THE ROYAL SHOW

Southland Times, Issue 22993, 12 September 1936, Page 14

THE ROYAL SHOW

Many New Classes In Schedule ASSISTING EXHIBITORS The approach of the Royal Show is given a reminder by the issue of the schedule for this important event, which is to be held this year on the Addington Showgounds on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, November 11, 12, and 13. The Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association, which is the authority controlling the show, has issued the schedule, which is a very bulky document, and contains a multitude of classes. The addition of the large collection of cups and trophies of the Royal Agricultural Society to the imposing array that the Canterbury Association has gathered in its 74 years of existence will no doubt attract stud stock breeders from all over the Dominion. The last Royal Show held in Christchurch was in 1931 and on that occasion there was a fine collection of pedigree stock, but for this year the breeders have teen encouraged to come from further distances. In addition to paying freight between Wellington and Lyttelton on pedigree stock from the North Island, the Royal Agricultual Society is defraying the railage in excess of 200 miles. Some of the breed societies are assisting their members still further, and the New Zealand Jersey Cattle Breeders’ Association is to pay anything in excess of 100 miles, which is not paid by the Royal Agricultural Society. The breed societies have given prize money in a liberal manner generally, so that it is not too much to hope that the show this year will bring together a wonderful collection of the Dominion’s best stock. The Canterbury Association has raised all the prize money in the stock classes. The only animals which have been poorly housed at Addington in recent years have been the pigs. This disability will be removed this year, as a new pig pavilion is now nearing completion, says The Press. This will be a modern concrete construction, providing for a maximum of 200 pens. The new building, when completed, will make the Addington grounds more up-to-date than any other showgrounds in the Dominion. It is hoped that before long the remaining two sections of the sheep pens will be covered.

The schedule contains in addition to the ordinary standard classes for breeding stock, many new classes. The success met with by the Canterbury Association in ring events for young people has encouraged further provision, and there are two new pony jumping events for small children. The members of the family of the late William Ballantyne have given a very handsome silver challenge cup on much the same lines as the Nydfa Cup, which the late Mr Ballantyne presented some years ago for children up to 15 years of age. The new trophy is for children over that age, and it demands from competitors a higher standard of equestrian ability than from the juniors. The schedule contains a full range of classes for beef breeds, which are not usually prominent at the Christchurch show, such as Polled Angus and Herefords.

The New Zealand Meat Producers’ Board offers substantial prizes for utility rams. The first class is for a longwoolled ram for breeding long-woolled ewes for crossing with black-faced rams to produce the ideal lamb for export. Frame and type of wool are to be taken into consideration. The second class is fox- a Southdown or Ryeland ram fox- crossing with long-wool - led ewes to produce the ideal lamb for export. The prize money in these classes should attract exhibitors, as £6 is offered for first prize, £4 for second, and £2 for third.

Fitting recognition is given to the importance of the Clydesdale in the allocation of prize money. The amount offered in this section is well in advance of anything previously offered at any show in the Dominion. The aged stallion class carries a first prize of £lO. Throughout the schedule will be noted a wealth of special prizes and trophies, which should bring together the largest and most comprehensive display of the stud stock of the Dominion.