VISITING SHOWMEN

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LII, Issue 17174, 26 October 1926, Page 8

VISITING SHOWMEN

NEARLY A RIOT GRIEVANCE AGAINST GISBORNE The side-show attractions at the show grounds this year were of a more extensive and varied nature Ilian usual, Iho appearance in the field of several organisations ol a local •nature helped to augment the attractions, while the addition of stalks, with their attractive displays, necessitated more space within the enclosure.

The allocation of ground space on (lie part of the show authorities was the subject of a complaint- on tlie part of a representative of the New Zealand Showmen's Association. Sever, he said, in ail ids fifteen" years’ experience on the show-grounds in this ‘Country had they been treated so badly, and this protest had been expressed in an outspoken and somewhat angry demonstration on .Sunday morning when the space allotments nere being made. Tiie Showmen's Association, he said, stood tor “respectability,” aud bad been tunned to saleguard the interests of the business and introduce a better class of shoSv, which it was freely acknowledged had been brought about. The association had asked that the space should he ballotted for. Their representations had not only been disregarded, but, he complained, (hey had been insultingly treated. What, they objected to was sonic <»£ the best sites being allocated to local people who were entering into competition with them. These, they contended, should have gone into the ballot with the others. Gisborne, although a good showman’s town, was not the only slio-v on at this period. Carterton, .Marlborough, and Tinniru were all on, and were good shows tor the population. Rome of the shows, which were brought here at a good deal of expense, had been relegated into hack positions, and they were afraid they would not meet expenses, they certainly would require an assurance of better treatment before thev would consider Gisborne on a lututv invasion.

Mr. R. \Y. Coop, president of the association, on being approached on the subject- to-day, said that, in former years there had been no trouble, hut on this occasion they had been lairly taken by storm. There were so many demands for space that on Sundav morning, when tlie officials went out to mark out flic ground, there had been nearly a riot. He would take the responsibility of saying there would be a better arrangement next year, and that all the spare would he ballotted for,'as desired by the showmen.