ROYAL SHOW & RELIANCE

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 16, 19 July 1923, Page 6

ROYAL SHOW & RELIANCE

It is very gratifying to record that the Council of Agriculture yesterday has taken a definite step forward for the holding of a Royal Agricultural Show every year in New Zealand, additional, it is presumed, to the various local shows. The proposal to hold the Show alternately in the North Island and the South Island has also much to commend it, taking into account the geographical circumstances of the Dominion. Palmerston North as the place for holding the North Island Show has many advantages for exhibitors and for the visiting public. It is well served by rail, and accessible to all parts of the North Island, from Northern Auckland, the Main Trunk area, Waikato, Hawkes Bay, Taranaki, and Wairarapa. v Stock for exhibition should be able to be carried without change of vehicle from any part of the North Island connected.by .rail. Palmerston North, also, has ample accommodation already for visitors, but the selection of this centre for the Royal Show in the North Island will, no doubt, induce more provision, if necessary, being made for the reception of visitors. The most refreshing part of the Council's decision is its reluctance to go cap-in-hand to the Government, for money. The economic benefits of a Royal Show will be greatly to the advantage of - the farmer, in the first instance, and tt-rpugh him to the good of €he community as a whole. Furthermore, a most healthy and commendable spirit was shown by the Council and all present at' the conference, when discussing the financial responsibilities associated with the beginning of the work,, to rely upon themselves, and not to ask the Government for subsidies; and practical expression was given to this view of self-reliance in the Council meeting. It is hoped that this example of doing things for themselves will commend itself to farmers and others who are so ready to go to the Government for money for undertakings that they could, and ought to, finance'themselves.