WELLINGTON WINTER SHOW.

Southland Times, Issue 19123, 15 December 1923, Page 10 (Supplement)

WELLINGTON WINTER SHOW.

FIRST TO BE HELD NEXT JULY. Following on the success which attended the Welcome Week Carnival, and the decision to make an annual exhibition on a greatly extended scale, a representative committee of business men met recently to decide upon arrangements for a winter show to be held in Wellington next July. The meeting, which was called by “Mr G. Mitchell, was presided over by Mr John Myers. Others present were Messrs W. S. Wilson (Central Progress League), F. Goldberg (Automobile Club), G. Magnus (motor industry), H. Harenesch (carnival advertising), R. W. Shallcrass (Sports Protection League), J. I. Goldsmith, L. T. Watkins (president Industrial Association), R. J. M. Edmonds (secretary Industrial. Association), G. W. Coutts Moon (Farmers’ Advocate), C. E. Robertson (Wright, Stephenson and Co., Ltd.), B. C. Clark, W. E. A. Gill. R. M. Griffiths (Master Carriers’ Associationl, C. H. Andrews and D. Dickie (J. B. MacEwan and Co., Ltd.). Mr Mitchell said the idea was- to create a winter show which would include and at the same time be an extension of the Industrial Exhibition, the Motorshow, and other shows of a kindred nature. The Wellington Welcome Week Carnival was a huge success, and showed a net profit of £lO4O. There was no reason whatever why the proposed winter show should not. be a great, success, too. They were faced with the ‘ difficulty of suitable accommodation. The Harbour Board had done, and was prepared still to do. all it could to provide sheds, but of course it was not possible fcr the Board to state just what sheds would be available or where. However, he anticipated no difficulty in getting suitable accommodation of a kind. The winter show would be more than a show. It would be a means of educating those responsible for the raising of stock, etc. in New Zealand. The Wairarapa and East Coast Pastoral and Agricultural Society (which included South Wairarapa) had unanimously expressed its appreciation of the idea and was prepared to do all in its power to co-operate in furthering the movement. A letter had been received from Mr F. O. Haycock, testifying to the wholehearted support of the Masterton district. One thing was certain’a winter show could never be successful unless situated in the centre of population. The chairman said he hoped to see lower Manawatu got into touch with, as he was sure such a scheme as they had in mind would commend itself to the people of that district. The opinion of Mr W. E. A. Gill was that the show to be a success would have to be held during race week, and should be of an educational character. He was assured that those were the intentions. SCOPE OF THE SHOW.

The show is to be along the lines suggested by Mr Gill and Mr C. E. Robertson. It will be held in conjunction with the motor show, and the Wellington races. The first show will possibly be held in Harbour Board sheds and subsequent ones in buildings to be erected in Victoria Street on part of the site of the old Te Aro Station. There will be exhibits of cattle, sheep, wool, milk production, dairying, hemp, horses, dogs, besides work typifying all the concerns of industrialism. The cattle and sheep will be exhibited in pens to show perfect and imperfect animals, and a small freezing plant will be erected to realise the class of sheep required for export. Special animals will be priced by experts for the experiment. There will be pens of sheep to show various classes of fleeces, also articles made from different grades of wool. Various types of cows will be exhibited, from high producers down to scrub cows, so that people may see for themselves Jaow to look for the right kind of animal. This section will also include different types of bulls. A me del milking plant will be an show in order that children from the various schools in Wellington may see cows milked under ideal conditions. Demonstrations will be given at certain hours each day for educational purposes. It is possible that a small flaxmilling plant may be erected, together with a display of articles in the various grades. As farmers who breed horses rely on the demand from the city for geldings and cart, horses, an attractive display of horses is to be arranged for, and an endeavour is also to be made to have the annual Wellington dog show included in the show programme. FINANCIAL QUESTIONS. It was suggested at the meeting that, as large sums of money are collected in Wellington to support the Manawatu, Wanganui, Masterton. and Levin Shows, there was no reason why those sums should not be devoted to a \vipter show in the city. To cover any probable loss, it was considered that no trouble would be met with in getting a number of citizens to guarantee up to £lO or even £2O. 4 It was further stated that there was little doubt but that the Rugby Union and the Boxing Association would put on attractive programmes to cater fcr the visitors. Demonstrations would also be given by experts and judges in all breeds of dairy and fat cattle and sheep. The city milk department might even be persuaded to erect, a small plant to show its methods of handling milk. After the meeting had expressed itself unanimously in favour of some such scheme as that outlined, a representative committee was appointed, with power to add to its numbers, to proceed with the necessary arrangements to get the scheme on a sound footing.