NEW SHOW GROUNDS

Evening Star, Issue 18138, 30 November 1922, Page 3

NEW SHOW GROUNDS

SUGGESTED SALE OF TAHUHA. 1 sljl THE WINGATUI PROPOSAL. DISCUSSED BY A. AND P. SOCIETY. There was a good attendance in tie Express Company's board' room last run\ws. when a special meeting of the A. and P. Society was held to consider the following proposals; 1. That iho committee be authorised to dispose of Tahuua Park, utilising the proceeds as legally authorised in securing more suitable show grounds. 2. Before completing the sale of Taliuua Park the committee be authorised to obtain continuation from the Dunedin Jockcv Club of its generous proposal to lease a, suitable area at Wingatui for a term of years for holding the annual Summer Show. 3. That the committee continue negotial ;,»us with the Harbor Board with a view of securing twenty-live to thirty ■u ves of the southern endowment (adjaill( to Anderson Bay road), provided Ibc area is suitable for both the Summer and AA inter Shows. ,\lr David Andrew', president, of the Dtaro A. and P. Society, presided. The Chairman said that the large number present that evening clearly proved that when an important question came up for consideration the committee could rely on the advice and assistance of its members. Mr Andrew added, in reviewing the committee's proposals: “Members must not consider that the society _is in any worse position financially than it has been for years, and when the annual balancesheets were being submitted for approval by tho honorary treasurer, Mr Duthie, he repeatedly pointed out the position, and drew attention to the fact that no provision was being made for depreciation on buildings: and that unless Taluma Park could bo utilised to better advantage and iiKue revenue obtained the overhead charges of retaining that .ground would have" a serious effect on the finances of the society- Members have only to carefully review the balance-sheets which have been submitted, which clearly show that, whilst the society can invariably make a reasonable profit on thei . Show, the overheard charges, especially on Tahuua Park property, practically absorb all the profits that were being made. The whole question has been moat carefully, considered by the committee, and_ whilst it ivr iigniscs the responsibility it is tak-i-.if in making such a proposal, which 1 may mean the disposal of Tahima Park and the removal of the Summer Show to Wingatui. it cannot at present see any alternative. This meeting, however, has been called to lay the whole position before members, and it is for them to take their share of the responsibility along with the committee in dealing with such an important matter.’'

REASONS FOB CHANGE. Mr George Black, in seconding the moiion. suit! that the proposals hadl been -micle after considerable discussion on the nail of the executive. The Otago A. and j>. Society had) been holding, its shows at a loss. The society held a show for only two days in the year, and, apart from a .small rent received from its use during the y. 'st of the year, there was no revenue. The last balance-sheet showed that there hud been a lass of £l5O on the last Summer Show. Added to that they had to meet interest on debentures, whilst there were such heavy expenses as were involved in repairing siding and also in keeping a c-retaken It cost over £IOOO to hold the =how at Tahuna Park, and this large Bum was exclusive of the amount required for repairs and depreciation on buildings. Unfortunately Tahuna was hardly suited for sport, and for tills reason they could not get a larger revenue from that source. The Dunedin Jockey Club had made a most remarkable offer to the society. They conM secure the use of 'Wingatui at what practically amounted id a peppercorn rental. The term was for five years, and another five-year period could also be arranged tor. * Even if they received only half the gate money that could be obtained at Tahuna Park, he thought the so,T ty would be wise in making the change. The society would, ho felt sure, bo in a belter financial position as a result of the change, and it would be able to offer better prize-money than, it could oeffr at the prosenl. time. It would probably be possible at the end of their period at ‘Wincut ni to secure about twenty-five acres of the Harbor Board’s southern endowment. This would bo ready within ten years. He thought that the society ooulcl get this ground at a very reasonable rental. If Tt was secured they might bo ablo to get ,i number of sports bodies to use it. It had been suggested that the society should .-(> to its members for assistance ; but ho if id not. think ibis would) be necessary, ami did not altogether approve of it. He i ijn-idered that the offer made by tbo Dunedin Jockey Club was the most w/n----lierfu! that had ever been made by one body to another. AN EXHIBITOR'S VIEW.

Mi- J. A. .'Johnstone said that it should 1,,.. recognised that both the show ground at Tahuna Park and the society’s building in the city were no longer suitable for the purposes "for which they are require!!. The show ground had few of the facilities that are essential for the effective woiTTing and display of either live stock or agricultural implements, and the railway arrangements for handling stock, etc., were so primitive and unsatisfactory that exhibitors were no longer pleased to make use of them. Further, situated as it was, Tahuna Park produced no appreciable revenue to enable the society to maintain the buddings and improvements, let alone add to them. He thought that it could he said definitely that the society could not continue to carry on successfully at Tahuna Park. That being so r what was lo be dona? Only one course of action seemed desirable, and that was to get suitable grounds with premises elsewhere in DunetMn. If members decided to do that, the question arose! Where are the operations of the society to bo carried on in the meantime? To meet the position, the Dunedin Jockey Club, with great magnanimity, had offered tho eocieiy ample accommodation to carry on its annual Summer Show on the Wingatxd racecourse. The facilities for getting stock and the general public there were of_ the best, and he was satisfied, as on exhibitor, provided suitable accommodation waa given, (hat the offer waa one that the society should avail itself of as the only means of overcoming the present difficulty. Ho Imped that -ultimately the society would .ibtaln from the Harbor Board or the City Council, at a) peppercorn rental, a site within the city area sufficiently large to accommodate the Summer Show and the permanent buildings of the society. He j thought that the people of the city believed that the society existed solely for (he benefit of their country cousins; but that view must ultimately change, because every business man and every tradesman recognises that the prosperity of the city was "absolutely dependent upon the primary products of the country. SUPPORT BY SIR JOHN" ROBERTS. Sir' John Roberts said that ho was naturally conservative in his views, and it was not without fa considerable wrench (hat he had arrived 1 at the conclusion that (he change should be made. Something bad to be dome, though it might he ten rears before the (southern endowment could he secured. He thought that it would be possible to enter into arrangements with the Dunedin Jockey Club mr that period. He also believed thait they could get very reasonable teams from the Harbor Board. Although he had been at Irst opposed to the idea, he had reluctjwitly come to the conclusion 1 that the D.J.C. offer should he accepted. If they could dispose of Tahuna Park for £IO,OOO this would leave them with about £4,000 to provide buildings, pens, etc., on their new ground. Sir John paid a hearty tribute to the generous offer of the D.J.C., and thought that if it was accepted it would prove a great benefit to the society. GENERAL DISCUSSION. Mr E. C. Hazleft said that ho bad been converted to the idea that the oliange was necessary. It would be a pity, however, if the park was cut mo, and -Mr liazlett considered that the -City Council

should bur it and convert it into a oporto ground. Mr W. Gardiner said that ho opposed the proposal. They would not only lose, shillings at the. gate, but business members as well, lit might bo possible, to get the reclamation ground in five years, and if people, would not go to Tahuua Park they could very well close down. If they did that, they would very soon find the business people coming to their assistance. He recognised that the D.d.C. offer was a very generous one. The Chairman said that Mr Black had asked him to mention that the society was deeply indebted to Messrs J. A. Clark, E. C. Hazlett, ,). A. Johnstone, and Crosbie Morris for their assistance .regarding the proposal. Mr Campbell (chairman of the Harbor • Board) stated that the board had fully considered the society’s proposal. The board was under obligations in respect to the reel am a lion ground, but the society required only a eomparatiy.gjy small area, Air T. Scott said that the mailer would have to he tried before they really could know how .things would go. Mr James Begg said that ,be recognised that the proposal was not popular with country members. City members were more interested in the society's Winter Show .than in the Summer Show, but be didn't think that town members would leave because the show was shifted to Wingatui. It would lie a much more serious thing, however, if country members left because of tho shift, and they would have to consider that matter very carefully. Air W. 0. ARKcllar said ‘halt he was against going to Wingatui, though it was only a personal opinion. He thought that the accommodation for stock was insufficient.

The Chairman said that there was plenty of accommodation at AVingatni. Mr APKellar: Would wo ever leave Wingatui if wo wont there? The Chairman said that it was quite possible that they wouldn't.

Air T. T. ‘Ritchie said that ho had come to the belief that the change was necessary. Country members would be well served by going to AVingatni, and if tho matter was placed before the town members he thought that they would not leave the society. Tahuua Park was too small at the present time, and at Wingatui they would be able to have at least a dozen attractions going on at once. Mr H. Driver said that ho recognised that the Jockey Club had made a very generous offer, but he thought it would be wise if they made an effort to “hang on ” to Tahuna Park. If the majority tn members thought that they should qo from Tahuua Park, he would not stand in their way. He considered, however, that the matter should be very carefully considered.

Mr J. Birtles said that he didn’t feel too happy about leaving the present ground. Ho considered that they would have considerable difficulty in getting the public out to Wingatui. Mr D. Allan said that he did not think that the average man would go out to Wingatui. The'country man who came to the show didn’t como into town for that purpose alone. He would like to see the country members consulted. Mr Arthur Johnson said that ho didn’t think that they would lose any town members hv the change. ■ Mr I). Murray said that a change was required as far as exhibitors were concerned. He -thought it would be worth while to try Wingatui. ■Mr E. F. Duthie said that if the show was held at Wingatui they wouldi almost bo sure to l lose the town carriers’ exhibits. ACTION DEFERRED.

Mr Gardiner said that ho did not think the matter should be definitely decided upon that evening, and he moved as an amendment—“ That as this meeting is a very small one, the committee be authorised to circularise members with a copy of the Press report, asking for an expression of opinion on the subject; replies to reach the office by January, 1923, when a general meeting of members will be held lo consider the matter 'and arrive, at a decision.”

The original motion was withdrawn and the amendment carried unanimously.