ROYAL SHOW VENUE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20244, 2 May 1929, Page 21

ROYAL SHOW VENUE.

CENTRALISATION QUESTION.

SURPRISING SUGGESTION. Statements from Wellington that the Council of the Royal Agricultural Society has under consideration a proposal to centralise its activities thero and to hold all Royal Shows there provided convenient facilities can be arranged, will be received with general misgiving throughout the country. If an actual decision in this direction were not a breach of the Royal Charter issued five years ago, it certainly would represent an unwelcome divergence in policy from that with which the society wooed support in its incipient da vs.

A peripatetic annual fixture at centres which had already achieved provincial distinction for their agricultural and pastoral displays was undoubtedly the basis on which most of the support was offered the RovaLSociety at first and any decision against thi% principle now would be universally unpopular. It is true that advocates have always been ready to argue centralisation at alternately I'almerston North in the North Island and Christchurch in th* South, but opposition of no uncertain calibre has been offered even this proposal.

How the Royal Society hopes to popularise Wellington, of all places, then, es a centralised venue is not at ail clear. Even supposing both ends of the Dominion were agreed on the desirability of centralisation it is not ac ali certain that associations in these parts would be content to see all the benefits accruing from a Royal Show showered on a centre which in the past has taken such a phlegmatic interest in live-stock exhibitions. Such an action would alien lie sympathy over a very wide area, not bec«.use of narrow parochialism, but because of a natural feeling that nn:a:r advantages were being undeservedly bestowed. Those associations that have won their way to eminence in the agricultural and pastoral world have a legitimate claim to consideration in the matter of Royal Show favours and to disregard it is to ignore the idea! of national and equal benefit which is the cardinal principle underlying the royal constitution. The Question of Finance. ILe desire of the Royal Society council for a central venue is undoubtedly inspired by very worthy motives. The council is doubtless keenly anxious to set its finances on a more solid footing than heretofore, and thus entrench itself more surely in the agricultural and pastoral structure 01 the country. The aspiration is one which will command the sympathy of ali enthusiasts in the primary cause, but because thev cherish this especial enthusiasm f.heso people cannot but question the wisdom and foresight of the council in bringing forward its present proposal. A Southern paper has made j the dispassionate statement that by cen- j tralising its activities at Wellington the Societvs troubles would scon be over, for the Society would simply cease to exist. .This perhaps is taking too pessimistic a ■s iew but as a sequel of centralisation it is much more probable than is increased popularity and prosperity. Geographical considerations have always been the basis of arguments in favour of a fixeu venue for the Royal Show, the contention being that breeders are averse to sending their stock, and especially their best animals, on long and arduous journeys, Royal Show honours notwithstanding. The witness of the fixtures to date more than confirms this view. In the final analysis, however, the fact actually provides one oi the strongest arguments against centralisation in (hat centralisation would mean permanent disadvantages to most parts ol the Dominion, whereas Avivh a movable fixture the disabilities would be only periodic and all portions of the country would beuefit alike. Penalising Distant Exhibitors. -\ fixed venue would not alleviate the inconveniences attaching to present transport problems and since the only effect would be to permanently penalise exhibitors at a distance it would not be long In?fore the show, conducted under the Royal < barter deteriorated into nothing more than an event ot doubtful provincial interest, a result as farcical as it would be distasteful, especially when it is considered what a power for vast good the fixture can be uride" iess parochial limits.

One f.T.t thai will always have to be faced as far as the New Zealand Royal Hhow is concerned is that no matter where it is held a certain degree of inconvenience to breeders ij inevitable. Geographical rauses are unfortunately ineradicable, but if the show is to bo the power it should he they must be faced in the light, of reducing the difficulties they present as equally ao possible to all parts of the country. A peripatetic fixture is the only means ot placing all the Dominion's breeders oc an equitable footing in this respect ana consequently is the only means by which tlie Royal Society can completely achieve Us destiny ns the instrument of live-stock improvement in New Zealand. A "Wellington Royal Show, if, indeed such n fixture could survive, could not hope to Accomplish anything like tho national benefits that would attach to a popular movable event, and any deliberations in which the Royal Soriety council is engaged should take full cognisance of this important faci