THE WELLINGTON SHOW.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1190, 21 December 1894, Page 6

THE WELLINGTON SHOW.

TO THE EDITOR.

Sir, “Having taken a very great interest in the welfare of the Wellington Agricultural and. Pastoral Association ever since it was first started, I am at a loss to understand why the citizens continue to allow it to be a struggling show. If the citizens only took the matter in hand (which is to their direct interest), they would certainly be repaid handsomely. Until they do so it can only be a one-horse show. Wellington stands alone in the Colony, geographically, as the most convenient spot for South Island sellers to meet North Island buyers. Steam can land stock here either by land or water cheaper and with less risk than any town in the Colony. I see no reason why a very large number of visitors should mot be drawn here at the same time. What we should do is to make a week’s amusement, and induce visitors to stay. So -far the Association seem to consider no one but exhibitors, and instead of bringing the show within easy reach of the masses, have taken it out of their reach. They have one of the biggest populated towns to work on, and although they expect the townspeople to help them they do their utmost to prevent the show helping them. It is surely time the citizens moved in the matter themselves. There is, ten to twelve thousand a year to be made out of a really well-conducted show, and for. that certainly under one thousand would carry it out. At present the poorer classes are unable to . attend; unfortunately, they are the majority, but, from a gate-money point of view, they provide the prize-money. Prize-money is everything, and stock - owners, with all their growling, would go to the top of Mount Cook if the prizes were big enough. —I am, &c., Well-wisher.