THE SHOWGROUNDS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 121, 23 April 1936, Page 8

THE SHOWGROUNDS.

(To the Editor.) Sir, —I have not always agreed with the doings of the A. and P. Association, but I am firmly convinced that the proposal emanating from that body, sponsored by Messrs Eliott and Hodder, and having for its object tho sectioning of the Showground and its substitution at Awapuni ; has everything to commend it, either from a I Show or city viewpoint. It is regret- ■ table that after 50 years of operations through extreme prosperity, and adversity, the jubilee crown of the Show should be a mortgage 'of £17,000, and well we might say, ; uneasy lie the heads that wear that [ crown. But there it is, and no 1 amount of talk will alter the position. | Action only will count, and Messrs Eliott and Hodder, to their credit, have taken it. The wisdom of the move ’ must be apparent to everyone with ordinary vision. The idea that a Show must, of necessity, be in the middle of the town has been exploded years ago by the experience of the Hawke’s Bay and Wairarapa institutions. The Wairarapa Show is held at .Solway, I ideal picnic grounds with beautiful j trees, the same with the Hawke’s Bay Show, held at Tomoana. The proposed 1 new ground at Awapuni for the Palm- , erston North Show would provide ac- j commodation for a growing city, the present ground does not. The new ground could be served with a siding, facilitating the loading and unloading of Show stock on the spot; no need to take them through the city streets. A trotting course would be possible, also the holding of a stock fair at the end of the Show, with buyers present from numerous places, and the Longburn works and abattoirs adjacent. The new site would be easily reached by rail, bus, and taxi. Now tor tile proposal from the city’s viewpoint. Some members of the A. and P. Association speak of the Show- i grounds as a valuable heritage a.nd deplore parting with same. How long | would these members hold the grounds j if they had to pay rates on them like other people have to do? Their tune would change. One has been used to hearing from local bodies of the burden of irrecoverable native rates: the pakelia kind, I should say, are just as 1 bad. Our Mayor has estimated tliac the return from show sections would be £IOOO per annum. That sum would provide a water loan of £20,000 for the city with interest at 41 per cent, and sinking fund at J per cent. Surely the mem here of the A. and P. Association have vision enough to see that if they can buy 40 acres now, at farm price, the time is not far distant, with the progress of Palmerston, when they will again be in possession of city property. I think most people will agree that the members of the A. and P. Association who are advocating the move are. fully justified in refusing to bear the stranglehold of debt any longer. Let me, at this juncture, refer to another city disadvantage created by the recent disastrous cyclone, viz., the absence of any decent stand accommodation in ; the city, which is necessary, if the city is to be en:;ble to cope with band contests, or similar functions, which are desirable in more ways than one. The Pipe Band contest, held recently in Wanganui, was a huge success. 1 have been informed that, apart from the benefit to Scottisii music, the business community benefited to the tune of £ISOO. I am also informed that if the necessary stand accommodation is available in Palmerston North the next contest will be bold here.

Now is the opportune time for our City Council to make one bite at the cherry, and provide that accommodation at the Sportsground. Let the business men, and 50,000 Club, get behind the venture and push it for the sake of themselves and the city in general. —I am, etc., W. F. CUTLER. 39 Ada Street, Palmerston North.