SECOND SHOW AT CENTENNIAL

Southland Times, Issue 23840, 10 June 1939, Page 3

SECOND SHOW AT CENTENNIAL

MOVE MAY BE MADE EFFECT ON SOUTHLAND FIXTURE The possibility of a move being made to hold a centennial Royal Show in Wellington early next year was mentioned at the meeting of directors of the Southland Agricultural and Pastoral Association yesterday. Mr A. M. Weir said that a meeting of the Finance Committee would be held next Wednesday to consider the financial arrangements for the Royal Show between the Royal Agricultural Society and the Southland Association. This was a very important matter which would come up at the annual conference of the Royal Agricultural Society next month and it was desirable that Southland should be well represented at that conference. In a recent bulletin issued by the president of the society (Mr L. J. Wild) there was a hint that there might be a proposal to hold a centennial Royal Show near Wellington early next year. Such a show would seriously affect the Invercargill Royal Show. He- did not think that the proposal would eventuate, but it was desirable that Southland should be well represented at the conference. The Finance Committee would consider these questions and also the finance for the show. Proposals had been made for a new basis between the Royal Society and the association holding the show. A preliminary examination indicated that the new scale would not greatly alter the amounts which the Southland Association had contributed to the Royal Society after the 1929 and 1934 Royal Shows. The president (Dr A. F. Ritchie said he had had the opportunity of speaking at the opening of the Otago Winter Show last week. He had spoken strongly in favour of the restoration of the former Government grant of £lOOO for the Royal Show. It was unfortunate that the Minister of Agriculture (the Hon. W. Lee Martin) had not been present, but the Hon. F. Jones had expressed himself as being impressed by the arguments presented and promised to bring the matter before Mr Martin and Cabinet. Dr Crawford said he thought it was advisable that the association write to the Minister urging the restoration of the grant.