Beginning Of New Era For The Winter Show

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19024, 26 May 1936, Page 8

Beginning Of New Era For The Winter Show

'J'IIJS week is expected to be l he beginning of a new period of expansion for lire Poverty Bay Winter Show Assoeintion. Much faith is being placed in the earning of thf* railway to assist in the development of the Show, which has already taken its place ns one of (he town’s foremost organisations. The early progress was rapid, and although suffering financially during the slump and as a result of the destruction of the Garrison Hall by tire, the association did much during the years of depression to lay the foundation of future progress. One of the soundest steps forward of recent vears was a drive,

grows sufficiently to warrant plans being prepared for such a. place, but the sooner a start is made, it i,-; pointed out, tho sooner tho objective will be reached. Much faith has been placed in the rebuilding of the Garrison Hall, and if this eventuates the necessity of establishing a building fund might disappear. The association has been consulted with regard to its requirements in flip event of the hall being rebuilt, but nothing lias been heard lately of the proposal. It has been suggested that now a new Government is in power, some steps should be taken to ascertain its attitude in regard to the reconstruction of the hall out of the

for a large membership. This met with great success, and ."(Hi new members were secured within a few months. The committee has not relaxed its efforts in this direction, and it is hoped to increase the total to lbOd |iv next year. Following a. further financial loss last year, many members were dubious regarding the wisdom of holding another Show this year, but in view of the improvement of t lie economic condi-

tions and the promise of the railway, the committee renewed its efforts with great vigour. Tne result has been that arrangements for this week’s Show went forward with greater enthusiasm titan has been seen for a long while. The railway will benefit the Show in many ways. During construction, much new spending power should be concentrated on Gisborne to the benefit of the. whole community. This should be reflected in the Winter Show

insurance money received by tho past Government after the destruction of the old building. When the railway construction has been commenced in earnest, the Winter Show Association might consider offering some inducement to the railway workers to become keenly interested in Show affairs. One means in this direction might be the establishment of special classes for flowers and vegetables grown under the difficult conditions associated with a railway construction camp, and perhaps classes in other sections might be added, as tho opportunity offered. It might be argued that tho railway camps might not, offer anything permanent to the development of the Show, because the camps would disappear after u few years, but against that it

exhibits and public patronage, and one of the greatest difficulties of the association in the future will be to make arrangements for a space sufficiently largo to accommodate till the trade stands and competitive exhibits. The present premises are 100 small, but are the largest and most central available at present. Suggestions have been made ia the past that the Winter Show Association should prepare for a time when il might own its own buildings, and many members have urged that this objective should not be lost, sight of. The association has not sufficient funds available at present to consider establishing a fund for the purpose, hut if this week’s Show is the financial success hoped of it, some proposal may be made to set, aside a portion of the profits to inaugurate a building fund. Many years may elapse before the fund

can be pointed out: that even only a temporary benefit is worth while, and the railway camps will house a population of many hundreds. The Bartlett’s camp just before the discontinuance of the Gisborne railway work at the end of !!).'!() contained several hundred people, and oven at this year’s census the total occupying the camp was IMG. With that camp and others adjacent filled with workers and their families receiving larger wages.: than tho present relief pay and sustenance,

WHAT THE RAILWAY MAY BRING

the Winter Show should reeeivo some benefit from them. The encouragement of Maori sections should assist the Show a orent deal. The Gisborne district has a large .Maori population, arid all hough the pakeha. comes frequently in touch with the native, tlio former sees nil too little of the Maori work and craftsmanship. Competitive sections, or even only exhibits of Maori work, would interest, large sections of The pakehas, as well as attracting the interest and attention of the Maori people themselves to the advantage of the show association. The association would not need 1o await the coming of the railway to build tip a Maori section,

but if it proceeds at once in this direction it should have such an array of Maori work and craftsmanship by the time the railway is eompleted that the Show should offer attractions for visitors from oilier parts. The Maori house to lie housed in the National War Memorial Museum in Wellington contains carvings from the Gisborne district reputed to be several hundreds of years old, while in many other ways .Maori

work of this district is claimed to be the best among the whole of the native race. Therefore, tho district and the Show association should take pride in exhibiting it to the public and to visitors. When the district does achieve railway connection with the main system in the Nortti Island, the

association might encourage visitors to the town from other places along the line by the arrangement of cheap excursion rates. This is not, a new idea,

for excursion fares have been talked of freely by other organisations, and perhaps the Winter Show Association has had this in view, also. Co-operation between

the organisations arranging for the carnival side of Gisborne lito might, be desirable to build up a

big carnival week during the period of the Winter Show for the attraction of visitors by rail. The enlargement of the sideshow section should be achieved when proprietors of travelling shows and games have easier and cheaper access to the town. These entertainments are dependent to n great extent on the weather, for under present conditions of restricted hall space they must bo placed out in the open. The present site is on a riverside

section across the street from the Show building, and there seems plenty of scope for the enlargement of this area as required.