THE ROYAL SHOW

Southland Times, Issue 23227, 16 June 1937, Page 12

THE ROYAL SHOW

To the Editor Sir, —At a meeting of the Southern District Council of the Royal Agricultural Society of New Zealand held at Dunedin last week it was stated that it would be Invercargill’s turn to hold the Royal Show in 1938. There is one matter to which I should like to draw the directors’ attention, for it would help to make the show even a greater success than it has been in the past, and that is the need for lockers for gear and feed and accommodation for stock attendants on the show ground. In this respect Invercargill compares very unfavourably with Christchurch, where they have the upstairs portion of one of their large buildings divided into two-berth and 4-berth cubicles containing stretchers and straw mattresses. These are let at 10/- a bed for as long as is necessary during the show. At one end of the building is a large number of wash basins with water laid on. In these conditions stock men feel it is a pleasure to exhibit at a show as they are not intruding .on anybody s privacy. Private board is never satisfactory through the very fact that it is, out of the grounds and therefore not convenient. In keeping with a Royal Show stock men are expected to keep themselves as well as their animals tidy, and to do so these facilities at the grounds become a necessity. Local exhibitors are inclined to overlook these things as they have their motorcars to change in, but if there is one thing more than another that will attract exhibitors from a distance it is this item of accommodation on the grounds for attendants. To show how popular this form of board was there were over 100 attendants housed under these conditions at the last Christchurch Royal Show. Southland has the organization: let it provide these facilities and the results in increased entries will, I am sure, make it well worth while.—Yours CtC ’ EXHIBITOR. June 15, 1937.