Bettering the Shows

Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 273, 18 November 1936, Page 12

Bettering the Shows

SPECIAL MEETING OF ASSOCIATION’S GENERAL COMMITTEE. Following the recent Spring Show, a special meeting of the general committee of the Manawatu and West Coast A. and P. Association was held yesterday principally to consider suggestions for future shows, with particular reference to next year’s Royal Show, which is to be held in Palmerston North. In the absence of the president (Mr. J. Batcholar) who is in the South Island, Mr. J. A. Bussell presided. There was an attendance of about 25 members. Oil the suggestion of the secretary, it was decided to invite all A. and P. Associations in the Western District to supply up to threo stewards each for the Royal Show. A proposal that the interior of the cattle pavilion should be whitewashed to provide better lighting, was roferred to the cattle committee.

A suggestion by Mr. Kissling that a permanent telephone line (piped underground) from the broadcasting box to the centre of the oval should be provided, so that the main office, field office, oval and broadcasting box would all be linked up, was referred to the finance committee for investigation and a report. On the recommendation of Mr. E. W. Barnett, it was decided to eliminate sheep-shearing competitions from the programme and to substitute an exhibition of shearing. Complimentary tickets for the opening day of all futuro shows aro to be forwarded to members of tho Palmerston North City Council. A letter of thanks is to be forwarded to the Palmerston North Boys’ High Shcool, the Feildiug Agricultural lligf> School and Massey College for the work done by students of those institutions as junior stewards at the recent show. Future Spring Shows. In regard to future spring shows, the secretary advanced the following suggestions: — (a) Eliminate the trades exhibits from the halls. (b) Eliminate tho home industries section and substitute a flower show. (c) Continue in the halls the schools section, the wool section, educational displays such as provided by the Department of Agriculture, and the dog show. (d) Close all buildings at 0 p-m. each day of show. (e) Open the gate to sideshow area each evening at an admission price to bo fixed. (f) Concentrate on attractive ring events for the Spring Show*. (g) Change the form of the lady’s ticket either for the Winter or tho Spring Show, so that tho same privileges are given at each show*. There is much confusion at present. (h) Renew our new* member campaign and pledge ourselves that, as soon as and so long as our membership is 3000 or over, we will not conduct an organised canvass for donations. Giving his reasons for the above proposals, Mr. Kissling stated: — “The majority of trade exhibitors (inside the halls) declaro that they do well at the Winter Show and badly at the Spring Show. In my opinion, the exhibitors would willingly pay the old rates for space at the Winter Show if tho industrial section is not repeated at Spring Shows. A number of regular stall-holders cancelled their space for the last show and others were very disappointed with results. They say, and it appears to be correct, that there are so many attractions in tho ring that the attendance of tho public in the halls is very poor. This is obvious to any who have observed carefully. “The financial result would bo better. There would be a saving in gate staff wages and electric light at the Spring Show which would compensate for the reduced evening gate, and loss of revenue from the stall-holders at the Spring Show* would bo compensated for by the increased revenue from this source at the Winter Show*. “The result would be that our Winter and Spring Shows would be of two distinct types, with greater variety of appeal.’’ On the motion of Mr. J. A. Nash, who said tho proposals needed investigation a special committee consisting of the president and Messrs. S. R. Thomson, T. It. Hodder, J. A. Bussell, J. J. Stevenson, L. 11. Collinson, B. E. Keiller and the mover, was set up to report. Recent Royal Show. Reporting on a visit to the Royal Show at Christchurch, tho secretary (Mr. H. E. Kissling) said the fixture had been spread over threo days, tho stock being on exhibition on all days. “A great feature of the show was the section for tho Nydfa Cup, where the ponies and their riders were judged as a unit. A pony club has been formed in Canterbury with the object of improving children’s riding and general care of their mounts. There were two classes, the junior one attracting 41 entries and the senior, 14 entries. Full details of these competitions are set out in the catalogue. “Exhibitors’ sleeping quarters arc provided, each cubicle being let at £1 for the duration of the show*. When not used for show purposes, these quarters are let to Automobile Association tourists for camping quarters.

“The official opening was conducted in the dining hall, the speeches being broadcast round the grounds and through Station 3YA. A very efficient public address system kept the public well informed as to results of judging, etc., but it lacked the brightness which was a feature of our announcing this year.. “The attendance was excellent on-ad days, particularly on the last day, a

full holiday in Christchurch. The parade was held on the last day and was witnessed by an immense crowd, lhe total gate takings (throe line days) were in tho vicinity of £3,200, slightly less than the record of 1929. The adult admission charge was 2s. j “Tho showgrounds are about the same size as our own, situated about three miles from Cathedral Square and next door to the trotting course. A trotting meeting is conducted at the trotting course on tho same day as people’s day at the show. Contrary to what I had previously believed, the trotting on the saino day as the principal show day is considered to be definitely detrimental to the show. Christchurch and Canterbury people obviously think a great deal of their show,' attend well on all days of the show and take an interest in the educational side. -While the ring attractions and sideshows draw big crowds of patrons, there was always a largo number of people in tho various stock pavilions and along the horse lines. The display of agricultural machinery was the biggest and finest I have ever seen, and probably as regards the number and variety of the exhibits the exhibition has few if any equals in the world. "Exhibitors I spoke to showed a keen interest in next year’s Royal Show, to bo held at Palmerston North, and I am confident of a good entry from South Island exhibitors on that occasion.” Association’s Finances. At an extraordinary general meeting of members held prior to tho general committee meeting, the following resolution passed at tho September meeting was confirmed; “That the general committee bo authorised to borrow from

the Bank of New Zealand Officers’ Guarantee and Provident Fund a sum 'sufficient to repay the llopvood mort'gage and provide an overdraft up to £3OOO, and as a security for repayment 'of the same and interest, to execute | such mortgage or mortgages as tho committee shall consider necessary, and that the action of the committee in having borrowed on mortgage £12,000 from the Bank of New Zealand Officers’ Guarantee and Provident Association and £3OOO from tho Bank of New Zealand in repayment of the Hopwood mortgage (£8000) and the moneys due to the Bank of Now Zealand, be hereby confirmed.”