CENTENNIAL SHOW MAY BE INTERNATIONAL EVENT

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28534, 13 March 1958, Page 19

CENTENNIAL SHOW MAY BE INTERNATIONAL EVENT

The idea that the centennial show of the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association in 1962 should be an international event had gone down very well among the breeders of pedigree livestock, the president (Mr C. H. Bethell) told the annual meeting of the association last evening. Although the cost of such a show would be great it was not impossible, he said. Stock accommodation at the Show Grounds would have to be increased, but the show would serve to proclaim New Zealand’s place in the stock breeding world. The suggestion was made that the show be an international event with the object of emphasising the leading place New Zealand took as an exporter of pedigree livestock, he said.

“The Australian embargo on all livestock imports leaves the position at the moment obscure, but there seems little doubt that we could assemble on our ground a collection of stock from the famous studs throughout the country and thereby attract a great measure of buying power from overseas. New Zealand has in fact been for many years, after Britain, the world’s leading exporter of pedigree stock. The show would serve to fix this fact firmly in the minds of overseas breeders, specially those in the great sheep and cattle countries of the Southern Hemisphere,’’ said Mr Bethell.

“We would have to provide more accommodation to hold a show of that calibre, but we will by then in any case need extra room for both cattle and sheep. The sheep pavilion has been badly overcrowded at our last three shows, and the situation with cattle is too well known to need labouring here. There is too, the urgent need for more space for the produce, home industry, and poultry displays, which could be expanded in size and interest were it not that accommodation for them cannot easily be enlarged. Support For Shows

“Christchurch has always led the Dominion in both the size and quality of its shows, and is today still well in the lead. The association’s responsibility is to keep it in the lead, and it is a heavy responsibility,” he said. “We here are specially fortunate in having not only the loyal

backing of the country people throughout the South Island, but a most heartening measure of support from the townspeople oi Christchurch, and the smaller towns. Business people and private citizens continue their support in a way not matched anywhere else in New Zealand, and we are most grateful fof it. On this support our progress has been built,” said Mr Bethell.