People's Day at the Royal Show

Southland Times, Issue 23998, 13 December 1939, Page 6

People's Day at the Royal Show

\7ESTERDAY was judging day 1 at the Centennial Royal Show. Although some of the judges were unavoidably late in arriving, good progress was made in judging the 1800 entries in the live-stock classes which cover almost every breed of cattle, sheep, horses and pigs that is to be found in New Zealand. All the popular breeds were strongly represented and the judges had an arduous and protracted task, for a prize award at the Centennial Show is an honour to be cherished and not to be conferred lightly. The jumping competitions in the ring were, also keenly contested; the day was gloriously fine and the smartlygroomed horses and their riders made a splendid sight. For this afternoon, a public holiday in InvercargiH, is set down the official opening of the show by his Excellency the Gov-ernor-General, Viscount Galway. Through the 100 years of its existence the Royal Agricultural Society has often been indebted to members of the Royal Family for their sympathy and support, and the King’s representatives in New Zealand have graciously continued the association with this distant branch of the society. The official opening will be followed by what is, for the laymen, perhaps the most impressive event of the show—the grand parade of prize stock. The parade today shouldmxcel any seen in Invercargill for many years. Indeed, the whole show ground is packed with exceptional interest. In addition to prize-winning stock and performers, it assembles the wide variety of commercial and machinery exhibits that go to make up a proper representation of modern agriculture. The first day’s activities'demonstrated that all concerned, officials and exhibitors, have done their utmost, to make the Centennial Royal Show worthy of the special occasion it celebrates. All that is now needed is an equally generous effort on the part of the public. Big attendances today and tomorrow will make the Invercargill show of 1939 the memorable success that every Southlander would like to see it. \