A NATIONAL SHOW.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 49, 21 November 1907, Page 2

A NATIONAL SHOW.

. AN INTERESTING SUGGESTION. 1 (BY . TELEGRAM —SPECIAL CORRESPONDENTS.) Ghristchiirch, November 19. Mr. Arthur Siiiith, a (Jhristcliurcli man, who is an exhibitor at both tho Christchurch and Manawatu Shows, has suggested a plan by which ho claims'all tho benefits to bo obtained by tho pj'oposcd Government grant to the two Associations can be realised without State 'aid, and a national show instituted which would be a success financially and otherwise. _ His idea is that for the purposes of tho national show tho Canterbury A. and P. Association should represent tho South Island and tho Manawatu A. and P. Association the North. There should be a challengo shield for competition between tho two associations which would bo held by the association that scored the most points for the stock exhibited at tho show held by the association which for tho time being held this shield. Tho stock from the district represented by tho othor association would bo sent to compete. Mr. Smith has not tlu slightest doubt that exhibitors in both Islands would eagerly avail thomselves of tho opportunity thus given to obtain, if possible, recognition of their stock as tho best of its particular class in the Dominion. The possibility of winning the Dominion gold or silver medal for their stock would more than rjnay them for tho transport expenses involved. In conncetion with this question of transport, Mr. Smith points out that under oxistmg conditions exhibitors in tho South who desire to show at Palmerston have to go to a largo amount of trouble in arranging tor tho carriage of their stock by rail and by steamer, To got over thdse 'difficulties ho suggests that for tho. purposes of the National Show the Canterbury and Manawata Associations should stand in the position of the exhibitor of all the stock from their clistriot that are entered. Thus, assuming tnat the South Island stock has to be sent to Palmerston, exhibitors would consign their stock to the Canterbury Association, winch would take control of it at Addington and then make all necessary arrangements fot special services to convoy tho stock from Addington t'o Palmerstori North. After tho show tho Canterbury Association would bo responsible for tho arrangements for the transport of the stock to Addington again. \\ hen tho National Show was held under tlio auspices of tho Canterbury Association the Manawatu Association would make similar arrangements for tho transport of tho North Island stock. The individual oxhibitors would, of courso, pay tho transport charges on their stock, but would bo relieved of all trouble in connection with transport. Air. Smith had little doubt that the stock which had to bo transported would, as regards condition, bo able to coinpeto on equal terms with stock that had not to travel so far. As; to the support that such National Shows would obtain, he said tnat, speaking for himself, ho would put forth his best efforts for the twclvo months preceding tho dato of the National Show in his ondeavours to got thu host stock, and no doubt many others, in viow of the great value that would attach to tho awards at tho National Show, would do the samo. Opinions of members of tho A. and P. Association are divided as to the valuo of Air. Smith's suggestions, tho opposition being basod on disbeliof in the possibility of inducing Wanganui, Hawko's Bay, and Auckland, to say nothing of the smallor contres in Canterbury, to drop their shows for the purpose of making a National Show at oitlior Palmerston or Christchurch. Apart from this tli'j country shows in this provinco aro looked upon as feeders to tho Metropolitan Show.