Attendance pattern at show changing

Press, Volume CXVI, Issue 34099, 11 March 1976, Page 12

Attendance pattern at show changing

The annual report of the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association draxvs attention: to a changing pattern of attendance on the :first two days of its; show. Last year gross gate taking on the Wednesday, the: (first day of the show, were i up 44.3 per cent on the pre-' : vious year, and the Thurs--1 day takings were up by 43.7 ‘per cent. But the report said the association was still subject! ,to the weather on Friday,; ■ People's Day, because sol much of the total gate takings for the show was earned on that day. Last vear. when takings

Last year, wnen taxings ’on the first day amounted to ■SI 747 and on the second to 's6BBo. the gate on Friday I was $24,326. The report says that the . annual exhibition conducted .as part of the show — last year ‘•Canterbury, the grain ■bowl of New Zealand” — (has become one of the focal ( points of interest, for masses of schoolchildren who now ! visited the show in organised groups It - was estimated that ■ almost 7000 children visited

: aiiHUM i \Jw uiij ivii xull vnneu ; the exhibition on the first day last year and many; .others on the last two days.; Last year a precis of the 1 exhibition had been made available to each group well before the show, so that full 1 educational advantage could, be taken of the story and theme of the exhibition. The revenue account of the association for the year, to the end of December, showed a surplus of $7003,’ compared with $6009 in the; previous year. Income from, all sources rose by $4675, or 5.69 per cent, because of improved show revenue, ground rents, and revenue! from the motor-camp. £x-i penditure rose only $3681,; or 4.83 per cent, as a result; of some maintenance and: improvements having to be deferred to enable the ground staff to cope with; additional show preparations, and the replacement of capi-; 1 tai equipment lost in the

- series of fires on the grounds. The report say s that it is;. the intention of the com- ; I mittee to replace for this: year's show the facilities 1; provided by the old grandstand, which was destroyed by fire last year. To supplement the money available from insurance al raffle was held during No-: ivember and December. 1 ; ; which has resulted in' $20,042 being raised. A tender had been let for a new kitchen and amenities, block to replace the old tea i room and kitchen which had been condemned by the City” Health Inspector. This was being financed from the l capital improvements fund and a loan from the Canterbury Savings Bank. This

would provide greatly improved dining facilities for members, as well as serving as a useful adjunct to the camp facilities on the ground, the report said. Encyclopaedia probe Encyclopaedia companies i that tell customers they are getting special low prices or 'free volumes will be investigated, the United States; Federal Trade Commission' has announced. The F.T.C. already has taken action Tor misrepresentation against I some of the biggest publishers in the field, among ithem those of the Bnttanica. Americana. and Colliers encyclopaedias. — Washington.