ENTRIES DECLINE

Manawatu Standard, Volume L, Issue 114, 10 April 1930, Page 5

ENTRIES DECLINE

A. AND P. ASSOCIATION SHOWS. MEMBERS "CONCERNED. The falling off in entries, particularly stock entries, caused some concern at the annual meeting of the Manawatu A. and E. Association yesterday. It was pointed out that apparently the public no longer came largely to see the stock,' but to attend the amusements. No specific remedy was found, but the committee expressed their intention of making strenuous efforts to increase the entries. In his annual report the treasurer, Mr T. R. Hodder, stated as follows: “One regrettable feature of the Spring Show wus the drop in the entries, the amount received being £438 lbs, the lowest since the Spring Show of 1918, when £435 12s Gd was received. We are glad to know this falling off is receiving the earnest attention of the committee." Mr M. A. Eliott stated. that the falling off in entries was indeed regrettable. Formerly, the receipts from admission charges and entry fees were about the same. Of late there had been a gap, and the gap was widening. This year the difference was £BOO. It showed tile attitude of the public who did not attend to see the entries of stock, but the side-shows and amusements. The retiring president (Mr J. Linklater, M-P.): The quality of the stock is high. Mr Eliott: That is so, but the gap is widening and it is a regrettable feature. Mr R. D. Knight commented that the entries for all shows were going down. Mr Linklater: Yes; we are not an exception. Later in the meeting Mr Andrew Guy stated that the question of the decline in entries had been referred to, but no suggestion as to increasing them had been made. The matter should bo ventilated a little more as it was very necessary that a supreme effort should be made this year to increase the entries. More vim appeared to be required. The president-elect, Mr L. B. Wall, gave Mr Guy his assurance that the matter would receive his attention. Organised bands would handle each district and he solicited the support of the committee. He realised that the entries had fallen, but if they did some hard work, they would get some entnes back Mr T. Webb stated that he would not be showing this year, but was endeavouring to get exhibitors to take his plqce. The discussion then lapsed.