THE KENNEL.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume VIII, Issue 405, 28 April 1898, Page 17

THE KENNEL.

'Of show affairs in Viet 'ria “ Wattleback writes as follows :—“ It. is a matter of moment to all fanciers, whither they be breeders, exhibitors, dr dealers, to learn and to have brought before them, face to face, the present unsatisfactory finai.cial position of all the societies ca'ering for their interests. To a very large extent this position has been brought about by the restricted support given to the shows of fancy stock by the public. Whether this lack of active sympathy is caused by the crowding together of show dates or whether the number of shows held in the metropolitan area are more than sufficient for the public’s patronage, are matters for conjecture. Certain it is that the interest in our fanciers’ aims is but little responded to by the manyheaded, and, in consequence, the committies managing these institutions are being dragged down by debt, the inevitable result being that they are not so .well able as of yore to furnish exhibitors with attractive schedules. If, as some people think, the public, have.tired of the ordinary show, and'wants stronger meat, the committees must, 1 presume, be prepared to cater for such jaded appetites, adding to the fanciers’ usual programme some other interest, foreign to the object of the show*, but acceptable ,to the public. A vlpmns Ward- —that greatest of fine art showmen of modern' times — did not disdain to attract his public by other, if more meretricious, means than his world-renowned “ wax figgers. He thought it not derogatory, either to himself or fine-art exhibition, the bring prominently before the notice of the public the foreign element, and that in the person of the Australian kangaroo, and into still greater prominence the fact of its peculiar quality of being a mo2t amoozen cuss. And the show, prospered. I hen why should our committeespause? Is their genius,of>a higher time'than that of Artemus Ward?” Here we have the Art Union to help the thing along, and the Victorians will have to follow our example. - ' • D.H.