independent race down there and we don’t like being dictated to. The only dictation we get is at the Royal Show, which we run every five years, and we are prepared to put up with that. We are much more happy running our own show under our own rules.” Supporters of the resolution contended that there were certain classes standard to all associations which could be standardised, and that exemptions, which could be freely granted, would meet the need for local classes. At present, they said, decisions were made at the conferences, where it was agreed that they were in the general interest, yet associations need do nothing about them.