THE ROYAL SHOW

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22293, 20 June 1934, Page 4

THE ROYAL SHOW

DECENTRALISATION PLAN SCHEME OF REORGANISATION (Per United Press Association.) WELLINGTON. June 19. In an effort to overcome the difficulty of retaining the membership in the Royal Agricultural Society of New Zealand, delegates at the annual meeting to-day adopted a scheme of reorganisation involving some degree of decentralisation and intended to secure keener local . interest. Since its inauguration the society has had to lace “interisland” problems regarding membership. When the Royal Show was held in the North Island very few South Island members renewed their annual subscription, and the contrary happened whenvthe show was held in the South Island. This “ interisland ” phase of the membership was a problem not faced by any A. and P, Association ,in the Dominion. Under tbe reorganisation scheme the country has been divided into the following five districts for the purpose of holding Xvoyal Shows and appointing delegates to the council of the society:— Northern—All the Auckland province and district' except Poverty Bay. Eastern—Wairara pa, Hutt valley, Hawke’s Bay, and Poverty Bay. Western—Taranaki, Wanganui, Alanawatu, and the city of Wellington, Central —Canterbury, Westland, Nelson, and Alarlborough. Southern —Otago and Southland. These districts will organise themselves into district councils for holding tbe Royal Show in each district once every five years and to elect. five members to the council from each district, with the president, two vice-presidents, the treasurer, and a representative from each of the 17 breed societies. This gives a total personnel o! 46 for the council. Tbe A. and P. Association in the district will affiliate through the district council, and half the capitation so received will be retained by the district council and half forwarded to the Royal Agricultural Society. In order to retain the ordinary members’ compounded subscription will be collected once every five years, and the total sum paid to the district council under whose control the Royal Show was being held, less the percentage to be paid to the society for general Royal Show expenses.