THE ROYAL SHOW.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20710, 7 May 1929, Page 13

THE ROYAL SHOW.

PERMANENT LOCATION. . OPPOSED TQ AGRICULTURAL - INTERESTS.’ ’ ' f • (Srscux to Daily Tubs.) . PALMERSTON N./May fl, "I don’t like the proposal at all. Per* fionally, I think it would be against interests of the Royal Agricultural Society u the Royal Show .were, permanently established in Wellington,-which is not ■■ ■. essentially a farming district.. ■ If the suggestion is adopted it will be ■ a step ■quite in the wrong direction.” _ This statement. was made by Mr J ‘ Linklater. M.P., president of. the Mana-watn-West Coast A. and P. Association, . with reference to the discussion in Auck- ,■ f land regarding the question of the future location of,the Royal, Show, ■ > w I have always maintained that the Royal Show should' be considered a Dominion fixture, not simply to suit any particular -area or . organisation of breeders,” 'commented Sir 'd; M.-Johnstom - hon. treasurer of the Manawatu-West , Coast A. and, P. Association. “T-, consider the Royal Show should be an itinerant show. It is quite against the-im terests of the Royal .Agricultural Society to .arrive' at a definiteldeation. Some time ago I said I was very pleased that Invercargill should ■ get thd show ' next year. There; is nothing to prevent Otago . and Southland from Holding a show on their own account with, the assistance of Canterbury _ if the North Island determined to withdraw because of the travelling distance. The Southland-Canterbury I breeders are apparently less., concerned about the matter-of' traxisport “than i« the North Island.-. Breeders to date have supported the" Royal Show Very well when it has been, held in the North Island.” It is manifestly • unfair>■■■ to AucMandj Otago, and .Southland! breeders, to load them every year 'vrith : the heavy expense involved in sending stock to Wellington of all places in the Dominion. Wellington is the least suitable -i agricultural centre. It has no. producing, district in< its . immediate vicinity.. Tins , Dominion might very well .accept ’a lesson from the Royal Society of England,. which estab- ' " lished • its show permanently ,on ’ an ex- . pensive site at Willesden, near London, and after several years’atrial was forced. to abandon it with a heavy-loss. That was the result of attempting, centralisation -at one particular point.The’ Royal Scottish Society set a good example for New Zealand to follow. It has never tried centralisation, and its ' show has , '■■■ always been an itinerant one, with; huge success, for nearly, a generation.” ■,