THE ROYAL SHOW

Evening Star, Issue 23100, 28 October 1938, Page 14

THE ROYAL SHOW

CENTRALISATION PROPOSAL DEFEATED FINALISTS FOR DOMINION JUMPING CONTEST [PiiK United Press Association.] HAMILTON, October 28. The question of the centralisation ol the Royal Show in Wellington was tuilv discussed at a meeting of the council of the Royal Agricultural Society of New Zealand at Hamilton last evening, and a motion favouring centralisation of the show was lost by 15 votes to 6 when put to the meeting. The society president, Mr L. J. Wild, of Ifei(ding, presided, and introduced the question by moving the adoption of the report of a special subcommittee that the principal of centralisation of the show be confirmed. Mr Wild added that anything done at the meeting would not be final, but would be a recommendation to next meeting of the council in June. The genera! principle was that the show should be held in' Wellington each year on its own ground, and conducted by the council of the Royal Show Society. In the committee’s recommendation was a suggestion that the Government be approached for a £1 for £1 subsidy on the ground, while it was also thought that the breed societies should assist with the erection of suitable buildings. “ The centennial of New Zealand is approaching, and the Government rightly is considering financing suitable memorials,” commented Mr Wild. •• What more suitable memorial to the progress of the last hundred years could there be than the establishment of a permanent home for the New Zealand Royal Show?” In seconding the resolution Sir William Perry stated that he had long been associated with the Royal Show Society, and over earlier days lie bad felt that peripatetic shows were the only way to evolve to the most satisfactory way to conduct the Royal Show. Of the many troubles that were noticeable, apart from the fact that the Royal Society had been losing money, was the clashing of dates, not only on the days of the show, but almost immediately prior and after. “1 feel that any show held at any distance from the south of the North Island or the nortli of the South Island is not a representative'show. If we had a truly representative show it would attract exhibitors and buyers from Australia and other overseas countries, and 1 take it one of the aims of shows is to attract buyers of our stock from overseas. Opposition to the proposed centralisation was voiced by several speakers, who felt that the Royal Show in Wellington each year would develop into a Wellington provincial fixture. DOMINION JUMPING CHAMPIONSHIP. In the first heat of the Dominion jumping championship at the Royal Show, in which the slippery nature of the turf militated against the number of entrants, the following five entrants qualified (out of 20 entries) for Saturday’s final:—J. Wilson’s D’Artagnan, A. Walker’s Kia Ora, Dr A. Eisdell’s Moore’s Beaufort, Miss D. Davidson’s Big Bertha, J. M‘Lean’s Gambler,