SIDE SHOWS.

Wanganui Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 15976, 19 November 1919, Page 6

SIDE SHOWS.

To ‘Dio Editor. Sir,—ln last evening's issue of your paper appeared a full-page advertisement asldng for public subscriptions towards the purchase of a new showground. In another part of the paper was a letter asking for fair-play for the proprietors of side shows at the Agricultural Show. Both advertisement and letter were signed by the president of the Agricultural Association. Now, can the public he expected to subscribe towards the cost of new grounds when the reproach for years past has been that Show Days is the opportunity of proprietors of raree shows to exploit the unthinking amongst both adults and children. 1 have no grouch against such amusements as the merry-go-round, where you see what you get for your money, though in the busiest part of the day the periods allowed for revolving are usually shortened; nor against at least one of the circuses, which always come here and give honest value. But many of the mountebanks would be best off'the showgrounds altogether. Some of them are of the company of “shysters.” One of the most blatant (and successful) of the cheapjack fry went from here to a northern town and was imprisoned for incendiarism and perjury of a particularly vile type. The majority of the wrestling and boxing booths are more or less frauds; the familiar argument with a would-be champion outside the booth, and the staking of one poupd, or more, on the