SHOW PRIZES

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 157, 4 June 1937, Page 8

SHOW PRIZES

STANDARDISATION OPPOSED. MANAWATU~ OPINION. Support for the standardisation of prize money for shows was expressed by the Stratford A. and P. Association | in a letter received by the annual meeting of the Western District Council of the Royal Agricultural Society lat Hawera. The letter stated that the (Stratford association had finished the !season with an adverse balance and l’elt that the increases in prize money general over the past few years proved too big a handicap. The association felt that the time had arrived when prize money had reached levels too high for the smaller associations. Air H. J. Lancaster, representing the Horowhenua Association, said that if the council intended to decrease prize money it would turn away exhibitors. His association worked under i a rule that where there were only -one or two exhibitors in a class the ; prize money was reduced by one-third. The Manawatu Association also had worked under this rule for some time, said Mr H. E. Kissling, but it had reconsidered its decision recently. Exhibitors went to considerable trouble to prepare their exhibts and the exhibitor was the most disappointed person if there was no competition. The chairman, Mr Jas Knight (Feilding), said that most of the associations had already reduced their prize money and had got to a level in conformity with their finances. Many of the exhibitors, however, looked to the financial side of the show's. 'lt would be an extremely difficult matter to standardise shows owing to the variations of the type of show in each district. “I think wo have to be governed a good deal by the conditions prevailing in each centre,” remarked Mr Knight. “The prize money must be governed by the nature of the show. It is a matter for the individual shows to arrange their own prize money allocations.” It was pointed out that any move to restrict prize money would result in an undesirable position arising with regard to the donation of trophies and special prizes by private individuals. It would be a retrograde step to limit societies to what the w r eakest could pay. The smaller societies could carry oil with smaller prizes in their excellent work of encouraging competition among the smaller exhibitors in their district. j The letter was received. The secretary' was granted an lionoi’arium for his work over the past three years. i A donation of £4O was made to the | Royal Society in the event of that society assisting with freight charges .for exhibitors at this year’s Royal Show at Palmerston North, otherwise the donation is to be made to the ■Manawatu A. and P. Association lor the same purpose. I The election of officers resulted; ;Chairman, Mr J. Knight (Feilding); hon secretary and treasurer, Air H. )"jE. Kissling (Palmerston North); hon. 'auditor, Mr N. 1. Neilsen; councillors, I Western Council, Messrs D. Collis '(Kairanga), Kissling (Palmerston 'North), H. C. Sampson (New PlyImouth) and E. W. Barnett (Halcombe). I The following were elected to the council of the Royal Agricultural Society from the Western Council Messrs Knight, Sampson, Lancaster, Batchelor and Kissling.