ROYAL SHOW DATE

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVIII, Issue 136, 9 May 1928, Page 2

ROYAL SHOW DATE

SOUTH ISLAND COMMENT, In connection with the decision of tho Royal Agricultural Society to hold the next Royal Show at the end of January, 1929, at Palmerston North, the Weekly Press comments as follows: “Such was a foregone conclusion seeing that tho only interest taken in the matter lias been by a few North Island members of the council who have a certain object in view. The Manawatu A. and P. Association bad offered the use of their grounds for a Royal Show in the autumn, but the fixing of tho date for the end of January brings the show nearer to the association’s spring show than may be desirable in the interests of the latter. The matter came before the committee of the Manawatu A. and P. Association when the secretary of the Royal Society wrote stating the date fixed for the Royal Show as January 30th and 31st next. Members, the letter further stated, were of the opinion that the time was ripe for the society to run its own show, as its financial position was becoming weaker every year, and, as tho Royal Show was now established among breeders, it was felt that successful Royal Shows run by the society ' itself would soon place it in a financial position. Some discussion took place as to tho attitude the association should adopt, the chairman and some of the members lidding that the association should make up its rnind quickly and help to make the Royal Show a success. The lion, treasurer of the association, Mr J. DL Johnston, who naturally takes an anxious view regarding the financial aspect, moved that the charge for tho use of the grounds and other arrangements bo referred to the financial committee for a report. The Royal Society, be stated, was doing a bad day’s work, and ho was quite satisfied that the local spring show would not be the success it should. It would not kill the show, but would do it a lot of harm, and would be the death knell of tho Royal Show. From the financial point of view the association would suffer severely and the Royal Society more so. At the meeting when the society changed its policy there were only seven out of the twenty members present, and not one South Island representative. A further proposition was then made by Dir DL A. Eliott that the association help the society in every possible way. The seconder, Dir T. R. Hoddcr, expressed the opinion that the association would not assist materially through the holding of a separate Royal Show on their grounds. The society would be tho loser and lie was afraid they were courting failure. The tivo proposals made were incorporated and agreed to unanimously. “The vice-president of the Canterbury A. and R. Association pretty well summed up the feeling of the South Island when ho said that the fixing of the end of January as (the date of the Royal Show would' not suit the South Island. It is a pity,” adds the South Island, whih would then be busy harvesting, and that it would be the end of t lie Royal Show. It is a pity, adds the journal “that some discussion has not taken place as to the objects of certain members of the council of the Royal Society in fixing the date for. the show in January. The aim of the president of the Royal Society is to develop the selling side of the show which, as has been pointed out, will simply mean that it will mainly be a ram show and sale. One may, therefore, expect to see that the special sale of stud ranis, now Hold annually in the Wairarapa will be merged into the Royal Show, The only breeders in the South Island who will be interested in the Royal Show will be breeders of Southdowns and Ryelands who have a good market in tho North Island for their rams and probably some Corriedales would also be sent. Breeders of other stock will not be much interested in the show. Tho financial aspect will, no doubt,' be an important one, and this will be better realised when calls are being made for funds to carry out two shows at Palmerston North within three months of each other. It is perhaps just as well that the test should come as soon as possible in order that the Royal Show may either be established on a sounder footing or else given up. It cannot be a Royal Show unless it meets with support from all parts of the Dominion.