OTAGO STOCK SHOW.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20426, 5 June 1928, Page 5

OTAGO STOCK SHOW.

DATE AND DURATION. DISCUSSION BY A. AND P. SOCIETY. STRONG OPPOSITION TO CHANGE. From time to time suggestions have been made in the direction of changing the date of the Otago A. and P. Society’s Summer Show from the spring to the autumn, and also of restricting it to one day instead of two, as. at present. The question has exercised the minds of the members of the committee •of the society,, and in order to secure an expression of opinion of members motions bearing on both questions were brought before the annual' meeting, which was held last night. . The President (Mr W. O. M Kellar) moved:—“That the stock show in future be held in the autumn, starting in 1930.” Mr M'Kellar explained that this motion and one, to the effect that the stock show in future be restricted to one day stood in his name on the order paper, but he wished to make it clear that he was not an advocate of either of them. There had been a lot of discussion on both questions at the committee meetings, and it had been decided to endeavour to get a lead from the annual meeting as to the future course of action. The obvious advantages of holding a show in the autumn were that the weather as far south as this was likely- to be better in the autumn than in the spring, and that in the autumn the society could probably combine with the Dunedin Jockey Club, which held its cup meeting in February, and endeavour to make a carnival week of the two fixtures. On the other hand in the autumn the farmers were right in the middle of harvesting, and exhibitors found it very difficult to get away at that time. In addition, so far as horses were concerned, the season for stallions was past, and draughts were past their' best. The same remarks applied to cattle so far as milking was concerned. Moreover, the sheep 'were shorn before the autumn, and anyone who knew anything about sheep knew that they could not be shown to advantage unless they had a bit of wool on them. He had a perfectly open mind. There were advantages and disadvantages, and it was very difficult to say which outweighed the other. They had had two unfortunate experiences in the last two years, but personally he had a feeling that that was no reason why they should “get their tails down.” • They would get fine weather sooner or later, and he thought that stock were more suitable for exhibition in the spring than in the autumn. Mr H. C. Campbell seconded the motion pro forma. Mr C. A. Shiel pointed out that the Sydney Show, which was the biggest show in the Southern Hemisphere, was held at Easter. If it was all right in Sydney why should it not be all ■ right here? He thought they could work in with the Dunedin Jockey Club and make a carnival week.

Mr. J. W. Blair said the society had tried an autumn show before and it was no better than a spring show. He was qilite satisfied that if they had had a fine day for People’s Day last November they would have had a reco t' show. It was as good a show as any in the Dominion, and he was sure that if they made an alteration it would be a retrograde step. The middle of the harvest was no time to show horses, and the same remarks applied to cattle and sheep. If. the people would put their shoulders to the wheel they would have the show as it used to be—one of the best in the Dominion. Mr G. Black said that one of the disabilities of altering the show, as had been done before, was that the society would be left out in the cold. If the neighbouring societies stuck to a spring show the exhibits for an autumn show in Otago would be seriously limited. Mr Young (Taieri) said that from the point of view of the breeders and the exhibitors the spring was the time for a show. If the show were held in the autumn it would mean a second preparation of stock, and that was no easy matter. He thought they would be far better to stick to the ordinary date, and take their chance in regard to the weather. They had had good weather before, and they would have it again, and they would also have good shows again.

Mr C. J, Inder said that if the date of the show were altered to the autumn it. would mean that the judging would be affected. He contended that in the matter of stud, sheep, which were of importance to them, the judging could not be done so well in February as in December. The experience in Central Otago showed that the .spring was the time to hold a show.

Sir John Roberts expressed the opinion that a change in the date would be undesirable. The society certainly had an unfortunate experience last year, but he was surprised to see the grand stand filled, mostly by ladies who seemed to give more support than the men. He thought the spring was the proper time for the show.

When the motion was put to the meeting no one voted for it, but there was an emphatic chorus of “ Noes ”, on the other side.

The motion in favour of restricting the show to one day met with a similar reception.